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Snow Season

shanusr33

By shanusr33,
in Victoria

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shanusr33 Rising Star

shanusr33

Posted
Posted

Hey all,

I've been thinking about this since last year when I finished modifying my R33, and hanging for the snow season to begin so i can go for a cruise and photoshoot somewhere....but i don't know anything about the snow season and was hoping someone on here could help?

When does the season start? where should i go? Are there areas that are pretty clear for photoshoots or is it all full of cars in the carparks all the time? or is it better to just find a spot with a background and pull up on a lookout or something and hope for the best? what are chains like and when do you need them and would they do any harm?

Like I said, i'm pretty clueless with this stuff but any light on the subject would be awesome. Does anybody go up there regularly and think a cruise could be a good idea?

thanks heaps

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blind_elk Grand Master

blind_elk

Posted
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Snow season starts "officially" on Queens Birthday weekend.

If you go to any of the major snowfields, you will most likely need chains (unless you have a 4WD, I think they are exempt). I think most of the majors have a bus service that can get you up to the snow - you park your car in a safe car park, below the snowline, so you won't need chains.

Mt Donna Buang and Mt Baw Baw out towards Warragul are "sightseeing" areas. Mount Buller (near Mansfield) and Falls Creek (near Bright) are for serious skiiers.

I would suggest you get a polarising filter for your camera - the snow can be very "glarey".

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Bec Grand Master

Bec

Posted
Posted

^^ spot on.

The only thing I have to add is:

1. Just coz snow season starts next weekend, doesnt mean there will be snow :blink: - make sure you investigate where you are going before you make the long drive expecting pics of your car with the white stuff.

2. If you've never driven in snow/ice before, for god's sake be careful - its a whole new world

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black_gtst Proficient

black_gtst

Posted
Posted

hey dude, i grew up in mansfield at the base of mt buller. abour 3.5 hours from melb to the top of the hill. Through winter its kinda hard to stop and take photos in the snow with a good view in the background. There are car parks on the way up that you could stop in but once at the top (as high as you can drive) they will park you in a massive carpark with all the other snow bunnys which will make it hard to get decent photos.

Police require all 2wd cars carry snowchains (4wd at own descression), its illegal not to. Even though most of us wouldnt fit chains under car its still compulsory. Another thing to keep in mind is melting snow (on a sunny day) runs through dirt and onto road ie car is generally pretty dirty by time you get up there.

Entry through the gate during winter is about $28 i think, free in summer.

In summer on the other hand you have MASSIVE empty carparks with a view behind, incredable photo oppertunity but of coarse there is no snow, safe place to have a bit of fun too considering there is noone else around.

hope this helps out all interested!

brett

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Interloper Veteran

Interloper

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i was up at Mt Buller 3 weeks ago. It was raining on the way up and near the top it had been hailing heaps. I was in the S15 and even in second gear taking corners you could feel the car had no grip sliding everywhere....when i get home i'll post up a few pics.

awesome hill climb though, the next day was dry and sunny so we were able to enjoy the touge.

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Bec Grand Master

Bec

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its a longer drive (5hrs) but the carparks @ right up the back of mt hotham would allow great photo's

yeah - anythign down the Dinner Plain side would be awesome for pics

id suggest trying somewhere like Lake Mountain - there is a huge car park at the top and along the roads there are a couple as well. would make it easy for pics, but youd have to check if there was snow and how far down it went

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DogKnight Mentor

DogKnight

Posted
Posted

I think id be too damn scared to drive the car on ice/snow. Don't know what its like driving with chains on. Surprised you made it to the top allblitz. Would have been a hairy drive.

On the other hand, awesome photo.

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shanusr33 Rising Star

shanusr33

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Thanks all for the ideas. That pic is sweet, just the sort of thing i'd be looking for!!

For those that don't know me, you may have seen my R33 around; , its airbrushed in a 'frozen' theme with a creature thing going on...so when all those people at autosalon were saying "oh is that clouds or water or some s#%t" well NO IT IS NOT, the car is actually FROZEN!! :-) thats why i'm so keen on this idea. was even considering taking a snow bunni or two up with me if they were interested for a seperate shoot, but my car is only a 2 seater so i'd have to find somebody else who's keen to do the same sort of thing...

i'll wait a little longer and start googling and searching snow report websites and stuff, making sure to leave a few weekends open for the opportunity if possible. i'll keep you posted with pics if i end up going later this year.

here's some of my ride currently and you can see what sort of picture i've got in my mind of what i want :-)

post-44524-1211948116_thumb.jpg

post-44524-1211948126_thumb.jpg

post-44524-1211948133_thumb.jpg

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blind_elk Grand Master

blind_elk

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yay for not having to fit snow chains on a gtr.. but i thought you still need to have them ready just in case with all cars, including 4wd's?
No, I think they need to be FOUR WD (Patrols, Land Cruisers, etc), not ALL WD. GT-Rs are still basically RWD, so you would need chains on the rear axle.
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GTAAAH Mentor

GTAAAH

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hmm i know cars like wrx's and liberties and rav 4's and others with full time 4wd are sweet to go up without chains on (gotta carry) (i know quite a few boarders who own AWD cars for this reason) .. and its fairly well known that gtr's are AWD.. so i'm just gonna hope i dont get pulled over by someone who happens to know about the whole RWD biased torque split thingo.. although i'd assume any car with any sort of AWD would simply be classified as AWD by them

EDIT:

VicRoads has reviewed its policy regarding the exemption for some types of vehicles to enter the Great Alpine Road (between Harrietville and Omeo)

without wheel chains being fitted when 'No Entry Unless Wheel Chains Fitted' signs are erected. When weather conditions permit, four-wheel drive

vehicles will be permitted to enter this area without fitted chains, provided that the four-wheel drive is engaged.

However this exemption does not apply to all-wheel drives unless able to operate in true four-wheel drive mode, and the four-wheel drive mode is

engaged. To be able to do this, all-wheel drive vehicles must have a central differential that is capable of being locked, such that the drive force is distributed to the front and rear axles in an approximate 50:50 ratio. The locking mechanism may be either manual or electronic.

Due to the significant market in all-wheel drives and four-wheel drives, and because of the claims made by the manufacturers of these vehicles, VicRoads is not able to provide a list of vehicles that comply with this requirement.

It is the driver's responsibility to check with the manufacturer of his or her vehicle to determine if it has a central differential that is capable of being locked. If the driver is still uncertain if the vehicle complies with this requirement, then chains shall be fitted to the vehicle, before proceeding beyond the "No Entry Unless Wheel Chains Fitted" signs.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW but i'll still risk it, as if anyones gonna be able to say otherwise.. i mean it does hit 50/50 bias some of the time :P

The shittest thing about going to the snow is getting out in 0 degree weather and putting chains on your car..

Not to mention that if slightly larger rear tyres can make the awd screwy imagien what chains will do hehe

Edited by GTAAAH
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