A Cool Change

Just as we were adapting to the warm sunny days and oh-so-soft snow we had a good freeze last night and a stiff wind to boot. The result was a wind chill below -10C and the need once again for extra layers and even neck warmers.

First run this morning was 'fast' on a solid base and with a 40kph tail wind. By the fourth top-to-bottom the exit out of Milk Run was getting sticky. After coffee it was some more runs in the Basin and Karels where the wind chill was still biting and the off piste was still quite firm.

Coming off the mountain at 11:30am it was a different story to the early runs. Past Kareela Hutte, where it had been polished solid ice by my third run, it was now 30cm deep sugar slush.

Despite our enthusiasm and with almost 2 weeks left, the resort is in shut-down mode. Sponars T-bar, Snowgums chair & Easy Rider T-bar are now closed. Lower World Cup and Lower Hump Run now have 'Closed' signs installed and Sundance has been closed for some time.

Last run down Little Beauty ? - Friday

Lower Hump Run - Saturday

Last runs down Lower World Cup - Weekend

Marion kicking up the dust

There's now more brown snow than white out of the resort

Merritts Creek broken out above Conrod - Sunday

Looking south to Eagles Nest from the top of Sponars
Last run - Sunday

Behind Karels T-bar - Sig Hill top left

Looking north from below Sig Hill

Looking east towards Eagles Nest from below Sig Hill

School holidays are with us and yet there are no crowds and no queues but there's a tonne of snow.

I guess 'touring time' is drawing nearer. A time when every turn counts (because you have to climb for it) and the long fast runs become a distant memory.

The forecasts are ... well, let's wait and see.

Best wishes to Jax and a rapid recovery after the hip op today.