Careful With Your Wording

A mini tornado wreaked havoc through Leesville on Friday. I saw, firsthand, the twisted metal of walls and roofing on Friday afternoon whilst collecting my fresh fruit and veg from Snowfresh. Thredbo did not get its forecast 125kph winds but topped off at approximately 80kph. Luckily no lifts went on wind hold that I know about.

We had one nice dump of snow mid Friday morning, which delivered about 10cms up top and a couple of cms in the village. The snow fall was mostly big wet flakes reducing visibility to next to nothing. Apart from an odd frost-like dusting there has been nothing else.

The snow makers have been busy each night.

The "Top To Bottom" race was held early Saturday morning. Despite being a beautiful clear morning, every competitor that I spoke to was disgruntled (to say the least). True to 2009 form, the Kosciuszko Express failed to open on time, leaving everyone with a long wait in the dark. Even worse was the fact that we only got one course inspection. I managed 3 last year. And even worse still was that the race did NOT start at the "Top" of the "Top to Bottom".

Over the past fours years the race was started at either Eagles Nest or Snowgums due to poor visibility but that was NOT the case in 2009. It was, as had been forecast for many days, a beautiful clear morning. There was a good cover of snow from the top of Karels to Little Merritts but we did not get to race on that. The race covered pretty much the same course as last year and consequently was without that wonderful high-speed, downhill section from Bunny Walk to the bottom.

After the race six of us packed our lunch and went outback. Saturday proved to be the busiest day on lift lines thus far this season. The main range off piste was 50% mush-icles and 15% sastrugi, leaving the rest to be skied upon. Lunch was in the Ramsheads without the kite-flying Wazza, last seen heading towards Etheridge. Our long descent to the Dead Horse Gap lower car park was via South Ramshead and there were very few other tracks to be seen.

We had a little tipple in the car park with many others who had come the standard route to the lower car park.

Sunday arrived with a grey ski and excellent grooming. The first few runs were fast and fun until the crowds arrived. Although today's crowd was nothing on yesterday's there was a lot of Crackenback closed off. The terrain park on the Hump run remains. Racers had taken over World Cup, while Sundance and more were closed so snow cats could build the Big Air jump.

Sunrise over Kareela Hutte

Karels T-bar and course inspection for Top-To-Bottom

Top and Bottom - Start and Finish

Wazza kiting away - Mt Kosciuszko in the background

West from the Ramsheads

Rosco above Leatherbarrel Creek

Kosi Cornice - less than usual

Rosco in pow below South Ramshead

Jax in over her knees
Lucky Phil approaching the lower DHG car park

A tipple to top off another big day
Wazza did find his way home

The forecasts have all wound-back their call for anything significant in the way of snow next week. C'est la saison!

The Grump: Hmmm! Haven't I said enough? Read the ski forums, no doubt there will be a few comments over the next few days.