Photos show incredible overnight transformation at Aussie camping spot
Having not seen snow since he was a kid, camper Luke Stahl was determined to find the perfect spot to watch it fall.
A campsite near Little Pine Lagoon in Tasmania was magically transformed by snow overnight. Source: Luke Stahl
An Aussie traveller has captured incredible images showing the overnight transformation of his campsite. Luke Stahl parked his 4WD at a remote campsite in Tasmania's Central Highlands hoping to see snow, and Mother Nature didn't disappoint.
'I'd been searching for it. It's been a lifelong dream of mine to go 4WD camping in some snow,' he told Yahoo News. 'So I heard it was coming and I kept driving until I found the heaviest amount.'
Driving the two hours west from his camp near Little Pine Lagoon to Queenstown this morning, Luke was sure he'd made the right decision. At 15 to 20cm deep, the snow was so thick that Luke momentarily lost the beers he'd left outside.
'I had to keep my beers cold somehow. I didn't drink them all, and left them out overnight. But in the morning I couldn't find them,' he said.
Luke momentarily lost his beers after the heavy snowfall. Source: Luke Stahl
What did the camper do when the snow began to fall?
Snow has fallen as low as 600 metres above sea level in the southwest, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. And temperatures plummeted to well below freezing on mountains above 900 metres. Peak times to see snow in the island state are between June and August, although some regions retain a decent covering into September.
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Luke grew up in Victoria and hadn't seen snow since he was a kid visiting Falls Creek. He arrived hours ahead of last night's fall to set up his camp, and when the high-pressure weather system hit, he jumped out of his vehicle.
'I got very excited… I started running around,' he said.
Snow continued to fall all through the night. Source: Luke Stahl
Will the camper return to see more Tasmanian snow?
Outside of his tent, walking around at 10pm it was freezing, but inside his sleeping bag it was warm. Snow continued to blanket the campsite all through the night, and when Luke left in the morning it was still falling.
The experience has left Luke wanting more, and he's now considering a return trip. But he's determined not to let excitement get the better of him this time, and return more prepared.
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'I didn't bring gloves with me. So this morning, packing up and scraping snow off the car and moving everything was a bit rough,' he said. 'My teeth were chattering for sure.'
Luke made the mistake of heading up into the mountains without gloves. Source: Luke Stahl
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