Freshies Galore

OK, not quite the same freshies you might get in mid winter but ... Marion (back from visiting the ancestors) and I went out to the hill this morning and what a surprise.

A lot of snow had obviously melted before the latest snow storm but an amazing amount fell during that storm. On average I would say 10cms of fresh was still around but in places the wind (that had been well over 100kph at times) had deposited wind drifts up to 30cms deep. Obviously all my tracks from 10 days ago had been completely obliterated and we had a new canvas to work with.

After the early fog burnt off it turned out to be a beautiful clear sunny morning. The temperature ranged from about +5C to +9C. There was a light breeze to dry the perspiration from our brows on each climb - not that Marion did much of that ;-) Cloud slowly built up during the day and it eventually rained while I was writing this report.

Just putting in the boot pack staircase back up the main face left most steps 20cms deep in the new snow. I admit the new snow got slower on every run but luckily it wasn't sticky.

Even during the few hours we were out there a lot of snow that had just been sitting on bushes on our walk out had disappeared by the time we walked back.

What a spectacular start to the day
even after climbing up from Snowgums chair

The main range - Etheridge top left and Club Lake chutes top right

Close up of Club Lake chutes

moi on North Face - photo by Marion

There was some deep snow, much of which followed me down
photo by Marion

Marion on the Main Face with a big smile on her face
glad to be back in Aus and on snow

She lost part of that smile when she found she could not get near her favourite waterfall

Like children finger painting
Messing up that blank canvas was such fun and a heap of good exercise

Photo from the bridge on our way out

Photo on the way back showing how much snow melted in 4 hours
even the water flow increased considerably from the morning's thaw

I could only think of one thing more enticing than Freshies Galore. James Bond knows what I mean ;-)

And a thought for anonymous (see previous report): If you think October is Summer what would you call mid November with 30cms of fresh snow?