A Quick Trip To The Gym

Yesterday (Wednesday), with the sun shining and a forecast for dropping winds, I decided to have a morning in the Snowy Mountains Gym - exercise, fresh air, vitamin D and everything else that comes with climbing mountains to ski back down.

Failing to make first lift, well there had been an overnight freeze, I still found the wind quite brisk and the snow quite firm. I left the skis on the backpack and walked out to the base of the main face of Sig Hill. From here I boot-packed it straight up the face putting in just over 500 steps.

Upon reaching the top I noticed on my camera clock that it had taken 45mins from the base of Kosi chair to the top of the hill. My first run was down the sun-facing North Face. Nice but already with numerous tracks on it from previous days.

I skied back around to the base of my step ladder and up again. Contrary to the forecast (why am I not surprised?) the wind was increasing in strength rather than fading. Not to worry, as it prevented me from raising a sweat whilst climbing the ladder. Each run was now to skier's right of the previous, as they were further away from the direct sun. The snow was still softening and remained quite firm and fast out of the sun.

It was very peaceful and quiet at the top where I took the odd short break. The wind kept getting stronger, to the point of almost blowing me off my feet at the top of the ladder and so I gave it away after 5 runs.

Today (Thursday) looks very similar to yesterday except there was no overnight freeze up top. A temperature inversion resulted in a heavy frost in the village this morning. Unfortunately, I may not get back out there for a while :-(

View from the top of the hill back to Eagles Nest

View, in the opposite direction, out to North Ramshead

View across to the top of Karels T-bar (centre left)

Amazing rock formations are revealed after the thaw

The North Face has been heavily trafficked

I took a line on skier's right of each previous run - I like some variation ;-)

The main face of the hill
You can just make out my wavering boot pack to the left

A view of the bridge from the top of the hill

Merritts Creek downstream of the bridge

The view of the hill from the bridge

Yes, there is a forecast of possible snow after the weekend. I'll believe it when I see it.

Grump: I see one newspaper says NSW electricity costs could drop by up to $250 a year if electricity generation is privatised. No mention of how much the compulsory smart-meters will cost or the reports of fires & over charging they have caused in Victoria.

Of course, this will be used as another excuse to privatise Snowy Hydro and that's not about electricity but about putting Australia's largest water storage into private hands. Everyone in NSW, ACT, VIC & SA should be really concerned about that!
In those immortal words from The Who:
And I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again