Yes, Patience Pays Off

Thursday night was a big snow making night. The temperature dropped to –10C and the air was clear and dry – perfect for making mega snow. And so it was.

After a few warm up runs on upper Supertrail (via Snowgums chair) the ropes at Bunny Walk were rolled up and ski Patrol allowed us to ski to the bottom. It was like Chinese Downhill (if you are old enough to remember that ski movie) as skiers and boarders flew past me in a straight line. I, on the other hand enjoyed getting some turns on the new corduroy.

At the bottom, Jax and I lined up at the start of the queue for Kosi Express – still not open to skiers and boarders. At approximately 11am it was on for young and old. Jax made the first jump and I followed, sprinting to first chair, shared with a lift staff member who was on his break. I suspect that those lined up beside us had some trouble bolting past Glenn. At the top Jax and I peeled off onto Eagle Way (staff member had to buckle into his board and was left behind) - off Eagle Way and into the freshies with a touch of breakable crust and then to the bottom.

What a morning – no wind, sun shining, below zero temperature and top to bottom skiing as good as the best of it last year – and we are still in June.

Saturday was more of the same and it was Demo Day. I did a couple of warm up runs with TraKtorman and then paid my $10 for a selection of new skis. I won’t go into what I liked and didn’t like but it was all fun. World Cup was the pick although I was told that skiers’ left of High Noon was sweet. Antons T-bar also opened.

After lunch 4 of us decided to try a run to Dead Horse Gap. Three of us on skins and one on snowshoes, climbed from Eagles Nest to above and beyond the top of Karels. The snow cover was good. The density of the snow was extremely variable. Soft wind blown and breakable ice followed by deep snow of ever changing density. One minute you were on top and then below the surface. I discovered two distinct ice layers in the snow pack which may cause problems later in the season if the snow pack gains enough weight for these ice layers to become slide layers. The scenery was great; the cover 30 to 80cms deep in places, the skiing was … interesting.

Sunday was more of the same with the two runs from Kosi mid station to Tower 10 groomed and officially opened. The corduroy was nice and the crowds down a little of Saturday. I didn’t mention that there were a significant number of skiers and boarders on the slopes on Saturday. After 2 warm up runs it was another $10 (cost of a wax job) to demo skis again. Some of the newly opened runs were quite thin in base depth and as the morning passed, the snow became more scratchy. The race club kids were out in force and the number of riders dragged off the mountain in buckets by ski patrol reached such a level that I decided to call it quits before lunch time.

First tracks on Little Merritts

Frank on the uncrowded slopes of the Supertrail

Milk Run - Friday and Saturday

View to DHG, arching about, down on both knees and a near dark arrival at DHG

The Basin, stranded cat, below Karels

Turns were difficult

Tree frozen to the snow pack

I always enjoy getting out of the resort

Amazing ice crystals on Bogon Creek

The cold clear nights have resulted in huge amounts of man-made snow being pumped out all over the resort. I have never seen so much snow made as what occurred on Friday night.

The forecasts have mentioned the “r” word for tomorrow with snow on Tuesday into Wednesday. Any natural snow would be nice and some westerly winds would also help to fill in the holes that keep the Basin and Sponars from opening.

Thanks to all the reps for their demos. I know what I will be buying next.