First Ski For 2014

Monday morning was a beautiful day in Thredbo. Late in the afternoon I attended Sasha's funeral in Canberra. It was a moving celebration with the large crowd overflowing outside the church.

When I returned to Thredbo late on Wednesday there didn't seem to have been any change in conditions. Thursday night brought wild winds up to 111 kph and the wind chill went as low as -19C but no snow making.

Easy Does It chair opened yesterday on a thin and patchy cover over Friday Flat. Today Cruiser opened for the first time this year with access via Merritts chair and the Gunbarrel quad. Conditions were also thin and patchy. I had three runs. Luckily there were very few other riders around as the trail (if you can call it that) was quite narrow in places.

Without naming the person who should know best, it was agreed that it was the worst conditions that Cruiser has ever opened in BUT at least it was something.

No, you didn't really miss anything.

The bad news is the photos below. The good news is that every snow flake that falls should now settle on the existing whiteness.

Upper Supertrail on Monday morning - I couldn't see the 20cm reported

Close up of Upper Supertrail

Looking up Walkabout this morning (the name seemed somehow appropriate ;-)

Approaching the Powder Bowl on Cruiser chair

The run down was narrower than usual in places

Many little creeks were still visible - note the dark clouds to the south

The snow makers were using every tool in the shed

Looking back towards Merritts from the Traverse to Gunbarrel top station

Looking towards Gunbarrel top station
I was surprised that the traverse wasn't worse - I skied the whole way

Friday Flat was popular but not too crowded

Forecasters vary wildly in their predictions of forthcoming snow but it generally looks like the conditions for the start of school holidays will be OK.

Stay tuned on Twitter and here for further updates as the snow falls.