A Great Start

With the KT 'lift status' web page saying 'First lift: 9:00am' I made a leisurely stroll to Merritts Chair figuring that by the time I got to the top I could wait for Cruiser to start, rather than battling the queue at the bottom of Gunbarrel lift.

Of course, I had fallen victim to my own plan. Lynne got off Merritts at Creek Station and passed over my head on Gunbarrel before I reached the top of Merritts. The lifts had started early, even the Cruiser was running when I reached the top and punters had beaten me to it before 9:00am.

Can you imagine my surprise? Lifts open early and I had no problem with the new ticket system. I heard a couple of whingers saying there was a delay in getting through the turnstiles but I didn't notice, and not having to grope around and pull out my pass was great. Well done KT.

There was a glitch in the system, however. I was told that the reason I had several runs without crowds was because there was a serious problem for those buying tickets at Friday Flat and that the queue for lift tickets stretched back to the round-about. Having got my pass in May, I didn't have to queue for anything.

So, the snow, you ask? The base was very firm and there was about 5cm of soft on top for a short while. I did two runs on Merritts with Traktor-grumbler and Wazza, then two on High Noon before I split and headed back to Merritts. High Noon had a very good start-of-season cover but it too was firm and a bit 'rough' as Lynne described it. A firm base always feels firmer when your body isn't prepared for proper edging and bump absorption.

I skied till lunchtime with a break for hot chocolate at Merritts where frozen pipes meant no water. By midday the crowds on the slopes were big and the three runs open on Merritts plus High Noon were simply too few for the number of riders.

The new outdoor deck area at Merritts Mountain House

Near the top of The Cruiser chairlift

Greg left 75cms at Ben Lomond to ski Thredbo

Snow making tree

Marion's niece, Imogen

Looking towards Boundary Rider - No, it's not open yet

Greg on Ballroom

Best snow was on Ballroom and carnage on an icier High Noon

Upper Supertrail

An empty Central Spur and a crowded Friday Flat

The skies clouded over early today - and I didn't get any early morning photos. It snowed lightly up top during the day but it isn't cold - just below zero and no wind.

All things considered, it was a great start to the 2011 season and I'll be back again tomorrow morning for more early season training and exercise.

I hear NPWS eventually opened the pass holder's lane on the Alpine Way sometime after midday yesterday. Let's hope sanity persists and the lane remains open.

Oh well, dinners to cook and fireworks to watch tonight before a well-earned sleep. Another report soon.