Rain, Rain Gone Away ...

... The sun's out and there's snow to play!

Annie won't like it, but you should have been here today. The rains started last Tuesday when I only did 2 runs and then I didn't bother going back out for the next 4 days. The snow started falling in the village early last night and by this morning everything was white again. As some of the photos below will show, the rain caused quite a bit of damage to the lower slopes and opened up some creeks. Supposedly up top there had been more snow than rain and this morning was the time to find out.

Although I arrived a few minutes before lifts opened, I lined up towards the very back of the races. Considering how much moisture had been in the ground, the new snow looked dry, probably due to the strong cold winds. The Bluff, under Kosi chair and Little Merritts were all well alight with riders before I got off the chair so I was surprised to find one of my favourite lines untouched. I eventually decided to join World Cup as it was one of those special mornings where almost every groomed run had a good cover of 10+cms of fresh snow on top of the groomed.

The Tower 9 run-out was my first encounter with an open creek. Second run was beside my first at the top (no one else had been there) and then onto Little Beauty, which had icy bits under the new cover. The True Blue run-out was now severely chopped up as I went to the bottom.

By the time I got back up Kosi chair, the Basin was open. I spent the rest of my morning (except for coffee stop) on Basin and Karels T-bars where few were braving the 50+kph head winds and very limited visibility. The snow was great. Possibly the best I have had all season.

Left: Thursday and Right: Saturday as the rain continues to wash out lower slopes

Lower Sundance & High Noon this morning

Crackenback this morning

First tracks disappeared quickly

I stopped for a snap at the bottom of World Cup

After 2 runs there were tracks everywhere

World Cup above mid station on my 3rd ride up

The wind and blowing snow made photos difficult
Looking back up the natural half pipe

Above Merritts Falls

My tomato crop is coming along well :-)

I must apologise to Richard & Sally as none of the photos I took of their great turns on the steepest part of Rim Run, in boot deep wind blown, came out.

If this wind keeps up, there will be more great stashes tomorrow but I did note some serious sastrugi building above Merritts Falls.

So now the school holidays are over and we can get on with the season proper. Some vacancies exist in the village for this week of more snow and uncrowded slopes.

And 'hi' to Seb and his mates who scammed who I was on the chair this morning. You should have followed me to the Basin :-)