Second Time Better

It was such a nice morning - clear blue sky and just a light breeze - that I had to get out on the range. I didn't really think a return to Merritts was worth it considering there was no snow making (that I was aware of) overnight.

The snow had firmed up. It was good in drifts but still quite breakable over the vegetation even with skins. I thought I was less fit that I wanted to be and I quickly confirmed that. With such a variable base and a lot of rocks sticking through I took a very tentative and cautious approach to my first off piste foray for 2014.

The range was wonderfully peaceful and quiet. The only others I saw on the snow were a couple on snow shoes on the other side of the valley. I could see the odd ski track beside the walking track - probably cross country folk out in the very overcast weather of yesterday.

Looking east across the Thredbo Valley towards the foggy valleys of the south coast

Looking south from top of Summer Drift to top of Karels T-bar

Looking across to the North Face of Signature Hill

Two snow shoers approaching the Back Door
Everest on the right

A closer shot reveals Phil and Tina

Mount Kosciuszko and the beginning of the cornice

There appears to be a good cover already on top of Australia's highest peak

Etheridge

East from the bridge

This is the best the old standard shot of the 'Hill' has looked in quite some time

The forecasters are hotting up for the forthcoming snowfalls this week. I have one local forecast for 1m in the village by week's end ;-) While published forecasts have snowfalls of between 50cm and 75cm in the next week - but I suspect that is for somewhere higher than the Village Square ;-)