PHOTOS – Backcountry Pow in Falls Creek
Loading up the sleds and heading up, it might not be earning-your-turns but it is damn fun
Mountainwatch | Words by Alex Horvath, Photos by Chris Hocking
You probably heard by now, last week in the mountains was all time. A 70cm snow storm hit, unloading incredibly dry snow with almost no wind to speak of. As we were in town hanging with the awesome crew from Carlton Dry, we thought what better way is there to make the most of the perfect conditions than to head out for the season debut of Steve Lee’s Backcountry Tours.
Unfortunately for Steve, a late arrival of his brand new fleet of sleds meant that he was delayed in Melbourne and wouldn’t be on hand to take us out himself. After a quick phone call he assured us that his daughter, Falls local and Mountainwatch Snow Reporter Layla Lee would be around to show us to all the stashes.
The day began with breakfast and a briefing down in Falls Creek village. Our crew was an assortment of skill levels, from Backcountry gurus right down to first timers, Aussie surf legend Mark Occhilupo was even making an appearance!
At the top of Mt McKay the wind was blowing hard, a few skiers out touring were sheltering in the hut already when we arrived
The backcountry in Falls Creek is really diverse, which means that even in average weather there is an aspect sure to hold some good snow. Our morning started by jumping on the sled trailer and being shuttled out to the peak of nearby Mt McKay. Once there, we realised the wind was absolutely howling and we would have to descend into the valley to find some good snow.
Wind and a solid sastrugi crust caused havoc with the ski down and a few of the crew seemed a little nervous, Occy was noticeably on-edge, “Maaate, this is gnarlier than dropping into Pipeline!”
Hiking through the snow and setting up
Once we made the first run we jumped back on the sled trailers and went around to the south face and dropped down in elevation behind the peak. The snow on this side was a vast improvement.
We spent the rest of the afternoon getting shuttled up to the top and each finding our own lines down through the pow, it wasn’t super deep, the snowpack had some time to settle after the storm passed. It was dry though, and it was bluebird. If you’re in Falls Creek this season it would pay to go and speak to Steve and the crew to try and get out and enjoy it. When the snow is on the terrain is incredible.
Russ Holt laying out a pow turn
Louis Macindoe was laying them out all day long
Layla Lee, does she have the best job in the mountains?
Tom Costa knows this area like the back of his hand, just the guy you want to be out there with
Yours truly spraying some nice Aussie pow
Occy looking focused!
Occhilupo throwing down some turns, look at that flow, can you tell he is a surfer?
Louis Macindoe tweaking an old school method over a little popper
Our guide Layla Lee and one of the Carlton Dry Ambassadors, are they flirting?
Falls Creek forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
