The Recovery

It has been two days since the big wet. Although still drizzly yesterday morning down low, the skiing up high was quiet good. Sponars in particular was lovely, having been closed on Sunday. It wasn't groomed but presented a wide untracked smooth slope of 5cms of cream on firm as I arrived at the top, first after ski patrol.

The lower slopes were slow and sticky from the excess moisture levels and the vis was only fair up high. It snowed most of the day, heavily at times.

Today the sun was kissing the peaks from dawn onwards. My first run down Supertrail was OK but on my second ride up I saw the Basin was open and there was fresh untracked on the Rim.

The new snow was creamy and by the time I approached Karels T-bar it opened. Leatherbarrel Phil and I got first tracks down the face and then over onto the Rim Run. Simply lovely with varying depth and density sometimes more than 10cm deep.

We repeated the procedure several times before I lost Phil and decided to hit Balls-To-The-Wall before it was trashed by anyone else. I had to climb in over the rocks and ice but it sure was worth it as the slope cascaded down around me with each turn.

I was just about to go to coffee when I was apprehended by Jax, Linda and Ian and forced out towards Dead Horse Gap. We climbed out behind Karels to get first tracks down to Bogong Creek. Yummy and then freshies through the trees to the Gap, even though there had been another group ahead of us.

It was so good we had to pick up Marion and the Chooks and we did it again just after 12:30. Hate to say it but, it was even better still, as we took a line higher to avoid our previous tracks and those of others who had followed our first run.

We did a long run down beside Bogong creek before making a last minute traverse back to the ridge to avoid the impassable lower sections.

Merritts Falls opened up, The Culvert stained and BunnyWalk washed away

Left and right of Sponars T-bar early this morning

An untracked Karels awaiting Phil and me

Balls-To-The-Wall and Ian at DHG

First drop to Bogong belonged to Ian, Jax, Linda and yours truly
our second run was higher

Skier's left of upper Bogong Creek and it's all mine

Linda above treeline and at the bottom of DHG

Marion and Ray enjoying our second run to DHG

Jax at top of treeline and bottom of DHG

Bogong Creek
compare to my August 29th photo

My congratulations and thanks to the mountain crew for their quick and skilled efforts in repairing the damage from the weekend floods. A traverse across Merritts Falls was opened early this morning and later both the Ridge Traverse and Conrod Straight were reclaimed for the skier.

A special mention must also go to Ski Patrol for their control of the situation both before and when Merritts Creek broke through its snow encrusted cover and washed away multiple ski runs on the weekend.