No Backing Down

I spent last week in Sydney visiting family and getting scans on my back, which unfortunately returned to its worst last Monday. This morning I took my frustrations, pain and a handful of pain-killers out to Signature Hill in a vain attempt to ski or die. The weather was wonderful, +9C with a 25-30kph breeze generating a somewhat cooler wind chill.

Once I had walked out a little more than 1km to the snowline it was strip down to a light cotton top and let the sunnies and hat do the rest of the protecting. The snow was soft, a little slow but not grabby like it was on my last trip out. Acacia and Peter, on their way to Mt Townsend on cross-country skis, caught up and passed me before I began my first ascent. From this point it was just me, my iPod and the occasional insect on Signature Hill.

First run was skiers' left on the North Face; the second was the NE chute - steeper and narrower than anything else on the hill and with a little surprise air at the end. By now the adrenalin was kicking in beat with the Groove Armada from podsie. I originally thought I would be happy with just 3 runs but my third run down skiers' left of the steeper section of the Main Face was so enjoyable I went up for a 4th run, back down the North Face. And for my fifth and final run I did the longer and gentler skiers' right of the Main Face all the way down to as close to the Kosi walking track as possible.

More pain-killers for the walk back to Eagles Nest, then a cold beer and once home a long hot shower. As I write this I know it won't be long before I need to repeat the previous sentence.

The girls out training for Antarctica last week - photo by Dennis

Lake Jindabyne gates open for an enviro-flush into the Snowy River

And piping volumes into the Snowy as well

Peter and Acacia passed me on my way to Signature Hill

The very top of Signature Hill
and the view back to Eagles Nest

Two fun runs down the North Face

Side view of the only NE chute still with continuous snow

Fun turns down the chute with air at bottom
and a run down the step part of the Main Face beside Acacia's turns yesterday

And for my 5th run - the long way back down the Main Face

Standard photo from the bridge shows how much snow has melted
and the great weather

To many grumps from last week to fit here but a salient reminder of why I don't live in Sydney any more.