Is It A Report-a-thon?

Three reports in four days. What a difference one day makes. I didn't go out in the rain on Sunday or Monday and it was still raining in the village after midnight but somewhere things changed. It got colder and rain turned to snow.

There was 1cm on the rooftops this morning and a claim of 10cm of fresh up top. It was -6C with practically no wind. What was it going to be like? Would the rain have soaked up through the fresh snow turning it to glue? Would there be extensive ice patches? What about all the rocks and bushes that had been exposed by the past two wet days?

I was apprehensive on my first run to say the least. The brave and foolish went straight to the bluff. I followed the wise old men and got freshies down Little Merritts then I switched by Kareela Hutte and onto an ungroomed and untracked World Cup. The first few turns had me backing off quickly as ski tips ricocheted of frozen ice lumps under the fresh cover. Then I got into the swing of things and enjoyed World Cup to the point I had to stop and take a photo :-)

My next run was off the top, through the trees and eventually onto True Blue. Only two sets of tracks in front of me. The base was still icy and crunchy but the untracked snow buffered me from the harsh base. I skied slowly and deliberately watching for rocks, gravel and whatever else lay just a centimetre or two below the surface. Adrian cruised by and I followed him below Tower 10 where the snow pack was just a foot wide in places - and this was just my 2nd run.

Ski-in Ski-out corner was already showing signs of difficulty. My next run was under Snowgums - lighter snow and untracked as I casually wound my way around the trees. It was this or Merritts Falls, which I found out later was great at that time. The top of Karels had deeper snow but the sound of edges on ice beneath the 10-15cms (I hope it was ice) was quite off putting. The Rim Run offered even deeper turns.

I spent my morning going places where I did not expect to find rocks and I didn't. Tomorrow is another day and I hope we get more snow. The cover is really thin both in and out of the resort with snow snakes and other obstacles lurking beneath.

Meadows snow depth this mornimg - hmmm not much

It was good to see the snow sitting on the trees above Mid Station

It was better looking up at my first tracks down World Cup ;-)

The deepest freshies were up high

David goes wider for more fresh

Queue on Basin T-bar was longish today

It was just nice to be out in the cool dry air

Igloo building out by the bridge

Jerry and I were still getting untracked at midday :-)

I missed a ski with Rosco on the weekend - may be just as well ;-)
Photo by Rosco as the lads negotiate Bogong

I've given up believing any of the forecasts at this stage. There appears to be an east coast low forming. Adelaide temperatures and rain are a good sign for more snow and the air stream is southerly - so what does this mean? May be the Tarot will be more useful.

A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
Do you care for the iconic and legendary Australian Snowy Mountains brumbies? Do you want to see them massacred and maimed to the point of decimation? Get on board and help stop the planned cull by the Baird government.

Submit your comments and thoughts about The Kosciuszko National Park Draft Wild Horse Management Plan.
Fill out the form at the bottom of: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/protectsnowies/ or
Email your submission to: kosciuszko.wildhorseplan@environment.nsw.gov.au
Do it now! before you forget. Submissions close 5pm August 19th 2016.