Like a Rock

Both Gale & Force were out on the town last night. The bureau's anemometer has been revived and is currently reading around 106kph.

I didn't rush out but still rode first chair with Peter who soon found out that he had made the correct choice in skis rather than board. The entire mountain had been frozen over. It looked lovely but was so deceptive. We stayed on Supertrail coming down and even then we hunted for the softest of the grooming. Surprise, surprise, the grooming ended before Milk Run and we had to negotiate frozen rutty bumps to the base. Obviously the base had been too wet and too thin to risk grooming on the lower slopes.

We went back up ('fools' you say) and went down Sundowner (also ungroomed) to ski High Noon but it's lower slopes were the same, so we had some enjoyable groomers on Cruiser awaiting the opening of Antons T-bar.

The wind got stronger and it looked like the chairs may get put on wind hold so off to Antons we went. The visibility was extremely poor and so we skied across the mountain under Sponars (needs more snow) and down a well covered Cat Walk to the Supertrail where we found Milk Run had softened a tad - still it's too early in the season for me to enjoy bumps ;-)

As I had work to do I bailed and left Peter to find that sweet spot on the slopes.

There was no queue this morning, which was a surprise to all. I still think there will be a big one tomorrow. A 'big one' in both crowds and snowfall.

The only lifts not open today were Sponars, Basin & Karels. The lower slopes are showing wear and tear from both riders and rain alike but by Monday everything should be sweet.

Riding Cruiser - terrain park was open

Looking across the Powder Bowl towards Stanleys

Top of the Pwder Bowl - looked inviting but bullet proof

Looking up Sponars T-bar (no boxes or Ts yet)

Looking down Sponars

Looking towards Wiamea from Cruiser

Closer view of a wonderfully filled in Wiamea (closed today)

Forecasters have anything between 40 and 75cm of snow falling over the weekend and, as you might expect, the weather looks less than friendly.

The wind chill is currently -17C so dress warmly.

Take care on the roads and watch out for animals and police patrols.