The Early Bird Catches Better Snow

Following the disappointing sticky snow I found yesterday, I got out first thing this morning. Yesterday’s two runs on Signature Hill provided good exercise but in an uncomfortable way.

My first run was down the North Face in very flat light where the snow was balling up around me and in places the football sized wet snow balls were travelling downhill faster than I was. Just as I reached the top of Signature Hill for a second run, it began to snow. I had already stripped down to just a thin cotton skivvy and had perspiration beads running into my eyes and now it was snowing on me. I put my jacket back, not because I was cold (I was anything but) but in order to stop my top getting any wetter than it already was.

I knew that this, the second run, was going to be my last and then the visibility went completely. This resulted in slow, big turns down the sticky front face. Vertigo almost set in, as there was no definition or contrast to be seen until I had almost reached the bottom. I pushed my way back to the resort, not needing skins for the slight up hill sections due to the sticky nature of the snow. Yes, I had waxed my skis the night before. In places I was sinking boot deep in the fresh soft snow whilst wearing skis. Pretty amazing for mid October.

Today, due at least partly to my early departure, the snow pack was extremely firm as I skinned out from Eagles Nest. A good breeze providing a wind-chill of -7C meant I was not going to sweat it out like yesterday.

I chose the main face (already with many tracks from yesterday) for my first run. Lovely! The firm base was fast - no sign of sticky. I skinned back to do something with more sun aspect. What I would call the North-East Face (between the big kicker on main face and the North Face) was untracked and as steep as the steepest part of Signature Hill. This was softer and had a hint of slowing up on certain aspects. An enjoyable run with some balling but I decided that run number three was going to be back on the main face, having had much less sun. I figure 8’d my first run as several other skiers appeared on the scene. My fourth run was down the main face (certainly feeling softer than before) all the way down over the lake (still not visible) back past the bridge and into the resort.

A most pleasant morning and a well earned coffee at Eagles Nest where I ran into even more tourers.

On the way to Signature Hill yesterday - untracked at this stage

Iced rock formations

Yours truly balling up the soft snow on the North Face
photo by Ray

That other peak Michael, Rob & I skied last week
has more snow now than then

Snowing at the top of Signature Hill yesterday

The Bluff

Big air on Central Spur - blue sky - just what we want

Sponars early this morning

Today's snow was much nicer for tighter turns and some 8s

Marion and Marnie
& Marion (still working on those skins) and JJ

I think (my memory is not what it used to be) that today I have equalled my most number of days skiing in Australia in a calendar year: 107. Well you know what that means? There’s still plenty more snow out there.

Back to the Grump: I’m just warming up but it looks like I have another grump building with Telstra and it’s over that same phone line as last year’s debacle. Will they ever learn? Are they capable of learning? More soon.