School Holidays At Full Tilt

Monday was another zero visibility day. I made first chair on Kosi and ploughed into thick fog on Eagle Way. The fog cleared once off Eagle Way revealing about 5cms of fresh cream on the groomed. First run was beautiful to the bottom. From that point it all went downhill. The vis remained bad on Eagle Way (I fell off it at one stage during the morning) and the fresh cream soon went rancid and built into snot piles as the crowds arrived. Snowgums became the lift of choice for many as it unloaded riders below the fog band.

Tuesday morning and there was again fresh snow in the village and on the slopes. Like a bad smell that keeps coming back, Kosciuszko Express did not start on time again, to the ire of a huge queue of riders already assembled by 8:15am.

When told of the de-icing delay at 8:15, I bolted for Snowgums (think I can do it with my eyes closed now) and managed to fetch a ride at 8:20. 10-15cms of dry yet grainy and somewhat slow powder was on top of the grooming. Yum. I enjoyed lovely conditions down World Cup. Second ride was also on SnowGums as the queue grew for a still closed Kosi chair. True Blue was interesting – groomed halfway and then fresh on ungroomed lumps. At least the conditions had kept some away, leaving freshies to Tower 10.

With good visibility I enjoyed a couple of Rim runs before Karels was opened and then caught some very nice turns and a large rock once Karels had opened. The Basin T-bar queue was soon a shocker.

Today started off beautifully. Crisp, blue sky and light dry wind blown powder on the upper slopes and a ton of man-made on the lower slopes. Little Merritts off Eagle Way was sweet and the untracked man-made down World Cup was a treat. Up higher I was still getting freshies off Karels and into the Basin and even from Conrod down Merritts Falls at 10:00am.
The cloud moved in during the afternoon possibly meaning that those reports of snow down to 1100m might still happen.

Early morning Tuesday with fresh snow

First light over Crackenback

Not Snowgums again!

Bunny Walk

Cat Track

Sebastian (of snocam.com.au) on first run - down World Cup

Freshies off the Rim before Karels T-bar opened

Patrolling the Basin – perks galore

DHG on Tuesday

Wednesday: Working on getting Sponars T-bar open

Work has continued on Sponars with what looks like a T-bar line being groomed in. The holiday crowds are at a premium. Kosi chair and the Basin T-bar have had big queues.

Birthdays in the last week and coming next week: Frank, Jill, Ed, Marion & Tommy.

I was privy to a wonderful Bastille Day dinner at Segreto last night with three of the birthdays kids. Great wine and food, thanks Jean-Michel.

Grump: Can I grump about Kosi chair any more? Sure I can. With freshies awaiting a huge crowd yesterday morning, the chair didn’t open till after 9:00am due to de-icing. Hello – it snowed overnight and we are in a ski resort.