The Australian Alps, an icy question.

[JNAC]

G'day everyone,

Looking to plan my first big ST trip and came up with the idea of a trip to, up and over the Alps with my better 3/4's on the back. It'd be nice to see some snow but less nice to try and ride around on ice.

Does anyone know roughly what time of year we could get away with such a trip? I was thinking July/August but being a Queenslander and having not seen snow since I was 13 I've got no idea. The only ice I've seen in winter was in the horse trough.

I'd be happy to provide a detailed list of roads that get icy in QLD to anyone that can help ;)

[StinkyPete]

I've ridden the Snowy Mountains several times, and each time has been in Feb/March.   The lowest daytime temps we encountered was around 12 degrees.    It is a stunningly beautiful region of the county to explore by motorcycle.

[Williamson]

G'day everyone,

Looking to plan my first big ST trip and came up with the idea of a trip to, up and over the Alps with my better 3/4's on the back. It'd be nice to see some snow but less nice to try and ride around on ice.

Does anyone know roughly what time of year we could get away with such a trip? I was thinking July/August but being a Queenslander and having not seen snow since I was 13 I've got no idea. The only ice I've seen in winter was in the horse trough.

I'd be happy to provide a detailed list of roads that get icy in QLD to anyone that can help ;)

Hmmmm ....... a lot of thought and planning needed.  To help, here are a few random thoughts from me.

   *   Depends which ski resort you visit or which road "over" you choose.

   *   Most roads are kept cleared and open, but there have been seasons in recent years when some snow dumps have been so excessive that the road authorities have not been able to keep the roads open, ie. the roads are closed.  A couple years back the Great Alpine Road was closed between Bright and Mount Hotham, the road was open between Omeo and Mount Hotham, and there were reports of some snow bunnies driving from Bright, back to Melbourne, Bairnsdale, Omeo to Mount Hotham.  A detour or nearly 800km instead of the normal 50km.

    *  Regardless of road condition, some (perhaps most) alpine travel conditions require snow chains to be fitted to the vehicle, or at least snow chains carried.

   *   If your on the ST, IMHO you would better basing yourselves at Jindabyne, Dinner Plains or somewhere else convenient and taking a bus up a mountain.

We have a ride and an overnight planned in Omeo in around two weeks.  My preferred route will be via Mount Hotham, but if there's a hint of snow and ice, we'll be riding via Bairnsdale.

[JNAC]

G'day everyone,

Looking to plan my first big ST trip and came up with the idea of a trip to, up and over the Alps with my better 3/4's on the back. It'd be nice to see some snow but less nice to try and ride around on ice.

Does anyone know roughly what time of year we could get away with such a trip? I was thinking July/August but being a Queenslander and having not seen snow since I was 13 I've got no idea. The only ice I've seen in winter was in the horse trough.

I'd be happy to provide a detailed list of roads that get icy in QLD to anyone that can help ;)

Hmmmm ....... a lot of thought and planning needed.  To help, here are a few random thoughts from me.

   *   Depends which ski resort you visit or which road "over" you choose.

   *   Most roads are kept cleared and open, but there have been seasons in recent years when some snow dumps have been so excessive that the road authorities have not been able to keep the roads open, ie. the roads are closed.  A couple years back the Great Alpine Road was closed between Bright and Mount Hotham, the road was open between Omeo and Mount Hotham, and there were reports of some snow bunnies driving from Bright, back to Melbourne, Bairnsdale, Omeo to Mount Hotham.  A detour or nearly 800km instead of the normal 50km.

    *  Regardless of road condition, some (perhaps most) alpine travel conditions require snow chains to be fitted to the vehicle, or at least snow chains carried.

   *   If your on the ST, IMHO you would better basing yourselves at Jindabyne, Dinner Plains or somewhere else convenient and taking a bus up a mountain.

We have a ride and an overnight planned in Omeo in around two weeks.  My preferred route will be via Mount Hotham, but if there's a hint of snow and ice, we'll be riding via Bairnsdale.

Thanks for that mate.

I drove over the Alps a little over a month ago (in an iLoad van) and rather than try to explain what I did I will attach my Google Maps timeline. I stayed at the Snug As A Bug motel in Omeo and was planning to stay there again for a few days and use it as a base of operation.

We will be on the ST so it might be a better idea to push it back until the conditions are more favorable.

The plan was to head down from Sydney through Bega/Crackenback, down through the Snowfields with a stop in Albury. From there I wanted to head to Omeo via Falls Creek and Anglers Rest. Home would be via Dinner Plain/Hotham to Albury then the highway back to Brisbane.

[Sicman]

We did 14 day trip over the Snowies in Dec 16 and there was pockets of snow about to see and play in, but dry roads for moving about. I would suggest November would be the same, but with more snow still around 

[Williamson]

  ...... We will be on the ST so it might be a better idea to push it back until the conditions are more favorable.

   *   Even late October the weather can be unreliable.  Again, reports of NSW / QLD riders heading the MotoGP via the alpine roads, being turned back because of snow.

.... The plan was to head down from Sydney through Bega/Crackenback, down through the Snowfields with a stop in Albury. From there I wanted to head to Omeo via Falls Creek and Anglers Rest. Home would be via Dinner Plain/Hotham to Albury then the highway back to Brisbane.

Mmmmmm ........ that gets the juices going.

[JNAC]

We did 14 day trip over the Snowies in Dec 16 and there was pockets of snow about to see and play in, but dry roads for moving about. I would suggest November would be the same, but with more snow still around 

That sounds like a reasonable compromise I think, the only issue is waiting that long :P

Thanks mate.

[JNAC]

  ...... We will be on the ST so it might be a better idea to push it back until the conditions are more favorable.

   *   Even late October the weather can be unreliable.  Again, reports of NSW / QLD riders heading the MotoGP via the alpine roads, being turned back because of snow.

.... The plan was to head down from Sydney through Bega/Crackenback, down through the Snowfields with a stop in Albury. From there I wanted to head to Omeo via Falls Creek and Anglers Rest. Home would be via Dinner Plain/Hotham to Albury then the highway back to Brisbane.

Mmmmmm ........ that gets the juices going.

It does doesn't it, ever since my trip down there (for work) I've been day dreaming about getting down there on a bike.

I guess the hardest part will be waiting, thanks for your advice mate.

[ST2UP]

Some of the really nice riding roads will be closed from June long week end until the end of October....i.e Anglers Rest up to Falls Crk is a great road.

So earlier November would be your best bet, but still unpredictable conditions can drop out of nowhere.


cheers

[STeveo]

I'd say November the best time to go.

[Lionel]

Avoid the "Snowy Ride" weekend in November when the roads are clogged by approx 2,000 motorcyclists and accommodation difficult to obtain.