Just One More

With the forecasters turning nasty on us and a clear blue sky at dawn I thought I'd better make the most of it. Yes, I know I said I should cut back on reports and spend more time earning a few dollars to try and pay for the ever increasing bills but it really is an addiction I'm finding hard to fight.

The Basin T-bar opened yesterday but with so many racers and hangers-on I decided to go to Gunbarrel first up. Lots of snow making but could I find any fresh? I did a few on High Noon, which still has loose gravel at the bottom of the steep section. I followed this with a couple on Cruiser where the snow cover was much better.

I was surprised to see Powder Bowl open but then there are many trails now open that in past years would have been closed. I can truly say I am well pleased to see less 'nanny-state' decisions being made in Thredbo.

Next it was off to Antons, which wasn't the same as it was on Monday's opening day. The traverse to Wiamea is 'interesting'. In past nanny-state years it wouldn't be open until they had been able to plough in a track but with a little effort the traverse can be made safely and without hitting rocks.

Enough of yesterday - back to today. Another big night of snow making and World Cup was handed back to the punters this morning. The cover is, as racers like it, 'firm', as was the Supertrail. Next I ventured into the Basin. Hey, the T-bar was going to help me get out of the resort. The last drop to the T-bar is 'agricultural' and so I took the wider detour on my second run.

Something had gone wrong out of the resort. Tuesday's fields of soft snow were somewhat frozen. I don't know why, it's been so cold and there hasn't been any fog or cloud on the higher slopes (that I know of). Anyway I persisted and following my Tuesday tracks out to the 'hill' I could see several others had also had some good (and not so good) lines since I was last there.

I went up high and out to North Ramshead to get a good view of the main range. The steeper slopes still had soft snow but almost everything else was rock hard top the point that the metal fittings on my skins were being bent by the ice blocks.

As I had past the base of Sig Hill on my way out I noticed that the others who had been out there had kindly left me one of the steeper chutes so my final run had to be that chute. Don't you love that adrenalin fix that gets your body shaking? The entrance to the chute was difficult to locate but the beautiful snow between the rocks was worth it. I had snow (dislodged at each turn) sliding around me as I avoided all obstacles. It doesn't take much to give this old man a thrill (you can tell my Mum I actually put my helmet back on for that run ;-)

Speaking of thrills, I still had to ski back down to the village but that was fine as the crowds were down and the cover remained in tact (yes it is that firm ;-)

Wednesday: Top of Antons looking from the Wiamea traverse
and then looking along the traverse towards Wiamea

Looking back up Wiamea

Today - Thursday: the last drop to the Basin T-bar

The snow harvesting looks like garden beds of snow
Hey, if it won't fall then why not grow it ;-)

Mt Kosciuszko - see how the cornice has broken away

The North Face of Etheridge

Looking towards Club Lake Chutes from North Ramshead

Looking towwards Blue Lake

Some different lines on the 'hill'. 'A' leads to the Main Face
'E' the North Face, 'C' my last run back this morning

Looking back up at the lovely snow on Chute 'C'
Must come up with names for these chutes

I am pleased to see that the BOM has changed its prediction for rain to snow for the forthcoming days. I don't believe there will be much but I expect some wet-ish snow above 1500m. You never know, we just might get a big surprise like when the last storm hit.

KT are throwing an "ABC" party in the Keller on Sunday night. "ABC"? Anything But Clothes. I kid you not. Sounds like "Ski in the Buff Day" (You don't believe me? Would wikipedia lie to you? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thredbo,_New_South_Wales)

UPDATE:
Wilderness Sports will host the first ever Backcountry Demo Day to be held in Australia @ Thredbo on Sunday July 14 from 9.00am. "Basecamp" will be at the Demo area Thredbo are trying to develop at the bottom of Merrit's Chairlift and Snowgums behind the Tennis Court below Lovers Leap so safe to Skin or Snowshoe up; also for lift access to various terrain.