STSA and Friends of Mt Field turned out a football team of 21 volunteers for the big reveal of the new turf on Mawson Ski Run on Saturday. The grass was sown three years ago with seed collected from alpine grass species specifically for the purpose, and covered with shade cloth to enhance growing conditions and protect the seedlings from grazing. There was great anticipation as the Friends of Mt Field volunteers rolled back the shade cloth, to reveal that the trial has been a great success, with long green grass well established.
The wallabies will be feasting well tonight, and even an echidna turned out to check out the new grass.
Meanwhile further up the slope volunteers from STSA ski clubs were working hard to install a three panel snow fence at Pole 6 – an area where it was hard to hold snow cover last season. It was a good workout to get the timber up the hill, but everyone helped out with the carrying.
Lunch time seemed to arrive very quickly, and the team were glad to try out the excellent new picnic tables constructed by Parks staff. Then it was back into action, with the Davis family, Craig Larsson, and Rod Stolorz tackling the snow fence tripod assembly, while Micah Kleinert, Andrew Poole and Leigh Stevens from the Wellington Outdoor and Ski Club worked on re-setting the foundation for Pole 1 on the Mawson run, which had worked loose and become unstable.
Meanwhile Fred, Liz, Dianne and Karen Wild-Allen were doing a wonderful job of repainting the exterior of the Mawson tow motor hut.
As the day drew to a close work commenced on putting slats on the new snow fence – a fantastic effort by all our dedicated volunteers. Thank you to everyone who helped out – it was a great day!
What an incredible job everyone, thankyou to the volunteers!
What a wonderful job you have all done! Excellent!
Hello,
It is very informative to read about the intrepid volunteers and what they have accomplished at Mt Mawson and the new ski day shelter.
I am interested in a few days stay this June with my husband and another friend, somewhere that a beginner skier can begin to have fun in the snow and try skiing. Are there huts to rent in the Mr Field National Park? and are snow chains needed to travel safely.
Just putting the word out there if there’s any advice via this source.
Thank you.
Hi Debbie, yes there are some huts to rent. They are know as “the Goverment Huts”, they’re located near Lake Dobson (1000 M) and they are managed by the National Parks Service, see this link for their website: https://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=412#mt
Snow chains are always good to carry, although it would depend on how long your stay is. June is usually when we begin to accumulate snow, but some years it’s still too early to have enough to safely run the tows.
Are you all beginners? Do you have any of your own ski gear?