Bumper Harvest?

Friday's snowfalls intensified during the afternoon and evening leaving everything caked in white. There was chaos on the roads as the biggest snowfall of the season spread all the way down to Cooma. Multiple car accidents and a bus off the road caused massive delays for traffic in all directions.

By Saturday morning there was a reported 65cm of fresh on top of the mountain and 40cm in the village. It was the greatest depth of snow in the village from a single snowfall in many years. The queue for the Kosciuszko Express was quite long (as one would expect) by the 8:30am. Unfortunately the lift did not open for some time after that. We should consider ourselves lucky, as there were total power cuts to Jindabyne, Berridale, Adaminaby, Sawpit and other areas. East Jindabyne didn’t get power on again until Saturday night.

So what was all this snow like? It was not champagne powder but more like mashed potato. As I approached the top there were already dozens of boarders and skiers up-ended in the deep thick snow. We did have a lot of fun but we certainly worked a lot of muscles in the process. My skis are 78cm wide under foot and several times I had the untracked snow above my knees. On flatter slopes this meant that I came to a complete stop and consequently I was continually looking for steeper, untouched slopes.

By Sunday morning the snow report said a further 20cm had fallen up top overnight. Together with what fell during the daylight hours on Saturday and Sunday we have probably had close to a metre fall since Friday morning and there has been a lot fall in the village. Some roads in the area remain closed due to the amount of snow. I didn't think Sunday's off-piste was as good as Saturday's but the groomers were a little better.

Lower lift lines on Friday morning

Same, later on Friday afternoon

TV antenna - Saturday morning with High Noon in the background

Ramshead chairlift with 40cm+ in every chair

There was a huge snowball fight in lift line before opening on Saturday

Trees beside Kosi Express bending under the weight of the new snow

Lower Supertrail where there was only grass on Friday morning

A little of the first-run carnage

Looking back at the village – lunchtime Saturday

Village Square and Squatters Run caked in white

The resort generally has a fantastic base and I was surprised to see so much snow on Funnel Web already open for season 2005. The down side to all the heavy snow was the large number of injuries sledded from the slopes by ski patrol.

Ski tuners and motor body repairers have had a windfall. The forecasters say there will be more snow over the next few days and even though it is still quite warm, it is still snowing lightly as I finish this report. Was clouding seeding involved in this harvest?

Thanks to Ray & Lynne who in going to Sydney for the weekend fairly well guaranteed good snows.