Iced Coffee Spill

Monday saw the opening of Mid Station on the Kosciuszko Express - a historical moment, as it has been a long time since it was last open. Pete and the boys worked hard to get it open so we could take advantage of the wonderful late-season dump. Merritts Falls was again the best but the Bluff and much more were really good riding. Little Merritts and the Supertrail were very nice first up. The cover on the Cat Walk was great although it slowed up later in the morning. Somehow I did manage to do more damage to my skis on Monday morning (skiing with Davo and Phil) than all season -ouch- but they still work.

Tuesday arrived and the Supertrail was not the same place - soft on the groomed and very thin in places with ungroomed bumps on World Cup to mid station. It still provided more skiing than just the Basin but off-piste remained good, albeit soft and sticky as the sun rose higher. After a few runs in-bounds I joined Marion, Rob & Sal for a skin up Signature Hill. It was a beautiful day to be out on the range. The north face was already soft and a tad sticky at the bottom. I climbed back up to do the main face with Marion and this aspect was less sticky. A climb to the other side of the valley, way above Kosi Lookout, presented us with an untouched run to the top of Sponars T-bar and then some freshies (but certainly not the first) down Exhibition to the Cat Walk.

Today we were planning another assault on the back-country but the wind saw us coming and kept increasing in strength making outback travel simply unpleasant but not impossible. I had several nice runs on the Basin with Richard and almost nobody else and after a quick coffee at Eagle's Nest, I skied to mid station to download. The overnight freeze and high cloud cover was keeping the off piste firmer but still the cover got sticky on the groomer below Kareela. I must get around to waxing the battle-scared sticks.

Monday: freshies to Mid Station
Pete with Mid Station open

Tuesday: Looking north from the top of Signature Hill

Sally & Rob on the north face of Signature Hill

Amazing caramel ice formations (remnants of last week's dust storms)

Looking south to the north face of Sig Hill with Ramshead in the background

A pink glow on top of Mt Kosciuszko - partially hidden by cloud

Like a major iced-coffee spill, the rocks look amazing

Marion above Summer Drift

Sponars yesterday

Sponars yesterday - before and after

The weather forecasts don't look too user-friendly over the long weekend. I'd like to complete my 100 days skiing in the resort - only 2 more to go. Meanwhile my 500th Richard's Report draws ever so close.