What We Were Waiting For

After a night of extreme winds (up to 142kph) and horizontal rain all Monday night, it switched to snow around 7:45 yesterday (Tuesday) morning and the snow continued for about 24 hours. On top of that, the snow guns started early last night and continued into this morning.

Snow covered roads meant many staff were caught up with snow chains and delays out of Jindabyne. Gunbarrel opened late and Cruiser even later.

I made chair 6 up Gunbarrel and had first tracks down skiers' right for the top half of High Noon and my next two runs were very enjoyable as well. The sign at the top of Gunbarrel said Cruiser opening at 9:30 but when the sign had disappeared earlier than that, I got over to Merritts for several very nice runs until I ventured into my first fall for season 2011.

Attempting to pass a ski patroller on Squatters Run I caught something on the edge of the ungroomed and double ejected between both the patroller and a tree. That slowed me down till coffee break after which I enjoyed a few more "legal" runs in untracked wind blown drifts whilst several closed areas were trashed out by the over zealous.

The snow quality is dry and light although wind packed in exposed areas. Not until the bottom of the steep section on High Noon did the snow become wet.

Crackenback and Lower Sundance on Monday

Crackenback and Lower Sundance this morning

Queue for Gunbarrel before lift opening

From 6th chair behind media and the early birds

Top of Gunbarrel heading for High Noon

Looking up towards Michael's Mistake

Powder Bowl

Wiamea in the distance

I hear Eagle Way has a very good wind blown cover and that there is a huge amount of snow up top - partly due to the wind and the 35-40cms of new snow. We are hoping to have more lifts open tomorrow morning ;-)