Another Change Is Coming

The weather has changed from those long, calm, clear, blue-sky days back to full-on winter. The winds were howling up top this morning and have started to deposit some fresh windblown in small pockets between vast sheets of frozen marble and even more deadly frozen ruts. After a warm night I was surprised to find the gloves I wore this morning were inadequate for the wind-chill.

Other wise it has been an interesting week. Paulo sent me a couple of photos that he and Sharon took on the southern side of Cootapatamba Lookout whilst Marion and I were on the northern side (see previous report). I didn't find out that we almost crossed paths until a day later. What a small/big world we inhabit?

My camera battery went flat on Monday morning right at a critical moment in Eagles Nest but Lucky Phil saved the day and captured the special moments when we celebrated Tommy's 86th birthday. Lucky Phil told me that if he gets to ski as long as Tommy, he has more years yet to ski than he has so far lived. What a wonderful thing to look forward to.

The groomers have provided the best skiing this week and indeed the grooming has been good allowing for some fast top-to-bottoms early in the morning and some wide carving turns on the Basin and Exhibition.

Alison & Gary were well pleased with my tip about Sundance, which is providing great skiing when finished for the day.

Sharon on the main range with Mt Kosciuszko in the top right

Paulo in front of Cootapatamba Hut - last Saturday

Due to a loading glitch on Monday we rode Merritts to Creek Station

Bottom of High Noon after a night of snow making

Tommy's birthday celebration at Eagles Nest on Monday
photo by Lucky Phil

Lower Sundance on Monday afternoon

Colourful snow carving outside Kareela Hutte

Interesting cloud patterns yesterday heralding a change

The cloud patterns this morning were more ominous

This morning's red sky reflected on Crackenback at dawn

Traktorman gets a year older on Friday. Have a good one.

Today's Grump: You have probably heard about the excesses of some of those at the top of the HSU union and you probably know already what I think about the massive pay increases that Federal pollies have been paid this year, well here's another grab by public servants who expect us to cut back whilst they take our taxes to spend any way they seem fit.
http://www.taxpayers.org.au/climate-change-bureaucrats-jetsetting-the-world-in-luxury-at-our-expense/
What a bunch of hypocrites. I've written to my federal member about this. I urge you to do the same. This greed and waste of taxpayers' money has to stop.