Happy 88th Birthday

88 years young and Tommy Tomasi is still wedelning the slopes of Thredbo as an active member of the Thredbo Volunteer Ski Patrol. What a great day for a birthday. Have a good one Tommy and many more.

Whilst yesterday morning (Tuesday) I was performing something I'm sure I've not done in a very long time - crashed twice within 200m on my first run down the Supertrail. Johno thought it was hilarious as he skied the giant whales behind me with more respect for the pod than I had. Just below BunnyWalk station my tails spun out on the back of a whale, sending me spinning at speed on my back and then just as I got back to speed across the Meadows another whale grabbed one ski resulting in another dusting all over.

With so much snow making overnight they were indeed killer whales on a feeding frenzy and I soon saw I wasn't the only bunny been snacked upon on the way down ;-)

We have now had 5 days of sunshine - just glorious conditions for being outside in the mountains. Apart from all the snow making, the very cold nights have left behind some remarkably dry, soft snow off piste out of the resort. The off piste in resort is pretty firm but carvable.

As they say "there's no such thing as a free meal" ;-) After a wonderful dinner at Hahnenkamm Chalet on Monday night, plans were finalised to take the crew to Dead Horse Gap. We missed the brumbies but the untracked snow was a real surprise. All survived to partake in some fizz in the car park and Jesse, who must be psychic, arrived with extra transport just as we settled in at the car park.

Steve & Sara toast Tommy's 88th birthday at Eagles Nest Restaurant
just before we all broke into song

Looking East from the top of Exhibition

Looking from Sponars T-bar to the top of Karels T-bar
Top of Basin T-bar in centre left

Below Q5

The Meadows snow depth indicator - so deep they're grooming behind it

A see of colour floods out of the resort towards DHG

The untracked was surprisingly dry and soft - a delight to ski

Delicate ice aprons forming in the fast flowing creek

Skis on or skis off - Where's the picnic?

Psychic Jesse was left to handle everyone's phone

Grumpy Corner:
You may have noticed a lack of grumps recently, well they're back and starting from my next report there should be a steady stream of grumps involving none other than myself and the predicament I find myself in.

But for today ... You must have heard recently of the massive increase in revenue being taken by the NSW government from speed and red light cameras. If they are, as spruiked by the pollies, an effective means of curtailing speeding and driving through red lights, why hasn't the revenue dropped? Simply deduction dictates that they don't work but they are a great cash cow (or should that be a load of bull ;-).
Read more: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/news/speeding-drivers-see-red-in-their-bank-balance-as-new-red-light-cameras-installed-around-the-state/story-fngr8gwi-1226996504535?nk=abf92400bc92939b2dfd1617e9ad2adf