Mount Jagungal Wilderness 13-19 August 2024

Our expedition transport is primarily cross-country skis, but don’t worry if you’ve never used them before, nor have many people who live in Australia, and that’s the idea of this adventure – to learn a new skill.

We travel from Jindabyne the ski school in Perisher and spend a few hours getting used to our gear, and a new form of transport as we travel towards Porcupine Rocks.

After we’ve devoured lunch the expedition begins for real as we head out into the wilderness, and drive to Island Bend to set up camp for the night.

We start early and depart from Island Bend for Munyang Power Station, nestled in the heart of the Snowy Mountains.

Our expedition route takes us through a snow-filled valley and crosses the mountain range known as the Kerries. With clear weather, the view extends far into the distance giving you a magnificent panorama of the surrounding wintery landscape.

As the sun starts to set on our day, we arrive at Mawson’s Hut, our cosy accommodation for the night. We enjoy a hearty dinner in the warmth of the hut, before heading into our tents for the night to recharge and prepare for the next day.

If we are behind the schedule, we may make for Schlink Hut as a backup as ideally, we’d like to arrive with enough time to set up a snow camp before dark.

We leave our packs behind and head out for a day of summit-seeking adventure – with the magnificent Mount Jagungal as our destination.

It’s the seventh-highest peak in Australia and higher than all other surrounding peaks and during mid-winter is a cross-country skiing dream with shallow slopes and easy access.

From here we head back to the iconic Mawson’s Hut for an evening around the fire.

Depart Mawson’s Hut for Mt Jagungal Summit (2061m)

As we wake up to another majestic high-country sunrise, the weather outside dictates where we’ll head to for our day of cross-country ski adventures.

Option One takes us to Valentine’s Hut via Valentine’s Falls, option Two will be up and over Brassy Ranges, with a ski into Tin Hut for our overnight.

Whichever route Mother Nature helps us decide on, we’ll spend around 6-8 hours skiing across some stunning remote wilderness snowscapes.

It’s time to pack up camp and hit the trail for a final time as we depart from our overnight wilderness escape and make for Munyang Power Station.

Once we’re back in Jindabyne, washed, and cleaned to within an inch of our lives it’s time to hit the town for a celebration of things civilised, with a cooked dinner and cold beer.

We’re back at our overnight accommodation to rest our weary heads on a real pillow once again.

Our final team breakfast will be at one of Jindabyne’s famous eateries, devouring something that’s NOT dehydrated, before we hit the road back towards Canberra.

We stop en route to drop off the hire gear before bidding you farewell at Canberra Airport in time to catch your flight home.

Your Best Life Adventure finishes here.