And A Dozen Steak Knives

But wait – there’s more … As often happens, close the resort and snow will follow, although it rarely follows as quickly as it did this long weekend. It started snowing on Monday and the once red drifts viewed from the village were turned back to pristine white. With temperatures well below zero, the new snow was light and dry.

Marion and I got out early this morning to get some freshies. The wind-chill was below zero and the new snow was remarkably dry as we walked out from Eagles Nest. There may have been an average fall of 5cm but in some places there was none and in others it was 20cm deep. The wind had prevented all the red snow from being covered, as the photos below will show. The new snow was slower and much softer than the frozen red snow and made for some interesting moments as well as a lot of balling on the steeper slopes.

Monday’s front rolling in

Signature Hill on the way out this morning

Merritts Creek

My first run was on the North Face

There were freshies all over – better low than high

Marion completing the zipper

Yours truly balling up – photo by Marion

Marion completes the 8s

The zipper line

Our job is done – time for coffee

The forecast is for fine weather this week and another front next Monday. There’s still more tracks to be laid before then.

Grumpy Report: There were many disappointed that there were no end-of-season fireworks on Saturday night. On top of no ski runs open, some visitors who came to Thredbo for the long weekend felt a little cheated. Several drove to Perisher for their last ride of the season (Perisher managed to keep 3 lifts on Front Valley open for a couple of days longer than Thredbo). Let’s just hope the funds saved on fireworks and grooming will go to expanding the snow making for 2009.