Yes, Stranger Things Do Happen

As I came home last night there was a dusting of sago-snow on the cars but nothing much on the roads. Was that all we were to get?

No siree! I awoke a couple of times during the night to realise it was snowing heavily in the village and shortly after 6am I was down in the Village Square snapping piccies of the 10cm+ base in the village. There was no breath of wind but the reports said it was blowing up top, resulting in a -12C wind chill. I dressed for cold and headed out. It was still snowing and continued to do so for much of the morning.

Plans were made - stay only on the runs that still had snow yesterday (after all the rain) - don't go where we had seen rocks or grass. Yeah - right, how long did those plans last?

First chair - visibility up top was marginal at best. I followed Peter and Wendy making first tracks through the fresh snow along Evil Way. Blindly turned right on the deep cover on Little Merritts. It was light snow! By the tree line I could see better, especially after wiping the snow flakes from my googles.

There were already a couple of tracks (maintenance or ski patrol) on Supertrail as I followed Peter making delicious turns in about 25cm of fresh snow. It did get a tad heavier as we descended but in a gradual way that worked out the quads. Second run was down World Cup till above Mid Station. We had already abandoned our plans and were on areas devoid of snow yesterday.

After clipping a rock I was back onto Supertrail. Third run was more untracked off the Bluff. The visibility had not improved, the wind was getting stronger and I was getting weaker. I left Peter, Duncan and Jen to take a brief dry-out, caffeine-hit and rest. The conditions kept getting worse and unfortunately warmer - consequently the snow was getting heavier. Zero visibility in the Basin but I then found some nice turns in the trees between Bushranger and Supertrail.

Succumbing to exhaustion and with survival instincts kicking-in and with conditions now resembling rain in the village, I packed it in and here I am typing away.

Sundance and High Noon yesterday (I didn't go out yesterday)

Same shot again early this morning

And the same again (now) at 11:30am

Heavy snowfall in the Village Square overnight

Looking up the Village Square a little after 6am

Outside Avalanche Cafe waiting for first chair

10cm+ footprints in the Village Square, more tables, first chair,
and then Meadows : OMG - Only Missing Grass ;-)

Some thought there was enough to ride to the bottom over yesterday's grass and rock
I won't name them, but neither said they hit anything

A white Village Green, as seen on my way back home
Note snow had now melted on the roads

And last of all - today's snapshot of the Meadows Grass Depth Area ;-)

Sorry there were no action photos. Between the cold, the continual snowfall, lack of punters on the mountain, having too much fun and trying to keep up with Peter (on snowboard) - it just didn't happen.

Yes folks, we have had the 8th start to winter 2016. I take my hat off to the BOM for getting their forecast so much better than the rest. I myself couldn't see 30cms+ snow in this system. Indeed I found drifts over 60cm deep up around the Basin - where there were also large sheets of ice.

Mind you, with a full moon and the liftees end-of-season party last night - what else would you expect?