Bucket Lists & Spindrifts on Mount Twynam

Bucket Lists & Spindrifts on Mount Twynam

Words by Grace McIlroy & Images by Stevie Reinhart

There are some weekends in the mountains you never forget - and this was one of them.

We set off from Canberra on a bright Saturday morning, headed for the Illawong Track trailhead at Guthega, just over 2.5 hours away. I've spent a lot of time in these mountains over the years - usually in brutal conditions: whiteouts, 100km/h winds, gear-testing kind of misery. But, this time, we got lucky.

Think: clear skies, 30cm of fresh snow from earlier in the week, barely a whisper of wind (5km/h!), and a surprisingly friendly freezing level. It was, in a word,perfect - and that’s rare out here.

Despite packing two tents, I joked we didn’t need them - conditions were that calm. But with the alpine chill kicking in, we got to work. We dug out a snow ‘dogbox’and settled in. Sam whipped up a pasta that I wouldn’t even make myself back home in Sydney - spicy sausage, tomato, herbs, and he packed salt and oil. Sensational. It seems to be a Mont speciality, eating well in the BC.

With full bellies, we lay out under the stars, human sized, brightly coloured, down marshmallows  in jackets and Mont sleeping bags. We lay there watching shooting star, after shooting star. It was close to the best stars I’ve seen in Koci National Park.

Out there, everything is quiet. All the noise, the missed training sessions, the work drama, the forgotten birthdays and the never-ending to-do list - it feels like it doesn’t matter. You’re left with the cool air, beautiful humans beside you, and a glimpse of another world.

We were testing Mont’s Spindrift and Brindabella sleeping bags (and a prototype quilt Sam was trialling), and honestly? Toasty. It dropped to -9°C that night, and we were still snoozing.

I woke up around 3am, peeled off my glove liners, and let the cold night air drift across my skin.

Trusted in the wild couldn’t have rung truer out there. If your gear fails, you will know about it. 

We rose to a glowing alpenglow over Tenison Woods Knoll - pinks, purples, blues. I pulled my boot liners (kept in the sleeping bag overnight, pro tip) and stepped out to start touring. The snow was crunchy underfoot, and the blue hour gave way to warmth as the sun crept in over the ridgeline.

I brought back some Japanese pour-over coffees from my last trip - which went down a treat. Even in the backcountry, coffee is a non negotiable.

We spent the day touring and skiing the northeast chute of Mt Twynam - Australia’s third-highest peak. The snow wassurprisingly good. Soft enough to carve, firm enough to hold.

We made our way back toward Illawong with tired legs and full hearts.

These are the trips you carry with you when you’re old and grey. Where you feel connected. Grounded. Present. Pure stillness.

It’s a reminder of why it matters to do hard things, especially with people who lift you up and back your wildest ideas, no questions asked.

Until next time,
Adventure Grace