This is a 100% volunteer run event, by the backcountry community for the backcountry community
The Festival aims to not only provide an introduction to the ever-growing suite of backcountry activities, but to also make it more accessible to the general public whilst educating them about mountain safety. It will be a family friendly, welcoming and inclusive event.
The Festival celebrates the growing movement of ‘all things backcountry’, comprising human powered winter activities such as cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, telemarking, alpine ski touring, splitboarding and snow camping.
More than 300 people attended the 2019 festival at Mt Hotham.
We acknowledge that the festival at Mt Hotham happens on Aboriginal land that was never ceded.
We recognise the continuing connection to land, water and community by a number of Nations.
We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
The Gunaikurnai people have been recognised by the Federal Court as the native title holders over certain lands within the Resort.
Mt Hotham sits at the boundary of at least two Nations. The majority of the boundary between Gunaikurnai and Taungurung country is the Great Dividing Range.
Dalka Warra Mittung’, meaning in Dhudhuroa language “the people of the mountains and waters” also have connection to these mountains.
Gunaikurnai and Taungurung people have “agreed that waters flowing south are Gunaikurnai and waters flowing north are Taungurung, but that we could also share Country.”
Source: Right People for Country
It is known that the principal language groups in the Mt Hotham region included the Gunaikurnai, Dhudhuroa and the Jaitmathang.
Source: History of Hotham