NGARIGO COUNTRY BIG LINES, BIGGER AVALANCHES AND A PARTY AT CLUB LAKE. WORDS: DREW JOLOWICZ PHOTOS: DYLAN ROBINSON
When planning a Spring trip on New South Wales’ Main Range fresh snow and the potential for avalanches are not usually the first things that come to mind. It’s nearly October, days are longer, usually warmer and it’s time to harvest corn on the steeper Western Faces. Skiing consistent corn is the next best thing to powder except your toes don’t get cold. In many ways a strong argument can be made it’s just as good. Mind you, for this story discussion of Spring corn is irrelevant as it’s not what we found on this trip out the back. Fresh (or not) off a gruelling week at the CAA Ops One Avalanche* course at Charlotte’s Pass the plan was to regroup in Jindabyne, grab some supplies and head out onto the Main Range for some camping, skiing and touring. It had been a long winter and in a sense this trip was an end of season celebration in the backcountry where like-minded folk could catch up, shred some lines and bask in the spring sun. As luck would have it great friend and photographer Dylan Robinson was in town along with Mountain Safety Collective’s assistant forecaster and Alpine Access Australia guide Kyle Boys. They’d been working at the Arc’teryx Backcountry Weekend and were keen for some type two fun. Considering the date, the weather was anything but typical for this late in the season. Kyle Boys has guiding, forecasting and educating roles with Alpine Access Australia and the Mountain Safety Collective. A strong voice for safe backcountry travel, here he discusses the options for skiing under a stunning alpenglow sky. 68
