Where Were You Yesterday?

Speaking of 'cornices' (see previous report), I went touring on Monday (far from the maddening crowd, freeride events and races) and I found more cornices, some on a slightly more impressive scale.

The snow pack was so solid I did not require my skins but instead backpacked my skis on all uphill sections. Some high cloud moved in during the day and some low cloud misted over the upper mountains resulting in some of the greyer photos below.

I wasn't completely alone. I saw Acacia with a K7-Adventure group skinning up behind Karels and upon getting closer to Kosi I spotted a small group on snow shoes, some cross country skiers and finally four other tourers.

It was way too windy on top of Australia's highest peak to hang around for long. I did, however, manage a peaceful, nay serene, lunch stop out of the wind at the head of Cootapatamba Valley from where the highest of the rain drops and snow flakes begin their long journey to the ocean.

The wind chill drove the apparent temperature well into sub zero levels but I was still able to raise a sweat when climbing in the lee of the wind, even though I was wearing 2 layers less than what I was wearing last week.

The last rainfall had fallen on even the highest mountain tops creating little channels in the snow, which had then frozen. With the base so solid and uneven, skiing was fast and bouncy. Good for travelling long distances quickly but not all that enjoyable.

My last run was down the main face of Signature Hill, where I hardly left a scratch in the surface. It did soften a tad half way down but remained very fast. I came in over Summer Drift and once on the groomers it was soft and slow-ish all the way to the village.

Some one has had a good time on Everest

Ice-turkey formation on rock
or may be you see something else?

More of the exquisite natural beauty on the main range

Etheridge and first glimpse of Kosi cornice and peak (top right)
from behind Pyramid (North Ramshead)

Can you make out the three fellow backcountry travellers on top of Mt Kosciuszko?
Taken from the other side of Cootapatamba Valley

The slopes were well glazed - hard and fast

A wide 'slide' area on the South Ridge - a place I like to ski under safer conditions
Some of the ice blocks were the size of small cars

I could see at least 3 levels of fracture - meaning at least 3 slides

Looking north to Guthega
where I believe a new chairlift is being installed next year

Looking south from the cairn on Mt Kosciuszko to the Ramsheads

Spring continues "springing". Temperatures in the resort hover around zero overnight and the wind chill remains considerably lower. 'What's on the horizon, weather-wise?' you ask. God only knows, I doubt the forecasters do.

You may note I haven't dropped a grump about our illustrious and honourable politicians for some time. I'm feeling particularly kind and won't. We've all been through enough over the past few weeks.