Drug Of Choice

After three days of snowfalls the weather changed for Monday – as it so often did during the 2003 season. A warm sunny day with a light breeze and up to 30-40cms of fresh snow on the main range – the addiction kicked in once more.

With the Kosciuszko Express closed for maintenance we found the climb up from Snow Gums chair invigorating to say the least. Marion and I skinned whilst Peter (heading out to Kosi for his first time) was on snowshoes. We climbed up to the Ramshead plateau behind Signature Hill and picked up a few turns beyond the Kosi Lookout.

After climbing to the top of the continent (2nd time in a week for me) we put in some nice turns down to the top of the Kosi cornice and then traversed out to the Kosciuszko South Ridge where we all took different lines down to Leatherbarrel creek. A couple more skiers followed whilst we lunched in the sun by the creek.

After a long climb straight up to North Ramshead we got some more turns on the way back to the top of Signature Hill. From here we again all took different lines due to all the freestyle boarding activity off the cornice.

Marion and Peter approaching Mt Kosciuszko

Pete getting big turns off Kosi

Marion chose the South Ridge cornice

With the Victorian Alps as a backdrop

Lunch by Leatherbarrel Creek below the varied lines on the South Ridge

I did say varied lines – each to their own

Close up of those intersecting lines

The long climb back out of the valley – Kosi at top right

Big air boarding off Signature Hill

The last few turns from Signature Hill back to the resort

Sore legs, sunburn and big smiles were the souvenirs of a great day on top of Australia.