A Special Summer Week

We started the week in warm sunny weather in Thredbo following a foggy, grey weekend. As a group of us gathered at Eagles Nest to farewell Robin Oaten, helicopters flew overhead searching for three American tourists reportedly lost on the main range.

The mountaintop was busy on Monday; busy with tourists taking in the alpine weather and wild flower spectacular, busy with police and SES hiking out on the range looking for the supposedly lost hikers. At a surprisingly quiet location out of the prevailing westerly wind, family and friends had some quiet and loving words for Robin above the village he loved so much. We all miss him but will forever remember him whenever skiing in Thredbo.

Yesterday (Wednesday) we took 2 cars to Guthega Pub for lunch. It was raining when we left Thredbo and fresh snow could easily be seen as we reached Guthega. During our extended lunch at the pub there were three snowstorms. Each delivered enough snow to turn everything white, then the sun would come out and melt it all. Once the snow had slide from the rooftops the cycle would begin again in a strong SW stream of cold air.

Nick and Jenny at Guthega Pub put on a great lunch, as always, and had even lit the fireplace making the afternoon feel like a real winter alpine experience. After this Sunday they will reopen for lunches at Easter.

On returning to Thredbo around 6:30pm, there were the odd piles of snow in the village where snow had slide from rooftops following a significant snowstorm in the village during the day. You must remember that it is the middle of Summer in Australia.

This morning, temperatures up top dropped to -3.7C, which is 8.9C colder than the coldest January temperature in 2011. The wind chill when I went the Kosi chair this morning was around -7C. Being full on winter temperatures, I dressed appropriately.

Alas, there is not enough snow to ski on. The ambient ground temperature melted much of the fresh snow away within minutes of falling. After the fantastic view of alpine flowers in fresh snow, the best thing is that there are no flies today and this should continue as long as the southerly air stream.

A brilliant Monday followed a grey and foggy weekend

Blue skies, green meadows and flowers

Robin Oaten's partner, family and friends gathered above Thredbo

Fond memories forever

Fresh snow could be seen on the main range upon arriving at Guthega Pub on Wednesday

Blizzard conditions during lunch

The sun would come out briefly before another winter onslaught

Billy Buttons in the fresh snow today, behind Eagles Nest, Thredbo

Summer Drift

Signature Hill from the bridge

Strange how the media failed to mention the snowfalls in NSW. I saw several TV channels do a story about the snow in Victoria but nothing on NSW. Conspiracy or ignorance?

The 18th Thredbo Blues Festival is on this weekend with some great names performing. It should be a great weekend for all.

Marion says she will give me more photos for a second report on Antarctica. Here first report can be seen at http://www.ciau.com.au/snow/rrhist3.asp?rrid=645