Gorgonzolas in the Mist

Well, it sounds better than 'mild cheddar on crackers in the fog' ;-) Awaking around 6:30am on Wednesday, I caught a glimpse of clear blue sky above a thick valley fog. Getting out of bed an hour later and checking the computer I could see there had been a mini freeze overnight and winds were below 10kph. Despite the village being bathed in a grey fog all day, I thought it would be a good day to ski.

It was a case of "back to the hill" for me but for Marion, still testing equipment for Antarctica, it was a chance to ski beside 'her' waterfall, which I noted had broken out of the snow pack last Sunday.

It was a mizzly ride up the chair and our clothing was getting damp before the top. Marion suggested a quick detour to Eagles Nest for coffee and to wait to see if the mist/fog was going to lift or burn off. After an hour or so chatting with Steve and Kylie and no apparent change in the weather we decided to go for a look anyway. Surprisingly it was now dry but visibility was still limited to about 100m. The further out we went the thinner the fog became until eventually climbing the Hill the fog cleared completely. From the top of the Hill we could see out to the main range but looking in the direction of Thredbo we could not see the bottom of the Hill.

Although the 30mm of rain over the previous few days had severely depleted the cover, the quality was very similar to last Sunday's sojourn. The skiing was fun. I had to rebuild the staircase up Sig Hill but the climb seemed to get easier on each ascent or may be it was the increase in pain-killers consumed - not that I would EVER suggest someone should go out on strenuous exercise on pain-killers. Marion was happy to ski a few lines around the waterfalls on the Main Face - something she enjoys every spring when the thaw kicks in on the upper slopes.

Despite the beer, hot shower and further oral medication after the ski, I was very aware of my back telling me that I shouldn't be out enjoying myself this much.

Being a sucker for punishment I loaded up on pain-killers on Thursday morning for another go. Marion, despite her sore calves, was keen to return as well. The weather was perfect - a light northerly breeze in a clear blue sky and just warm enough to discard our vests before we started the climb. The snow was a little faster and the best I had encountered at any time in October. Marion provided more cheese and crackers while I had my standard survival kit of chocolates and snakes. After a couple of runs, Paul arrived on the scene with his teles and joined us for our few remaining runs. Between the 3 of us there wasn't much left untracked on the Hill by the time we had finished. There are a few crevasses opening up on the Hill. The first I found (and avoided) on the North Face. I hadn't seen it on Wednesday and it couldn't be seen from above. Another I sussed out before skiing past it was on the steeper section on the Main Face. Although nothing like those man-eating crevasses found in some countries, you could easily break a leg if you dropped a ski into one of these.

Fog bank to the north of Sig Hill and to the south

Yours truly on the North Face - photo by Marion

Marion skiing beside 'her' waterfall

A misty view of Signature Hill

Marion climbing back through the fog for more waterfall lines

Thredbo Village remained covered in fog all of Wednesday

Moi approaching the North Face on Thursday morning - photo by Marion
Unseen crevasse just below this rock

Paul on the Main Face on tele skis

Paul hung on for a few more runs after we left

That shot from the bridge on Wednesday and Thursday

It rained heavily last night (Friday night) and I fear the snow pack has taken a beating. As for my back - well my doctor is not confident but my chiro is - so it's not the end of the world quite yet but I am sourcing discount drug outlets on the Internet. My doctor calls it 'pain management' but I'd rather think of it as a temporary set back.