Always Amazing
Yesterday the snow was wet and the weather started that way after an amazing freeze up top. The Supertrail was open above Bunny Walk station on Snowgums so I decided to skip Merritts. We soon saw the grass coming through at Bunny Walk station and there were a few holes up high. I suspect Merritts had a much better cover but the change was fun.
Last night the guns had a long run as the temperature crashed well below zero and remained there all night and into the day.
The sun was out this morning and Jax, Traktorman and I headed out back. We had heard stories of people using crampons on the main range only a few days earlier. We soon saw why, as the sudden overnight freeze had hardened everything with some beautiful results. There were some spectacular ice formations on the snow and rocks and a certain reminder of the "snow monsters" of Hakkoda. The noise of our skis crossing the frozen crystals was ear shattering and the sound of breaking glass was all around.
Our climb up Signature Hill was a real test as our skins just couldn’t deal with the steep slippery icy faces. Eventually we had to boot pack up the last stage. We rewarded ourselves with a well-earned snack and took our time waiting to see if the snow pack was going to soften in the sun. It didn’t and so we took a back door run off Signature Hill down towards Kosi lookout and then out on skiers left of the walking track before skiing back down to the bridge.
We picked up quite a sweat with the climb and the few kilometres of extremely firm yet smooth skiing back was enough.
Between the three of us we probably took a few hundred photos and alas there is simply no room on my report for so many fascinating shots. The following montages provide just a sample of what Jax called a perfect Kodak day.
The Bluff, Supertrail below Bunny Walk and the Cat Walk
Closed areas of Crackenback, World Cup, Milk Run and down to Tower 10
Central Spur, Friday Flat, Crackenback
The Basin, Karels, Upper Supertrail and a frozen Sponars
Signature Hill, creeks and climbing, climbing, climbing
A daunting climb rewarded with views to Jindabyne and the Ramsheads
Traktorman viewing the main range
Superb alpine beauty
Jax & Traktorman on a near scratchproof snow pack
Mother Nature at her best
There are good snows forecast this week. Another 20cm should see the entire resort open. We noticed the boxes being loaded back on to the Basin T-bar as we returned today.
WATCH OUT for changes to speed limits before and inside the national park!
There have also been radio reports of "random chain checking".