Post New Year

It has been quite hot in the alpine areas these past few days and you have been able to literally watch the last patches of snow disappear before your eyes.

I don't know whether it has been last summer's bush fires, the lifting of the drought in several areas or just the recent heavy rains mixed with high air temperatures but the wild flowers and flies seem more intense than in past years.

Looking south from the main range behind Karel's T-bar

The high-alpine streams are diminishing

Looking west

All that remains of the Kosi Cornice

Like a sentinel from Easter Island

Some of the high-alpine flora

Boulder Alley above Signature Hill

Signature Hill

Flies? What flies? Our packs felt heavy though.

For many a keen Aussie skier and snow boarder, the exodus has begun from the nation to white covered places in the northern hemisphere. From what I have been reading, conditions are very good in most areas north of the equator.