Page 17 - 2021 AMA Summer

self-arrest with an ice axe on steep terrain in preparation for the mountaineering day the next day.
Another perfect morning on day three saw two hot air balloons traversing the Main Range, which none of us had seen before. We packed our kit and set off on snow shoes for Blue Lake again but the intention for the day was to summit Mount Twynam (2195m, the third highest mountain in Australia). Once in the Blue Lake amphitheatre we donned crampons and attached snow shoes to our packs before ascending up Central Chute to reach the plateau at the base of Mt Twynam and Little Twynam. We swapped crampons for snow shoes and continued up the south west slopes of Mt Twynam to top out on the summit to see the triangu- lation point covered in snow and ice. Due to the winds, and after a few quick selfies and a group photo, we quickly descended the western slopes onto the plateau that leads off to Watson’s Crags and the Sentinel before heading south, back down to Blue Lake bowl and out of the wind. A return to camp then saw us conduct
some lessons on avalanche awareness, emergency shelters and snow anchors. Using avalanche probes, we discovered that the snow depth was significant so a few eager individuals commenced con- structing a snow hole for their last nights’ accommodation.
The weather was definitely starting to turn as we broke camp on the morning of day 4. Low cloud and increasing winds chased us off the mountain and back across the Snowy River before the final slog, dragging the pulks uphill back up to the car park at Guthega. Morale was high after four amazing days on the Main Range where everyone had learnt new skills, tested themselves against the elements and gained new climbing partners.
Exercise BLUE ICE was an outstanding four days in the Snowy Mountains of Australia and it certainly met the aims and objectives of providing basic moun- taineering skills and knowledge to par- ticipants; developing AAA members’ abilities to undertake future, more
Climbing ice
challenging expeditions overseas and facilitate mentoring, technical and pro- fessional development across the AAA membership. Although Blue Lake is not quite the international ice climbing desti- nations of Ouray and Rjukan, it is certainly a fantastic training ground to hone alpine skills prior to higher and more challenging destinations overseas.
Crossing the Plateau
ARMY MOUNTAINEER / 17
KOSCIUSZKO NATIONAL PARK
Kosciuszko National Park spoils you with snow sports,
walks and mountain biking in the Snowy Mountains. Go
camping, explore caves, climb Australia’s highest mountain,
or stay in heritage accommodation. From Jindabyne to
Tumut, New South Wales’ largest national park will keep you busy for a weekend or for weeks. Try cross-country skiing, hike to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko or descend underground to magical Yarrangobilly Caves. At the end of the day, relax at a riverside or lesser-known campground, or book your own mountain cottage.
www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/kosciuszko-national-park