Back In The Saddle

Two weeks off the slopes and there's been a lot change that I couldn't see from my apartment. The past rains, winds and spring sunshine have all taken their toll on the snow pack, most notably on the lower slopes resulting in more closed runs.

Riding the lifts told much more of the story. But DO NOT PANIC, there's still plenty to go around but then again don't rush here because we are really enjoying the lack of crowds and zero queues. The village is empty, the accommodation is cheap (low season rates), the groomers are great and the weather over the past 3 days has been superb. Now the forecast is for more snow - how much can a koala bear :-)

I went out with my sister Genevieve and her friends on Saturday morning and gingerly skied around Merritts and Antons. When Heinz saw me coming off the mountain his comment was "back on the horse?" but really I was only back on the donkey. My sister and her friends came to town for 3 days skiing and I've spent a couple of hours each morning with them at a somewhat subdued pace and under the influence of skier's candy (ibuprofen ;-)

Genevieve, Erica, Diane and Kim pushed me around Cruiser and Antons on Saturday and then the Basin and Karels on Sunday and today. The snow has been soft but not slow or sticky - just great for leaving fresh tracks on the groomers.

The One Hit Wonder after-party in the Village Square on Friday night
Those discs are smoking - maybe if we - hmmm maybe not - it's getting pretty thick ;-)

The last Super Moon for 2014 has been waning over Eagles Nest

Even from my bed looking between the tomatoes and basil

Unfortunately I missed the One Hit Wonder above Cruiser on Friday
Yes, that's a real Rav4 parked below the kicker

But there was still some action on Saturday - looks kind of lonely up there ;-)

Erica and Genevieve ripping the crowded slopes of the Basin

Marion said to the girls - follow me to Dead Horse Gap

Erica and Acacia negotiating the thinning cover towards the bottom

OK, so there was a little bush bashing but drinks and nibbles followed

The snow depth indicator on Meadows is showing what the off piste down low is really like

Scotty told me that Ski Patrol Race is on tomorrow at 10:00am. Because the cover is so good, I assume it will be on Rossi race course. Help raise funds for the ski patrol, get stuck into the sausage sangas, beers and other drinks all for a few dollars.

And just a bit of goss, if you're not buying land in Rusutsu (see ad above) because you're going the other way - Vail Resorts have bought Park City Mountain and plan to build the largest ski resort in the USA - Read More.

I'm now about to get into some of the more serious grumps about the behaviour of the Squatters Run body corporate. The next instalment is out on: wikigrumps/4579700901_2014090118/.