Climate Change - Daily

Since my last report on Thursday we have had every kind of weather. Last Friday was blow-down day. 135kph winds closed everything but Friday Flat and Easy Rider T-bar (via Merritts chair). I didn't bother going out but for the patient, some other lifts eventually opened.

Due to the unsatisfactory state of my body, I had decided before Friday night that I would not sign up for the Top To Bottom race. The upside of this was that I was able to stay up later enjoying a delightful dinner with friends at Hahnenkamm.

Strangely I awoke at 5am, as I would have had to if I were doing the Top To Bottom. The sound of rain on roof tops and a quick look out the window and I realised that the race was not going to happen. It was officially cancelled due to soft snow conditions and was not rescheduled for later in the year. I spent the wet day washing and cleaning whilst others went out in the terrible conditions for the Interclub races.

Sunday and the weather was overcast, snowing lightly and a little breezy but there had been a freeze and conditions were the best since Thursday. I had some fun turns in the Basin and off Karels with Jane and gave my dodgy foot a good rest. The smooth off piste on Karels was pretty well the best of it in the resort.

I came in for lunch and it started snowing much more heavily and it was settling in the village.

Today, Monday, I awoke to the sound of snow clearing on the village roads and then saw the snow covered trees in the village. The air was still and a light mist hung over parts of the mountain.

The queue for Kosi chair was as much a surprise as the fresh snow. Although I arrived before 8:30, I was way back in the queue.

Richard, Kim, Paul and I discussed options before getting to the top. I could see the first riders hitting the Bluff and Little Merritts. With World Cup and Sundance closed for races and no other grooming other than Supertrail I though that skiing back to Kosi chair was not the best option.

There was about 10cm of fresh on top of the groomed Supertrail but that was going to be gone long before I got there. The Basin hadn't opened so I decided to choose something other than the Bluff or Little Merritts. Great, first turn was into untracked snow, this continued for turn after turn until I had to cross a groomed section and then onto Plan B. Traktorman knows where I went. Fall line skiing with no turns in front, just the occasional cross fall line traverses. I ended up on True Blue and the bottom section was heavy, heavy work - chopped up into big piles of damp snow.

Reaching the top of Kosi chair a 2nd time, everything looked trashed and a horde of riders were already on Sponars. The Basin was open and Karels was running. The sun was shining and no wind.

Lovely untracked off Karels and straight over the Rim and back up again. Did this a couple of times before I caught up with Kim and Richard. Kim suggested some other lines - sort of near Saschas (I won't disclose this location either) and Kim got 2nd trax, I got 3rd. Golf Course Bowl was now officially open but I didn't want to face the runout or the lower heavy snow so back around for a 2nd run and more freshies - sort of out near Saschas somewhere.

Time for a late coffee and then surprise, surprise, the offer of a pick up from Dead Horse Gap. The upper Golf Course Bowl was delicious, down in the trees the snow got heavier but it was the best I had had in weeks. There were two other tracks but they were made by cross-country skiers coming uphill. The last descent was yummy but as Ray said 'I wouldn't want to be the last down today'. We chewed it up pretty well.

Ski Patrol training on Blow-Down Friday

Monday Morning :-)

Many tracks could be seen on my 2nd ride up Kosi

Central Spur in sunshine

Snow covered trees - like white wattle flowers

Early turns on Karels

Out of resort

Ray getting untracked freshies

Just lovely

Clouds over Thredbo valley

It has just started snowing again - big flakes - I wonder how long this will last?

The red dust has been well and truly covered by some 20cm of snow during the past 24 hours.

The forecast is all over the place - more snow falls I think - I hope.