Last week, VET Outdoor Recreation students attended a four-day cross-country ski trip on the Bogong High Plains. After a whopping 90 centimetres of snow in the days leading up to the trip, the group arrived to sunshine and plenty of fresh snow.
Guided by groups of third-year Outdoor Education students from La Trobe University, everyone helped to set up what would be the group’s base camp in the snow for two nights. This included digging snow kitchens.
After setting up camp, it was time to hone cross-country ski skills on the nearby slopes. This no doubt came in very handy when the next day dawned wild and windy. But this didn’t stop everyone completing a day tour to local huts and enjoying some ‘majestical’ scenic views.
On the third day, with the cloud low and thick, the group followed the snow poles back to the warm bus.
“A challenging trip meant a lot of learning,” teacher Dan Hurrell said. “Some students also discovered that their love of the snow now extends to cross-country skiing in the back country.”