Powder Starved

Friday morning brought some fresh snow and the pick was probably above the Basin. The resort is split into two halves now that Central Spur and all interconnecting runs are closed. Creek Station on Merritts chair is a popular spot for criss-crossing between Merritts/High Noon and the main village.

It snowed on Friday night and on Saturday there was a lift line on Kosi Express well before opening, awaiting fresh tracks. The first run was sweet – possibly the best run I’ve had down the Supertrail all season - fresh snow on groom. The second run was one of the worst I’ve had down Supertrail – pushed up glug on slippery base. My third run was into the Basin and we did several there on fresh snow before Karels T-bar opened.

Skiers and boarders were going in all directions in a manic attempt to get some fresh tracks. It became obvious to all, how starved of powder everyone was. I, like many others, trashed my bases on the granite monsters lurking only a few centimetres below the temptation of untracked fresh snow. Despite the damage to bases and edges, everyone was smiling and saying things like “it was worth it”.

Sunday morning and it was snowing again. With the promise of another magical first run, there was a long line of riders awaiting the start of Kosi chair. Alas, the best laid plans of man and mouse … technical problems delayed the start for sometime. I had two runs off Snowgums before Kosi chair finally got underway. At the top of Snowgums it was like the start of a “Top To Bottom” race. By poling quickly through those who had been on chairs in front of me, I was able to get fresh tracks down the Supertrail. There wasn’t much new snow and although not nearly as nice as yesterday’s first run, I was still able to enjoy some big turns on a lightly dusted well groomed Supertrail. The slopes above the Basin weren’t a patch on Saturday as the prevailing easterly winds were turning yesterday’s powder into icy sastrugi - if you could see it through the thick fog - the Supertrail was the best. Having said that, there were still many desperates going off piste in search of that one turn.

Man made vs off piste – Milk Run, Supertrail, Funnel Web, Tower 10

Rosco above the Basin – Friday

Creek above Gunbarrel top station and the bottom of High Noon

Lovers Leap Bypass and High Noon Saturday morning, same on Sunday

Boarder doing it the hard way up Basin T-bar

That fresh snow can be tricky

The Bluff – open, Central Spur - closed

Many desperados in search of that elusive powder

Sunday lift line – delayed start due to technical problems

It is still snowing lightly from the east (a drizzle mix in the village) and the forecast is for more tonight before clearing later on Monday.

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