 | You do not have to be a super athlete to enjoy cross country skiing and
benefit from the improved fitness. If your style is little more than
walking, you will still enjoy the great scenery and sliding along the tracks
on a sunny day. |
| A layered approach to clothing is best. X-C skiing is an excellent fitness
activity where you use all parts of your body. You will soon get quite hot
in standard downhill padded clothing. It is best to be able to take off one
or two layers as you start to slightly climb and to put on layers on as you
reach more exposed spots, stop or go downhill. |
| X-C skiing can be a lot more pleasant than downhill skiing when the
weather and visibility are not perfect. It is much easier to find sheltered
spots to ski amongst the trees. However do yourself a favor and make your
first experience a nice sunny day if possible. |
| If you can walk and ride a bike you can quickly learn the basics of cross
country technique. Despite this it is wise to take a few lessons early
on to avoid picking up bad habits which must be unlearned later. The Nordic
bowl is a great place get your X-C legs. |
| X-C equipment can be hired at Mount Beauty and at Windy Corner Falls
Creek. |
| When the weather is poor resort trails such as the Aqueduct trail, lower
part of McKay Road and Pipeline Loop can be a pleasant sheltered spot to
ski. |
| Trail fees fees no longer apply on Falls Creek 40 km+ network of groomed
trails. |
| With a little experience you will find that you can cross country ski at
twice walking pace and can average more than 6 km per hour without allowing
for lunch or extended breaks. 20 km is usually a good full day tour, leaving
plenty of time for lunch, viewing the scenery and a good daylight safety
margin in case of weather change. You can now head across the Rocky Valley
Dam wall for tours into the national park. From your map note alternative
routes and huts and shelters along the way. |
| With no lift queues and no expensive lift tickets, most cross country
skiers have a more relaxed start to the day getting to Falls Creek later
than the downhill skiers. However if you are going on a longer tour of 20 km
or more it, it will pay to get started fairly early. |
| Do not be over adventurous at first. Before you do your first 20 km tour,
do two 10 km tours in the one day. One in the morning and one in the
afternoon. This way you can be confident of your endurance and speed. If the
weather starts to deteriorate do not continue to ski away from the resort.
Change your plans and head back to the resort or find a trail closer to the
resort. |
| Make sure that you are properly prepared for a weather change before you
ski outside the resort area. You should carry;
 | Bad weather gear including, waterproof and wind proof jacket, warm
gloves, hat, goggles and extra layer of clothing. |
| Map and compass |
| Silver emergency blanket, emergency food and matches or lighter, in
case of injury or becoming trapped by bad weather. |
|
| Do not ski alone. Record details of your party in the intentions book at
Windy Corner ski hire. If you are skiing in the national
park and for any reason you have the slightest doubt as to the health or
fitness of a member of your party or your ability to get back to Falls Creek
on time record details of your party, the time and date and where you are
heading to next in the log book of any hut you visit or intensions book you
pass. |
| Make sure that there is someone at your accommodation or someone
back home that you have agreed to ring who will raise the alarm if you do
not return at the end of the day. A phone is provided at Kiewa View so
that friends or relatives can ring you if they have any doubt as to whether
you have returned. |
| Thousands of well prepared people ski tour in the Alpine National Park
each year without any problems. Take the basic precautions above to ensure
that you are not one of the very few who need to be rescued. |
| On a nice sunny winter day there is nothing to compare to a family ski
tour picnic. Try it. |
| See our Ski Tour page for suggested tours. |
