Bryce's Gorge

Winter

The road through to Mt Howitt (and further to Mt Buller) is closed during winter about 10km beyond Bryce's Gorge. The snow is cleared from the road only as far as The Gorge leaving a few stretches on the southern slopes where the snow can get reasonably thick. Both of these factors mean that few people go to Bryce's Gorge in winter. The cross country skiers usually stop further down the road and most people don't come prepared for driving through thick snow.

The carpark is perhaps a little less inviting for camping than the rest of the year but as I usually get here late at night I'm not too fussed as long as there's somewhere flat to pitch a tent. The advantage of driving at night is that the dirt road is frozen, giving you much more grip than when it melts to slippery slush during the day.

Guy's hut is only a few hundred metres from the carpark and this is usually the preferred place to stay although you may have to walk some distance to find firewood.

The snow cover in this area is usually patchy as it is slightly lower than the usual snow line. My first few trips here in winter gave me a taste for camping in the snow. Once I got some warmer gear I even got to enjoying it. Apart from the snow, the best thing about winter is that the snow gums are at their most colourful.

These photos are now somewhat historical in that there is a new road closure in winter 13km down the road from the Bryce's Gorge carpark.