NSW Nordic Ski Club
Boltons And Back - September 1996
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A number of years ago I led a ski trip up from Munyang and down to the Green Hills. One side option was to visit Bolton's Hut. However, when we got to the grid reference shown on the CMA map, no hut was there to be seen. Not having much daylight to spare we had to ski on and leave the mystery of Bolton's location to haunt us.
I therefore resolved to return (especially after Kenn Clacher went and found it!). So armed with Klaus Hueneke's grid reference for the hut (500m from the CMA grid) we set off. Up from Munyang we strode on the Disappointment Fire Trail. Fortunately there was soon enough snow to ski on and we left the road to contour up onto the saddle. Once there we followed the ridge up to the final saddle before the treeline. Here we decided to "reverse engineer" the trip as the wind and driving snow made an ascent over Gungartan less than sensible. So instead we skied down a broad creekline to the Finn River. After a "one wet sock" crossing of the river we dropped down to the junction with Farm Creek. This we used as an attack point to "fine navigate" direct to Bolton's Hut.
And there it was, right on cue! Bolton's is a small slab hut with a dried snow grass floor. Having been the only winter visitors thus far we felt quite privileged. A crackling fire, some R & LB accompanied some good stories to produce a fine night.
Next day was "crook" with high winds, so we elected to take the direct route up the Finn River to Tin Hut. This we reached for lunch after one of the coldest morning's skiing I have had. We whiled away the afternoon by practising self arrests with ice axes. This is quite an amusing sport which entails:
- finding a very steep slope with a rock-free runout
- climbing to the top of the slope
- diving head first down the slope
- zooming down the slope picking up a fair amount of speed (yes, just like a human bob sled)
- then gently easing the pick of the ice axe (which you have been firmly clasping to your chest) into the snow (feet raised off the snow)
- as the pick begins to "bite" flipping around so you are descending feet first (feet still off the snow)
- gradually rotating more of the pick into the snow and apply all your weight onto it
- gradually slowing down and come to a stop
- trudging up the hill to do it again trying not to get too excited (seriously, people tend to get carried away and start going too fast and too long)
The morrow dawned worse than "crook". It was one of these less than pleasant days with 20-30m visibility, driving snow/sleet and freezing cold. As always in such situations there was only one available route which was an exposed one direct into the teeth of the wind.
So it was into Scott of the Antarctic mode for a couple of hours to closely navigate to Gungartan Pass (this was the day of the violent storms in Sydney). Once over the lip the weather began to improve and we had a lovely run down the "hidden" valley to Schlink Pass.
Then it was down the road to pick up the aqueduct 400m below Whites River Hut. This we followed all the way around to the top of the penstocks (the aqueduct starts at 1640m and ends at 1600m). This is a very nice ski in the snow gums with some lovely views and a couple of "challenge" bridges to traverse. Here the snow departed and some walked down beside the penstocks whilst others took the road to the car. Thus ended the trip to Bolton's and back.
Maps: Mt Kossie 1:50,000
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