Martian Invasion Thwarted

You may recall in the fantasy movie, War Of The Worlds, that when the Martians invaded Earth a red weed spread across the landscape, well yesterday when I went out to investigate the damage from Sunday’s 46mm of rain, I found a thick layer of red dust had been deposited across the slopes. The red dust is the worst enemy of snow. Even worse than torrential rain, the red dust heated by the sun’s rays burrows through the snow like a cancer day after day.

Yesterday afternoon it began to snow and it snowed all night and was still snowing lightly this morning. This deposited a 20cm carpet of fresh, dry, light snow over the upper slopes and 5cm in the village covering most traces of the Martian plot to turn the resort into another red planet.

Oh, and what have I been smoking, you ask? The snow was so sweet today that, yes, I am on a natural high. The snow quality was the best I have experienced this season. I got first tracks beneath the Bluff and then out onto lower True Blue. Sure, the lower slopes turned heavy after the first or second run and there wasn’t much of a base beneath the freshies but the untracked slopes were a delight. The snow in the Basin and on Karels (which opened late) had, may I say, Niseko tendencies. I found mushroom pillows of light snow (yes snow) on and under the Wall in the Basin that “felt” truly amazing – I couldn’t see much of the terrain.

The wind last night was so strong that it derailed the cable on Karels T-bar and I was surprised to see the crew get it up and running in such a short time and in such blustery conditions – job well done. I managed to get first T and first tracks but once again it was more a sensation than a visual tour. I finished the morning with a most enjoyable run to Dead Horse Gap with Marion and Jax. By the mid point the snow was more creamy than dry but there was a good cover and we did get first tracks there too.

Red dust yesterday

Missing snow: valley behind Thredbo and Karels to Basin

Crackenback this morning

High Noon and Sundance

First tracks out of True Blue vs World Cup

Tree skiing GD style

Minimal vis in Basin vs big holes to DHG

View to Dead Horse Gap

From dry powder on Karels to the rushing waters of Bogong Creek

First tracks to DHG

I’m sure Ronnie (and all his ski repair crew) will have big smiles on their faces as there was many a rock nailed today, including one by yours truly at the bottom of Cannonball. It was all worth it. I could feel snow hitting my knees in some of the deep turns below the Bluff.

There is possibly more snow on its way before Sunday. The temperatures are way back down to the cold winter levels and the strong winds are blowing more snow in by the hour. Don’t you just love Spring?

Nothing to be grumpy about today ;-)