Mountain Safety Collective Backcountry Conditions Report – Friday 28 August 2026

August 28th, 2026
A tale of two aspects: good snow on east and south facing slopes, while north and west facing slopes are back to grass. Photo: Alex Parsons

Mountainwatch | Mountain Safety Collective

Let’s start with the good news: it’s going to be a beautiful weekend to get into the backcountry with an extended run of sunny days, light to moderate winds and mild to warm temperatures until Monday. Make the most of the chance to get out there while there’s still some snow on the ground.

If you’re starting from popular trailheads, be prepared for a bushwalk up to around 1750m on lee slopes. Surface conditions once you find snow will be firm early, but will soften quickly through the morning. Seek out decent snow cover on east and south facing slopes and expect to find ridgetops and sun facing slopes stripped back to grass and rocks. 

Shaded slopes may remain icy longer through the day, so be cautious before committing to steep lines. Otherwise, be aware around open creek crossings, exposed rocks and bushes and remember to wear sunscreen!

As for the bad news, welcome to an El Niño Spring that started in mid August. More rain is forecast from Tuesday 1 September and the warm daytime temperatures will quickly erode the snowpack as the month progresses. Make the most of what you can in the meantime!

The Australian Backcountry Festival in on in Hotham this weekend and MSC’s Membership Drive is wrapping up on Monday with some fantastic prizes being drawn.

Without more snow on the horizon, Mountain Safety Collective’s free, daily Backcountry Conditions Reports will move into Spring Conditions Mode in coming days and be updated if we have a major weather event.