Hachi Huit Acht Walong

As I trekked out back yesterday and could hear the sound of gushing water around me, a tune came to mind …
Climb every mountain (Signature Hill and beyond), ford every stream (Merritts Creek and its many tributaries), follow every rainbow (Marion’s touring gear) till you eight your turns.

It had been a week since I had put in a turn and surprisingly the KT snow cam made it look like there was still some snow pack left. Marion and I headed out on Saturday morning into a cooling breeze. We did get some strange stares from passers by. I must admit I wasn’t expecting much as the overnight temperature had not been below +6C. The surface was soft but only the top two centimetres and then it was firm. I didn’t need skins but simply boot packed up the main face of Signature Hill.

Most of our tracks from the previous week were still visible so I decided I would attempt to "eight" each of my earlier runs. The climb to the peak behind Signature Hill was more challenging this time and I don’t think I will be going up there again this year. Towards the top the snow was rotting and breaking open into deep crevasses. The run down was also challenging as I had taken the easier line last week and now, to make my bad impression of 8s, I was confronted with turning contra to my preferred line.

The same went for the North Face but each run was as, if not more, enjoyable than last week’s. We enjoyed a somewhat uneven surface on the main face and some fine refreshments. After more turns we got back to Eagles Nest for a late lunch. A day well spent and I felt a little tired, which is what exercise is all about.

Target - Signature Hill

For rewards you must first climb and climb (photos by Marion)

The North Face with Club Lake Chutes in the background

Putting 8s over last week’s run on the North Face

The counter turns proving challenging

And more and more climbing

It was all worth it

Marion continues with her waterfall obsession

Marion’s 8s with some of mine behind

I did enjoy the front face, even after drinks

I am left wondering whether I will get to ski in November or even get to make 90 days for the season (let alone get to 100) - yesterday was my 89th day on skis in Australia this year.

This morning’s BOM report says "Early indications suggest the snow level could be around 1000 metres on Wednesday"

Grumpy Report: Today’s subject is Telstra. Yes, that’s easy to be grumpy about.
I have spent the last eleven weeks trying to get a phone line in Sydney disconnected. So far they have disconnected a line I had in Thredbo and after many weeks reconnected it. I have spent hours listening to their horrid scratchy music whilst in phone queues and on hold. I must have repeated my full name, date of birth and telephone number a brazillion times as I got bounced from one department to another. I have spent up to 6 hours on some days trying to get a result. The greed, arrogance and ignorance of those at the top seems to be a common story these days.

George Bush to his military advisor: “How’ the war going in Iraq?”
Advisor: “Bad news I’m afraid, today 2 English and 3 Brazilian troops were killed”.
George Bush: How many’s a brazillion?”
(source unknown)