Banking On August Sunshine

It was Bank Holiday long weekend (for some) and with such lovely weather the crowds were in town and, without surprise, on the slopes.

The snow pack has remained in excellent shape although today the air temperature just broke over the zero bar to +0.3C up top. A stiff breeze kept us comfortable in those extra layers.

To escape the crowds yesterday I went out back a short ways after a few quick runs off Kosi chair.

Sunday first-lift queue whilst snow guns blast away in the background

Woodsie followed me down Signature Hill

Sig Hill got too crowded so I swapped sides

Looking back to tracks on the North Face (right side of photo)

Crowd above the Back Door with old Nth Ramshead in the background

Everest just right of the Back Door (when looking at previous photo)
New Nth Ramshead in top right

Panorama: Top - Kosi top left, Etheridge centre. Bottom - Club Lake Chutes, Seamans Hut and onwards

Close up of Kosi cornice and the slopes around Blue Lake

Close up of Etheridge - there are 2 people in top left - good for scale ;-)

Kosi queue when I returned around midday

The snow guns have been making a feast of the cold dry nights, especially on the lower slopes.

The forecast is for more sunshine, followed by the deterioration on Wednesday, snow on Thursday & Friday and so the cycle continues :-)

My next grump article is now viewable at: wikigrumps/4579700901_2014073114/.