Just Over The Line

Luckily Friday night was a cold and starry night - good conditions for making snow and just in time for the opening of the Snow Season. Consequently the long-weekend crowds awoke on Saturday morning to white stuff around the village.

There were a lot of entertainment options over the weekend although skiing and boarding were not amongst them. Drizzle fell well into Saturday night but then early on Sunday morning Mother Nature stepped in and dropped snow flakes to the village. The heaviest snowfall was around 7:30am and quite a thrill for children and their parents alike. Alas, the natural snow line retreated quickly back to 1800m.

The new tobogganing area (albeit a small patch of man-made snow behind the tennis courts) was very popular and toboggans (banned from Thredbo in the past) were in considerable numbers.

It was disappointing to see such a small attendance at yesterday's Blessing Of The Snow. You don't have to be religious to show support for all those who will be facing danger and risks as well as working hard to make everyone's stay in Thredbo a safe and quality experience. The important people were there: Jordan, Davo, Pete and ski patrol.

Saturday morning after a night of snow making

Prayers were said to the snow gods

The opening season fireworks are the biggest of the year

... And they didn't disappoint ...

It all ended with a big bang and a golden shower

Ice carving in the Village Square

There was a good sized crowd in attendance for Sneaky Sound System
although there was nothing sneaky about it ;-)

10:50am Sunday morning and the fresh, early-morning snowfall was already retreating
Kareela Hutte, upper Supertrail

The annual 'Blessing of the Snow'
Mostly man-made with a thin veneer from Mother Nature

The new toboggan slope was popular in the morning and in the afternoon

As I sit here hammering away on my keyboard, I see that it remains misty and drizzly outside in the village. I guess most visitors will be away early to try and avoid the long weekend crowds on the roads.

I see a couple of the forecasters have joined me with my 'special' prediction for snow on Friday - see my last report. It's just a degree or two too (not tutu ;-) high for snow flakes at present :-(.