100-665: Mount Hotham Alpine Resort is an Australian alpine resort , is located in the Alpine region of Victoria . Set on the slopes of Mount Hotham , the ski resort comprises an alpine village, situated at an altitude of 1,750 metres (5,740 ft) AHD , making it the second highest resort village in Australia after Charlotte Pass village, in New South Wales . The alpine resort operations are located within an unincorporated area (statutory authority) of Victoria surrounded by
200-818: A "New Chum" event and toboggan race. The Federation Internationale de Ski calendar lists various alpine and cross country skiing, as well as snowboarding and moguls competitions in Australia during the month of August. Australian skiers competed in the Winter Olympics for the first time in Oslo , 1952. Australian skiers have competed in all subsequent Winter Olympic Games and won medals at every Games since 1998. Australians have competed in Olympic alpine skiing , biathlon , cross-country skiing , freestyle skiing , and Nordic combined (one competitor in 1960). Of these ski events, Australia has been most successful in
300-400: A Club was built in 1944, with the first ski tow installed in 1951. A ski hut was erected at Mount Baw Baw , 120 km east of Melbourne, in 1945, and a ski rope tow added in 1955. The first ski lift went into service at Mount Buller in 1949, and in the same year a rope tow was installed at Falls Creek . In 1957, Australia's first chairlift was installed at Falls Creek, and the area is now
400-897: A few highland areas of Tasmania , and the Australian and Southern Alps . This type of climate is even found in very remote parts of the New Guinea Highlands . The classification used for this regime is Cfc. Temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) and below −20 °C (−4 °F) are rare. In the most marine areas under this regime, temperatures above 20 °C (68 °F) are extreme weather events, even during summer. Small areas in Yunnan, Sichuan ; parts of Bolivia and Peru ; and parts of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania have summers sufficiently short to be Cwc with fewer than four months over 10 °C (50 °F). This
500-561: A larger hospice being built around 1884. Recreational and practical skiing was practised in the area by the 1880s and 1890s with skis made from local timbers, and making use of single steering poles. The first winter traverse of the Victorian Alps was made in 1900, via the Hospice and Mount Hotham. The Hospice operated as a recreational ski location into the 1930s, but was destroyed by bushfires in 1939. Skiing began at Mount Buffalo in
600-816: A lease from the Government of Victoria via the Mt Hotham Resort Management Board. A subsidiary company of MHSC operates the Mount Hotham Airport . During the declared snow season (usually from the King's Birthday long weekend in June till the first weekend in October), it is a legal requirement to carry diamond pattern wheel chains and fit them if directed. There are penalties for not doing so. The steep and exposed portions of
700-553: A legacy of the era of cattle grazing in the mountains, provide emergency shelter in these regions. Seaman's Hut , near Kosciuszko, was built as a refuge in 1929 to commemorate Laurie Seaman, who was separated from his party and died in a 1928 blizzard while attempting to cross-country ski to Mount Kosciuszko. Dedicated Cross Country ski resorts are located at Lake Mountain , Mount Stirling and Mount St Gwinear in Victoria and popular areas for back country skiing and ski touring in
800-753: A more relaxed experience than the busy major resorts and are popular with novice skiers and families. Cross-country skiing is popular in Kosciuszko National Park , the Alpine National Park , Yarra Ranges National Park , Baw Baw National Park , and Mount Buffalo National Park . It is also possible within Namadgi National Park of the ACT and in the Tasmanian Wilderness in the right conditions. There
900-463: A mountainous island off the southern coast of Eastern Australia. Much of the state is subject to at least occasional winter snows. Mount Ossa is the highest point on the island at 1,614 m (5,295 ft) but Tasmania has eight mountains exceeding 1500 m and 28 above 1,220 m. Also notable is the Central Plateau, at an elevation of around 900 m. The capital city of Hobart
1000-416: A museum before being destroyed in the 2003 bushfires . A new shelter designed and built by University of Adelaide students opened in 2008. Today, cross country skiing is possible in the area, when conditions allow. Cross Country skiing is also practised at Mount Gingera , which rises above the city of Canberra to an elevation of 1855m, and is the most prominent snow-covered peak above the city. Snow play
1100-457: A product and reflection of the cool ocean adjacent to them. In the autumn, winter, and early spring, when the polar jet stream is most active, the frequent passing of marine weather systems creates the frequent fog, cloudy skies, and light drizzle often associated with oceanic climates. They are typically found poleward of Mediterranean climates , except in Australia where they are poleward of both such climates and humid subtropical climates due to
SECTION 10
#17327808350291200-561: A relatively narrow annual temperature range and few extremes of temperature. Oceanic climates can be found in both hemispheres generally between 40 and 60 degrees latitude, with subpolar versions extending to 70 degrees latitude in some coastal areas. Other varieties of climates usually classified together with these include subtropical highland climates , represented as Cwb or Cfb , and subpolar oceanic or cold subtropical highland climates , represented as Cfc or Cwc . Subtropical highland climates occur in some mountainous parts of
1300-612: A result of their location, these regions tend to be on the cool end of oceanic climates, approaching polar regions . Snowfall tends to be more common here than in other oceanic climates. Subpolar oceanic climates are less prone to temperature extremes than subarctic climates or continental climates , featuring milder winters than these climates. Subpolar oceanic climates feature only one to three months of average monthly temperatures of at least 10 °C (50 °F). As with oceanic climates, none of its average monthly temperatures fall below -3.0 °C (26.6 °F) or 0 °C depending on
1400-750: A strict air-mass sense, not oceanic: they are affected by southerlies directly from the Mediterranean, and polar intrusions from Siberia. Yet their position near the Black Sea makes them too wet in summer to be Mediterranean , too mild during winter to be humid continental , and not hot enough in summer to be humid subtropical ; therefore Köppen classifies them as oceanic. Despite their anomalous position, however, their temperatures, around 4–5 °C (39–41 °F) in winter and 20–22 °C (68–72 °F) in summer, are not wholly atypical for European oceanic climates. Some Eastern European regions such as
1500-417: A temperature above 30 °C (86 °F); during the early 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave , whilst most of the state sweltered above 45 °C (113 °F), the mountain's peak temperature was a mild 28.1 °C (82.6 °F). Snow occurs frequently and heavily, and sub-freezing maximum temperatures can be recorded throughout the year—even in high summer. However, due to frequent winter cloud and
1600-439: Is Mount Kosciuszko at 2228 m. New South Wales is home to Australia's highest snow country, oldest skifields and largest resort. Recreational skiing in Australia began in 1861 at Kiandra , New South Wales, when Norwegian gold miners introduced the idea to the frozen hills around the town. The first and longest surviving ski club in the world, The Kiandra Snow Shoe Club , was formed at Kiandra in that year. Kiandra
1700-442: Is 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi). The resort features an abundance of runs for skiers and boarders of all standards from beginners (20%) to intermediates (40%) and advanced (40%). The resort is home to one of Australia's most difficult runs, the steep Mary's Slide . It is also home to Australia's only biathlon range. As of 2023 winter, the following ski lifts are in operation: A list of all 30 lifts that have operated at Hotham over
1800-425: Is a climate variety, often grouped together with oceanic climates, which exists in some mountainous or elevated portions of the world in either the subtropics or tropics. Despite the latitude, the higher elevations of these regions mean that the climate shares characteristics with oceanic climates. Subtropical highland climates with uniform rainfall ( Cfb ) usually have rainfall spread relatively evenly throughout
1900-494: Is available at Corin Forest , near Canberra, at an elevation of 1200 m. A development plan was drafted following the 2003 Canberra bushfires which would see three 600 m chairlifts installed together with snowmaking facilities and accommodation at this site. As has proved to be the case throughout the neighbouring Kosciuszko National Park ski resorts, recent developments in artificial snowmaking capacity would allow for
2000-463: Is below 18 °C (64 °F). Without their elevation, many of these regions would likely feature either humid subtropical or tropical climates. This type of climate exists in parts of east, south and southeastern Africa , interior southern Africa and elevated portions of eastern Africa as far north as Ethiopia and of western Africa (west region of Cameroon) up to the southwestern Angola highlands also share this climate type. It also exists in
2100-437: Is built at the base of Mount Wellington , which at 1270 m is snow-capped in winter. Tasmania's premier Alpine skiing operations are located at Ben Lomond, 60 km (37 mi) from Launceston . The village is at 1460 m and the top elevation is 1,570 m (5,150 ft). Its season usually begins in mid-July and in peak season, its runs are served by seven lifts. Limited downhill ski operations also exist in
SECTION 20
#17327808350292200-571: Is climatically Mediterranean , some parts of Southern Europe also have oceanic climates. However, these instances of the climate are highly variable, and often somewhat anomalous. The north coast of Spain , the western Azores off the coast of Portugal are too wet in summer to be Mediterranean, and too mild in summer to be humid subtropical , though they often have winter means above 9 °C (48 °F), unusual for European oceanic climates. Another anomalous case can be found in northwestern Turkey, including northern Istanbul . These places are, in
2300-617: Is found in parts of coastal Iceland , the Faroe Islands , upland/mountainous parts of Scotland and Northern England , northwestern coastal areas of Norway (most of Lofoten , Vesterålen , warmest part of Tromsø reaching to 71°N on some islands), uplands/highlands in western Norway, the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and northern parts of the Alaskan Panhandle , the southwest of Argentina and Chile , and
2400-735: Is in South Africa from Mossel Bay on the Western Cape coast to Plettenberg Bay (the Garden Route ), with additional pockets of this climate inland of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal coast. It is usually warm most of the year with no pronounced rainy season, but slightly more rain in autumn and spring. The Tristan da Cunha archipelago in the South Atlantic also has an oceanic climate. Although oceanic climate
2500-452: Is more frequent and commonplace in the subpolar oceanic climates due to the colder weather in those locations. Overall temperature characteristics of the oceanic climates feature cool temperatures and infrequent extremes of temperature. In the Köppen climate classification , oceanic climates have a mean temperature of 0 °C (32 °F) or higher (or −3 °C (27 °F) or higher) in
2600-412: Is often isolated by deep snow which made it inaccessible during winter. In 1861, Norwegian miners introduced recreational skiing to the snowbound mining settlement after manufacturing over forty pairs of both short skis known as skates and the longer snow shoes during the months before the first winter snow. To avoid confusion with a conventional skate the skates were described as (two palings turned up at
2700-841: Is present in small patches on the higher peaks... No facilities exist for alpine or downhill skiing within Namadgi, although there is a history of downhill skiing associated with the Canberra Alpine Ski Club and the Mt Franklin Chalet (destroyed in the 2003 bushfires). It is unlikely that Namadgi will be suitable for this activity in the future as climate change is causing conditions to become less favourable. More suitable locations exist and opportunities are available within Kosciuszko National Park . The most southerly ski fields in Australia are located in Tasmania ,
2800-660: Is rare in Asia, subtropical highland climates and cold subtropical highland climates can be found in parts of Southwestern China , and the Himalayan regions of the northern Indian subcontinent . The oceanic climate is prevalent in the more southerly parts of Oceania . A mild maritime climate is in existence in New Zealand. In Australia, the climate is found in Tasmania , southern half of Victoria and southeastern New South Wales (southwards from Wollongong ). Some parts of
2900-716: Is skiable terrain in three States: New South Wales , Victoria and Tasmania , as well as in the Australian Capital Territory , during the Southern Hemisphere winter. The ski season runs from June/July to September/October. A number of well serviced resorts have been developed, including: Thredbo , Perisher Ski Resort , Charlotte Pass and Selwyn Snowfields in New South Wales; Mount Buller , Falls Creek , Mount Hotham , Mount Baw Baw and Mount Buffalo in Victoria; as well as
3000-663: Is the main service town for the New South Wales resorts, but most Australian resort centres have on-snow accommodation. Other ski-service towns include Cooma and Adaminaby in NSW and Bright in Victoria. Canberra is situated around two hours' drive from the New South Wales ski-fields, while Melbourne is in good proximity to some of the Victorian resorts (less than two and a half hours’ drive to Mount Baw Baw and three to Mount Buller ). The resort village of Dinner Plain in Victoria also has ski facilities. The mainland's highest peak
3100-538: Is the most northerly of Australia's ski resorts with a base elevation of 1492 m and a top elevation of 1614 m. Selwyn is well suited to families and first timers, with 88% of terrain catering to beginners and intermediates, however the steeper gradient of the Racecourse Run provides some more challenging terrain for advanced skiers and boarders. The longest run at Selwyn is the 800 m "Long Arm Run". Longer slopes and more reliable snows lie further to
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort - Misplaced Pages Continue
3200-617: The 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics : see Smiggin Holes 2010 Winter Olympic bid . The Kosciuszko Main Range in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales offer some of the most challenging cross-country and back-country skiing in Australia, notably Watsons Crags and Mount Twynam on the steep Western Face of the Range. The Mount Jagungal wilderness area provides some of the most isolated back-country ski terrain. High country huts, often
3300-634: The Alpine National Park , Yarra Ranges National Park and the Baw Baw National Park include: Mount Bogong , Mount Feathertop , Bogong High Plains , Mount Howitt , Mount Reynard and Snowy Plains. The Kangaroo Hoppet is a leg of the Worldloppet cross-country race series which is conducted on the last Saturday of August each year, hosted by Falls Creek in Victoria. The showpiece 42-kilometre race attracts thousands of spectators and competitors. Cross country skiing can be possible in
3400-543: The Australian Alps in the states of New South Wales , Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory as well as in the mountains of the island state Tasmania , during the Southern Hemisphere winter. Skiing began in Australia at the goldrush town of Kiandra, New South Wales , in 1861. The first ski tow was constructed on the Mount Buffalo plateau, Victoria, in 1936. Australian skiers competed in
3500-533: The Brindabella Ranges which rise to the west of Canberra , in the A.C.T, and include the Namadgi National Park and Bimberi Nature Reserve . Mount Franklin Chalet , built in 1938, in the A.C.T. played a pioneering role in providing lifted ski runs in Australia, however the chalet was converted to a museum and subsequently destroyed by fire in 2003, so today only cross country skiing can be practised in
3600-705: The Grand Banks of Newfoundland , is thought to greatly modify the climate of northwest Europe. As a result of the North Atlantic Current , west coast areas located in high latitudes like Ireland, the UK, and Norway have much milder winters (for their latitude) than would otherwise be the case. The lowland attributes of western Europe also help drive marine air masses into continental areas, enabling cities such as Dresden , Prague , and Vienna to have maritime climates in spite of being located well inland from
3700-846: The Guiana Shield , The highest elevations of the Brazilian Highlands , and due to variations in rainfall and temperature patterns in some places of the Tropical Andes in Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. Most of Yunnan and mountainous areas across Southeast Asia , parts of the Himalayas , parts of Sri Lanka , and parts of the Hawaiian Islands of Maui and Hawaii . In the Caribbean , only
3800-470: The Kandahar Ski Club of Great Britain in 1924. The "Kiandra Snow Shoe Club" held separate ski races for both ladies and children as early as 1885. Barbara Yan was the first identifiable woman documented as to having won a Downhill Skiing Championship. Yan also won the ladies downhill in 1887, the year her siblings won the girls' under-8 section and second in the under-12s. In 1908 the club held
3900-653: The Mount Field National Park at Mount Mawson , which is approximately 89 kilometres north west of Hobart and rises from 1200 m to 1320 m altitude. One of Australia's most scenic alpine locations is located in Tasmania at Cradle Mountain , where cross country skiing is possible. Cradle Mountain is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, inscribed by UNESCO in 1982. Australia
4000-526: The Namadgi National Park in the A.C.T. and Bimberi Nature Reserve and Brindabella National Park in New South Wales . The highest mountain in the ACT is Bimberi Peak , which lies above the treeline at 1912 metres, at the northern edge of the Snowy Mountains . A ski chalet was constructed at Mount Franklin in 1938 to service the Canberra Alpine Club . Ski runs were cleared and ski tows were improvised. The chalet later operated as
4100-723: The Northern Hemisphere include parts of coastal Iceland , the coast of Norway north of Bodø , the Scottish Highlands , the mountains of Vancouver Island , and Haida Gwaii in Canada . In the Southern Hemisphere examples include extreme southern Chile and Argentina (such as Punta Arenas and Ushuaia ), the Tasmanian Central Highlands , and parts of New Zealand . Oceanic climates are not necessarily found in coastal locations on
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort - Misplaced Pages Continue
4200-458: The Winter Olympics for the first time in Oslo 1952 and have competed in all subsequent Games, winning medals at every Games since 1998. Malcolm Milne became the first non-European to win a ski race world cup in 1969, and Olympic medalists include Zali Steggall , Alisa Camplin , Dale Begg-Smith , Lydia Lassila and David Morris in skiing and Torah Bright , Scotty James in snowboarding. Australia has extensive skiable terrain during
4300-425: The subtropics or tropics , some of which have monsoon influence, while their cold variants and subpolar oceanic climates occur near polar or tundra regions. Locations with oceanic climates tend to feature frequent cloudy conditions with precipitation, low hanging clouds, and frequent fronts and storms. Thunderstorms are normally few, since strong daytime heating and hot and cold air masses meet infrequently in
4400-893: The subtropics . It exists in both hemispheres between 35° and 60°: at low altitudes between Mediterranean , humid continental , and subarctic climates. Western sea breezes ease temperatures and moderates the winter, especially if warm sea currents are present, and cause cloudy weather to predominate. Precipitation is constant, especially in colder months, when temperatures are warmer than elsewhere at comparable latitudes. This climate can occur farther inland if no mountain ranges are present or nearby. As this climate causes sufficient moisture year-round without permitting deep snow cover, vegetation typically prospers in this climate. Deciduous trees are predominant in this climate region. However, conifers such as spruce , pine , and cedar are also common in few areas, and fruits such as apples , pears , and grapes can often be cultivated here. In
4500-498: The 1890s, and the Mount Buffalo Chalet was constructed in 1910. Australia's first ski tow was constructed near Mount Buffalo in 1936. Buffalo's first ski lodge was built at Dingo Dell in 1954. A bushfire in 2006 forced the temporary closure of the resort, and negotiations are continuing over a new lease on the property. A stone cottage was built at Mount Hotham in 1925 to cater for a growing interest in skiing, and
4600-534: The 1953 season. A rope tow was installed on Mount Northcote at the site and opened in 1954. The site proved excellent for speed skiing, but the hut was destroyed in an avalanche , which also killed one person, in 1956. Anton also recognised the potential of the Thredbo Valley for construction of a major resort and village, with good vertical terrain. Construction began in 1957. Today, Thredbo has 14 ski-lifts and possesses Australia's longest ski resort run,
4700-670: The 5.9 km from Karel's T-Bar to Friday Flat ; Australia's greatest vertical drop of 672 m; and the highest lifted point in Australia at 2037 m The last establishment of a major skifield in NSW came with the development of Blue Cow Mountain in the 1980s. In 1987 the Swiss-designed Skitube Alpine Railway opened to deliver skiers from Bullocks Flat , on the Alpine Way , to Perisher Valley and to Blue Cow, which also opened in 1987. The operators of Blue Cow purchased Guthega in 1991, and
4800-468: The Great Alpine Road between Harrietville and Hotham Heights means that in some conditions, vehicles (particularly two wheel drive vehicles) are not able to travel safely without these wheel chains. Visitors also need to purchase a Resort Entry permit to enter the resort during winter. The resort entry fee contributes to essential services for guests around the mountain, including ski patrol,
4900-533: The Northern Skifields, has an elevation of 1400 m, while Mount Mawson near Hobart , Tasmania, is at 1250 m. Australia has five major downhill ski resorts: Perisher and Thredbo in New South Wales and Mount Buller , Falls Creek and Mount Hotham in Victoria. Smaller downhill resorts such as Selwyn Snow Resort and Charlotte Pass in New South Wales, Mount Baw Baw in Victoria, and Ben Lomond and Mount Mawson in Tasmania provide
5000-530: The Olympics in this sport ever since it debuted at Nagano in 1998. Torah Bright , of the Snowy Mountains town of Cooma , New South Wales, won gold for Australia at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 in the women's snowboard halfpipe event. Bright's gold medal - combined with the gold and silver skiing event medals - made 2010 Australia's most successful winter Olympic Games. The Australian team
5100-556: The Southern Districts and only for members who held membership for twelve weeks in the local ski club. Arthur Balmain, whose company transported skiers to all localities, envisaged a competition that would encompass all clubs. He decreed that a team must compete for the Balmain Cup with all members competing in four disciplines: Downhill, Slalom, Jump and Langlauf. In 1946 the competition format for competitors eligibility
SECTION 50
#17327808350295200-598: The Zirky's Mount Hotham Hotel, Snake Gully and Arlberg Chalet. The land of the resort is operated by Alpine Resorts Victoria, the statutory authority, and the skifields and lift infrastructure are operated by Vail Resorts (leaseholder), who purchased the Mount Hotham Skiing Company from Merlin Entertainments. Vail Resorts' operating company is Mount Hotham Skiing Company (MHSC), that was granted
5300-424: The aforementioned parallels; however, in most cases oceanic climates parallel higher middle latitude oceans. The polar jet stream , which moves in a west to east direction across the middle latitudes, advances low pressure systems, storms, and fronts. In coastal areas of the higher middle latitudes (45–60° latitude), the prevailing onshore flow creates the basic structure of most oceanic climates. Oceanic climates are
5400-502: The area (when conditions allow). Cross Country skiing is also practised at Mount Gingera , elevation 1855 m, a prominent snow-covered peak above the city of Canberra. When conditions allow, Australia's rugged island State of Tasmania also offers cross country skiers some scenic terrain - notably in the UNESCO World Heritage area around Cradle Mountain . Tasmania has 28 mountains above 1,220 m and much of
5500-570: The coldest month, compared to continental climates where the coldest month has a mean temperature of below 0 °C (32 °F) (or −3 °C (27 °F)) in the coldest month. Summers are warm but not hot, with the warmest month having a mean temperature below 22 °C (72 °F). Poleward of the latter is a subtype of it, the subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen Cfc ), with long but relatively mild (for their latitude) winters, and cool and short summers with average temperatures of at least 10 °C (50 °F) for one to three months. Examples in
5600-551: The east, and (in some locations) summers become hotter. The line between oceanic Europe and Mediterranean Europe normally runs west to east and is related to changes in precipitation patterns and differences to seasonal temperatures; although intrusions of polar air, remnants of marine air-masses, and higher summer precipitation can create oceanic climates in Eastern Europe and transcontinental regions as far south as 40°N. The oceanic climate exists in an arc spreading across
5700-654: The enhancement of previously utilised ski slopes in the ACT, but the Namadgi National Park Draft Management Plan of September 2005 downplayed the future development of skiing as a sport in the Park, citing environmental concerns and suggesting that "climate change" has made conditions "less favourable": Ski touring is a minor activity in Namadgi as snowfall is only adequate for skiing for short periods in winter and spring. In most years, snow play can occur over several weeks, even if snow
5800-563: The establishment of a cafe at Smiggin Holes around 1939, where horse-drawn sleighs would deliver skiers to begin the arduous oversnow journey on skis to the Kosciuszko Chalet. It was the construction of the vast Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme from 1949 that really opened up the Snowy Mountains for large scale development of a ski industry and led to the establishment of Thredbo and Perisher as leading Australian resorts. The Construction of Guthega Dam brought skiers to
5900-635: The exposed areas of the High Atlas , some mountainous areas across southern Europe , mountainous sections of North America , including parts of the southern Appalachians and the Central America Volcanic Arc . In South America , it can be found mainly in temperate mountainous areas in the Tropical Andes , Venezuelan Coastal Range , the highest elevations of Serra do Mar in Southeastern Brazil , and tepuis of
6000-401: The first alpine ski races in the history of our sport. " 29 June 2011 Federation International Skiing wrote: "2011 is an historic year for Australian skiing, and the 150-year milestone is being celebrated across the nation's ski fields by many organisations. The FIS joins the congratulations for this important Australian anniversary, together for Kiandra's inaugural position in alpine skiing in
6100-453: The first ever documented International and Intercontinental Downhill Skiing Carnival. Results - America 1st, Australia 2nd, England 3rd. Australia's longest running skiing competition is the Balmain Cup. By 1933 team racing was open to virtually all competitors from any club or imported talents but Arthur Balmain of Cooma believed this was unfair to local enthusiasts. He donated a perpetual trophy open only to competitors residing in or about
SECTION 60
#17327808350296200-501: The free village buses, snow clearing of car parks in the village, waste management and environmental initiatives. Most of the skiing and snowboarding is based on one side of a large valley, and the area connects to the Bogong High Plains . Hotham features 320 hectares (790 acres) of ski area including 35 kilometres (22 mi) of tree-lined cross-country trails and a network of fourteen lifts. The longest run at Hotham
6300-528: The front end and about four-foot long). There were no fence palings or posts in Kiandra in 1861. Other early ski clubs reported in 1861 include the " Trysil Skytte- og Skiløberforening" (Shot and Ski Practitioner Association) in Norway, and the Onion Valley Snow Shoe Club in the United States. The Norway association held their first competition in January 1862. Alpine ski clubs were first founded in Munich, Germany 1891, Switzerland 1893, Arlberg, Austria 1901, followed by France and Italy. Sir Arnold Lunn founded
6400-431: The greatest vertical drop on a single run being 355 m from the Ridge Chair at Blue Cow. Victoria is the state with the greatest number of ski resorts in Australia. The highest peak in Victoria is Mount Bogong at 1986m. A hospice was built at Mount Saint Bernard (elevation 1540m) around 1863 along a track developed to link the Victorian gold fields. Snowshoes were developed locally to assist winter travellers, with
6500-817: The hottest month, the average temperature is below 22 °C (72 °F), and at least four months feature average temperatures higher than 10 °C (50 °F). The average temperature of the coldest month must not be colder than −3–0 °C (27–32 °F), or the climate will be classified as continental. The average temperature variations in the year are between 10–15 °C (50–59 °F), with average annual temperatures between 6–13 °C (43–55 °F). Rain values can vary from 50–500 cm (20–197 in), depending on whether mountains cause orographic precipitation . Frontal cyclones can be common in marine west coast regions, with some areas experiencing more than 150 rainy days annually, but strong storms are rare. Cfb climates are predominant in most of Europe except
6600-654: The immediate west and northwest in transition for humid continental , the remainder of Cape Cod ) and northeastern Georgia both in the eastern United States . It is also found in the highest portions of the Brazilian state of Bahia and Roraima (in transition or strongly influenced for Cwb ), Brønnøy Municipality in Nordland at 65.28 °N ( Norway north-central coast), the provinces of Sabah (northeastern Malaysia ), and Baluchistan , Pakistan . Although there are more or less rare places associated with relatively isolated mountainous regions (e.g., North Oceania islands and China ). The subtropical highland climate
6700-417: The island is subject to at least occasional winter snow. Subpolar oceanic climate An oceanic climate , also known as a marine climate or maritime climate , is the temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification represented as Cfb , typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool to warm summers and cool to mild winters (for their latitude), with
6800-468: The isolated Guthega district and a rope tow was installed there in 1957. Ski fields up by Kosciuszko's side were also established during this period, though their existence is now little realised. The Australian Alpine Club was founded in 1950 by Charles Anton with a view to establishing a chain of lodges for ski touring across the Australian Alps. Huts were constructed in the "Back Country" close to Mount Kosciuszko, including Kunama Hut , which opened for
6900-505: The isotherm used. Typically, these areas in the warmest month experience daytime maximum temperatures below 17 °C (63 °F), while the coldest month features highs slightly above freezing and lows near or just below freezing while keeping the average warm enough. It typically carries a Cfc designation, though very small areas in Argentina and Chile have summers sufficiently short to be Cwc with fewer than four months over 10 °C (50 °F). This variant of an oceanic climate
7000-425: The largest ski resort in Victoria. The Interschools Event, hosted in Mount Buller, claims to be the largest interdisciplinary snow-sports event, attracting 3500 participants in 2008. Snow play is also available at Mount Donna Buang . The most northerly ski fields in Australia are located in the A.C.T. - in the Brindabella Ranges which rise to the west of Canberra , the capital city of Australia, and include
7100-402: The locality of Hotham Heights in the Alpine Shire . Road access to the resort is via the Great Alpine Road . It is located approximately 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) west of Dinner Plain and 31 kilometres (19 mi) south of Bright . Hotham Alpine Resort is located approximately 226 kilometres (140 mi) northeast of Melbourne . Mount Hotham is host to a number of historic sites, namely
7200-551: The mountain's exposed position, a temperature below −10 °C (14 °F) has only once-occurred since records began in 1990. Mount Hotham receives an average of 66.1 snowy days annually. It is the coldest weather station on mainland Australia by maximum temperatures. Owing to its short, cool summers and long, cold winters, Mount Hotham has a Subpolar oceanic climate ( Cfc ) bordering on Tundra ( ET ). Skiing in Australia Skiing in Australia takes place in
7300-469: The new combined resort later merged with Perisher-Smiggins to become the largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere . In 2011 Perisher had 47 lifts covering 1,245 hectares and four village base areas: Perisher Valley (elevation 1720m), Blue Cow Terminal (1890 m), Smiggin Holes (1680 m) and Guthega (1640 m). The resort is spread across seven mountain peaks, with the highest lifted point being Mount Perisher Double Chair at 2,034 m and
7400-542: The north of Croatia and Serbia and some parts of the Czech Republic , also have oceanic climates; these are generally near the boundary for being humid continental . The line between oceanic and continental climates in Europe runs in a generally north to south direction. For example, western Germany is more impacted by milder Atlantic air masses than eastern Germany. Thus, winters across Europe become colder to
7500-818: The northeast, as global temperatures became warmer towards late 20th and early 21st century. They are the main climate type in New Zealand and the Australian states of Tasmania , Victoria , and southeastern New South Wales (starting from the Illawarra region). In North America, they are found mainly in Vancouver Island and neighbouring parts of British Columbia , as well as many coastal areas of southeast Alaska . There are pockets of this iteration of Cfb climates in South American countries, mostly in regions of southern Chile and Argentina, parts of
7600-655: The northeastern coast of Honshu , such as Mutsu, Aomori in Japan, feature this climate, which is rare in Asia due to the lack of a west coast in the middle latitudes. Île Amsterdam and Île Saint-Paul , both part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands , are located in the subtropics and have an oceanic climate (akin to Tristan da Cunha; see above). Temperate oceanic climates, also known as "marine mild winter" climates or simply oceanic climates, are found either at middle latitudes . They are often found on or near
7700-620: The northwestern coast of North America from the Alaskan panhandle to northern Washington . In addition, some east coast areas such as Block Island , Cape Cod , Martha's Vineyard , and Nantucket have a similar climate. And in the highlands of Central and South America with the variant Cfb. An extensive area of oceanic climates distinguishes the coastal regions of southern Chile and extends into bordering Argentina . The only noteworthy area of maritime climate at or near sea-level within Africa
7800-763: The ocean. Oceanic climates in Europe occupy a large stretch of land, from Norway 's Atlantic coast, Ireland and the United Kingdom and southeast to some parts of Turkey . Western Europe is almost exclusively oceanic between 45°N to 54.913°N; including most of France (away from the Mediterranean), nearly all of Belgium , the Netherlands , Austria , most of Luxembourg , most of Denmark , western Germany , northwestern Switzerland , south coast and western areas of Norway north to Skrova and extreme southern Sweden . While most of Southern Europe
7900-842: The peaks in the highest mountain ranges have this climate (including the Blue Mountains in Jamaica and Cerro Maravilla in Puerto Rico ), with only Hispaniola 's Cordillera Central and Chaîne de la Selle having significant urban settlements under this climate zone, such as cities like Kenscoff in Haiti and Constanza in the Dominican Republic . Areas with subpolar oceanic climates feature an oceanic climate but are usually located closer to polar regions, with long but relatively mild winters and short, cool summers. As
8000-650: The provinces of Chubut , Santa Cruz , and southeast Buenos Aires province in Argentina. In Western Asia , the climate can be found on the Black Sea coast of northern Turkey and Georgia , often transitional to humid subtropical . While Cfb zones are rare in Africa, one dominates the coastline of the Eastern Cape in South Africa . The climate subtype can also be found in Nantucket , Massachusetts (in
8100-419: The regions, but are more common in subtropical highland climates where these air masses meet more frequently due to the influence of hotter weather in the subtropics or tropics, especially in monsoon-influenced climates. In most areas with an oceanic climate, precipitation comes in the form of rain for the majority of the year. Most oceanic climate zones, however, experience at least one snowfall per year. Snowfall
8200-421: The second Australian to take a World Cup victory, winning at Furano , Japan in 1985, and Zali Steggall became the third Australian (and first woman) at Park City , Utah in 1997. Alpine skier Zali Steggall won Australia's first skiing medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics winning bronze in the women's slalom event. Australian freestyle skiers emerged as a world force from the mid-1990s, when Kirstie Marshall
8300-615: The shape of the continent. Only in Europe do they penetrate far inland, where they eventually transition into warm-summer humid continental climates ; in other continents, they are blocked by a large mountain range or limited by nearby oceans. The North Atlantic Gulf Stream , a tropical oceanic current that passes north of the Caribbean and up the East Coast of the United States to North Carolina , then heads east-northeast to
8400-450: The small resorts of Ben Lomond and Mount Mawson in Tasmania. New South Wales has the highest terrain and ski resorts: Thredbo 's Karel's T-bar terminates at 2037 metres, Perisher's highest lifted point is a close second at 2034 metres and Charlotte Pass at 1990 metres. In Victoria, the highest lifted points are at Mount Hotham with 1845 metres, Falls Creek at 1842 metres, and Mount Buller at 1805 metres. Jindabyne
8500-622: The south and in the 20th century, the focus of recreational skiing in New South Wales shifted southward, to the Mount Kosciuszko region. In 1900, a hut was built at Bett's Camp , above the Thredbo Escarpment, and came into use for winter skiers. The Hotel Kosciusko was opened by the New South Wales Government in 1909 at what is now Sponars Chalet, near Smiggin Holes. The first Kosciuszko Chalet
8600-421: The southern hemisphere winter in the south eastern states and Australian Capital Territory , between elevations of around 1250 m to 2200 m. Elevation of the snowfields in Australia varies with latitude; however, viable winter snows are generally found above 1500 m: Thredbo, near Mount Kosciuszko , has Australia's highest lifted point at 2037 m and its base elevation is 1365 m. Kiandra, in
8700-541: The sport of Freestyle Skiing in which it has won Olympic medals, produced World Champions and over 100 world cup medals. Malcolm Milne competed for Australia in Alpine skiing at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games. His 1968 Olympics 24th placing in the Slalom Event remains the best performance by an Australian male in that event. In 1969 he became the first non-European to win a men's World Cup downhill event - winning first place at Val d'Isère . Steven Lee became
8800-590: The subsequent Torino Olympics in 2006, while Dale Begg-Smith won Australia's second skiing Gold in 2006 in the Freestyle Skiing Men's Moguls . Begg-Smith won silver in the same event at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics , while Lydia Lassila won gold for Australia in the Women's Aerials. The sport of snowboarding is also popular in the Australian skifields and Australia has been represented at
8900-448: The tropics, a subtropical highland climate typically features mild weather year-round. Temperatures there remain relatively constant throughout the year and snowfall is seldom seen due to warmer winters than most oceanic climates. Areas with this climate feature monthly averages below 22 °C (72 °F) but above either 0 °C (32 °F) or −3 °C (27 °F) depending on isotherm used. At least one month's average temperature
9000-414: The west coast of continents; hence another name for Cfb, "marine west coast climates". In addition to moderate temperatures year-round, one of the characteristics is the absence of a dry season. Except for Europe , this type of climate is confined to narrow bands of territory, largely in mid or high latitudes, although it can appear in elevated areas of continental terrain in low latitudes, e.g. plateaus in
9100-602: The world, it also carries the distinction of being the longest continuously operating club. In 2006, the Holmenkollen Ski Museum confirmed that the first two ski clubs in the world were formed by Norwegians in 1861, "both in Australia and Norway". 10 May 2011 The Federation of International Skiing included in a letter signed by the President Gian Franco Kasper the following statement: " I would like to commend you for having organised
9200-480: The world." Ski races were conducted from 1861 then in 1908 the club held the world's first documented "International Ski Carnival". The results were: America, 1st. Australia, 2nd. England, 3rd. In addition to the International Downhill Race, events included races for boys under eight, ten, eleven and fourteen; boys and girls Open Championships were also conducted. The events concluded with
9300-571: The year, similar to other oceanic climates, but unlike these climates, they have a high diurnal temperature variation and low humidity, owing to their inland location and relatively high elevation. Subtropical highland climates with monsoon influence ( Cwb ) have distinctive wet summers and dry winters . In locations outside the tropics, other than the drying trend in the winter, subtropical highland climates tend to be essentially identical to an oceanic climate, with mild summers and noticeably cooler winters, plus, in some instances, some snowfall. In
9400-509: The years is at the Australian Ski Lift Directory . As with most of the Australian Alps , Mount Hotham's climate is, compared to the bulk of Australia , cold throughout the year; with particularly cold maximum temperatures, and Mount Hotham is one of very few areas in Australia that frequently records maximum temperatures below freezing . Mount Hotham is also one of the only places in Australia to have never recorded
9500-475: Was a pioneer nation in the sport of ski racing, with annual ski races being conducted at Kiandra during the 19th Century. The Kiandra snow shoe club is the oldest ski club in the world. The club was formed in 1861 by three Norwegians, Elias Gottaas, Soren Torp and Carl Bjerknes on the Kiandra Gold Fields, NSW. This original Kiandra ski club is now recognised as the first alpine snow ski club in
9600-533: Was built at Charlotte Pass in 1930, giving relatively comfortable access to Australia's highest terrain. In 1964, Australia briefly boasted the "World's Longest Chairlift " , designed to carry skiers from the Thredbo Valley to Charlotte Pass, but technical difficulties soon closed the facility. At 1760 m, Charlotte Pass has the highest village base elevation of any Australia ski resort and can only be accessed via over-snow transport in winter. The growing number of ski enthusiasts heading to Charlotte Pass led to
9700-417: Was changed and the jump section was removed. In the wilderness region south of Kiandra, The Alpine Hut, near Mount Jagungal , was built in 1939 to cater for skiers. Access was arduous - via packhorse and ski. The Kiandra Goldrush was short-lived, but the township remained a service centre for recreational and survival skiing for over a century. The Kiandra courthouse closed as a police station in 1937, and
9800-573: Was for a time used as a private residence, before becoming the Kiandra Chalet (until 1953) and later the Kiandra Chalet Hotel, The owner of the Chalet ran a ski rope tow. The Chalet closed in 1973 and the building became a Roads Depot building. Australia's first T-bar lift was installed on Township Hill in 1957, but in 1978, Kiandra's ski lift operations re-located permanently to nearby Mount Selwyn ( Selwyn Snowfields ). Selwyn
9900-648: Was placed 6th in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics . The Olympic Winter Institute of Australia was established by the Australian Olympic Committee in June 1998 in an effort to improve the performances of its Australian Winter Olympic Teams, and Alisa Camplin won Australia's first Alpine Olympic gold medal in the Freestyle Skiing Women's Aerials at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002. Camplin won Bronze at
10000-572: Was the only Southern Hemisphere team to secure medals and was ranked 13th in the overall medal tally. Australia's two gold medals equalled the gold medal haul of former Winter Olympic host nation France and surpassed those of former host nations Italy, Japan and Croatia (in the Former Yugoslavia). A parodical bid for Australia to host the Olympic Games at Smiggin Holes was launched by satirical sports commentators Roy and HG during
#28971