What Planet Was That?

It has been a week of extreme winds, rain, snow and wind chills down into the minus 20s. I suppose the biggest story of the week was the wind, which got above 120kph on several days and nights. This has, along with the poor vis due to the wind, meant many lifts going on hold at some time or other. One night the anemometer hit 150kph, just 15kph short of a category 3 cyclone.

I've hardly had my camera out of my pocket, either because it would mean freezing my fingers off or because there was nothing to photograph other than a grey blur.

Last Friday I had some really nice turns on deep, dry wind drifts with Traktorman in good visibility and today some very nice turns on freshies up high. I never really got to see them (because of near zero visibility) but they felt good. I didn't ski on Saturday but after talking to some who did, I probably should have made the effort.

The lower slopes have had a little fresh snow but were pretty ordinary. Yesterday (Sunday) Meadows and other areas of similar altitude were like giant fly paper fields. Those who were not ready and hit these areas at speed got a nasty shock when their ride slowed up really quickly upon hitting the glue.

As I approached Kosi early yesterday morning I heard a call from Heidi: "Richard. you don't do rain". How true. I was tricked. It started to drizzle as I walked across the bridge and I hoped it would turn to snow (as forecast). I eventually got wet but I had fun with Lucky Phil, Richard, Adam and Anthony, trying to find the best snow in the extremely low visibility and limited lift options. At least up high the rain froze on your clothes and could be brushed off.

The base on the upper slopes is building nicely. Today (Monday), there was without doubt the deepest base on the Basin, Karels and Sponars of all season. Had some very enjoyable turns off Karels and into the Basin as well as off Sponars but couldn't see a thing. At times there was nothing but white and the rushing wind - just a little scary but no big shocks.

I'm still wondering if I'm skiing on the same planet as where the forecasts have been coming from. As Robes said this morning, "all forecasts should start with Once Upon A Time". Maybe we are just living in a parallel universe where forecasts of big dumps are some how leaking through a crack in the time/space continuum?

Wally's new residence on Kareela Face on Friday

They tell me wombats always have 2 entrances for ventilation
This is #1

Entrance #2
By Sunday morning there was no trace of the entrances under a fresh layer of snow

Also catching my attention ...
Waiting for a friend?

I guess that would be her

Bottom of Dead Horse Gap run - Friday afternoon

The biggest thing on Saturday (for me) was the weekly fireworks display

Sunday: Sundance and High Noon

Monday morning and little difference

Will tonight bring snow to 700m in NSW? It would put a little credibility back into the forecasts.

It is snowing lightly in the village as I write this report. With luck, I might add a 10th photo to this report tomorrow ;-)

With even more luck, tomorrow will be so epic it will rate its own report. Dream on ;-) ...

I should also mention that Tommy has escaped hospital and hopes to be back on the slopes soon.

Also, I understand the Masters went off well on Saturday. It was the best weather I can recall for a Masters Race, although the snow quality was derided by some ;-)