I’d been invited by a friend, a strapping mountain of a man, to help for the annual Bogong Conquestathon held on the Labour Day holiday weekend.

(Crazy people actually run up and down Mount Bogong, while others take a more casual stroll to the summit and back.)

The plan was to hike up the Staircase Spur camp overnight below the summit of Victoria’s highest mountain and next day act as marshals to ensure that the event's runners and walkers found their way across the ridge for the descent on the Eskdale Spur.

It turned out it was a stinking hot day, with not a breath of wind.

And as I labored and sweated my way towards the top, I remarked to my friend that I wasn’t exactly sure his insistence that I pack plenty of warm clothing and wet weather gear was sound advice.

He just marched on ahead of me with a knowing look on his face.

Swiping rivers of sweat from my eyes, I had to wonder why the hell I was carrying all this extra weight when there wasn’t even a cloud in the sky.

When I finally shrugged off my pack and collapsed near the summit, I was sure that my friend had a sadistic streak.

I was so buggered from carting all that gear to the top I had to enlist his help to put up my tent.

After dinner I crawled into my sleeping bag and promptly fell asleep.

I was woken at dawn by what was a strange and unusual noise.

At first I thought that it was rain, but when I pulled back the tent flap I was gobsmacked.

It was snowing heavily and the summit was soon transformed into a strange new world of whiteness.

That’s when I realised that I was shivering; the temperature had plummeted below zero.

I quickly rummaged through my pack and dragged out long johns, a thermal top, down filled mittens, a beanie, an extra pair of socks, a fleece top and my rain jacket.

As I struggled in the confines of the tent to don some warm clothes, I silently thanked my friend who had so prophetically stated before we set off the previous day that no matter the forecast, when hiking in the mountains always expect the worst weather-wise.

I’ve followed that advice for more than 30 years now.

No matter what the forecast and no matter what the season, my pack always contains thermals, a fleece, gloves, beanie, over pants and a rain jacket.

Keep that in mind when next you venture up into the mountains.

Want to learn more about day hikes and overnight hikes and what to carry in your pack? Head along to the Border Bushwalking Club’s annual new member’s night on March 5.  For more information, visit the club's website at www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au