Nearly There

It's been quite a week. Fresh snow on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. Monday was soft from top to bottom from first lift. I didn't make it out on the next two days but somewhere on Tuesday the entire mountain snap-froze and when I got out on Thursday the base was solid from top to bottom but lovely dry snow was falling. Weather conditions were full-on winter with wind chills around -17C. The pow in the trees on Central Spur was a healthy 10cm deep and lucky to be 10mm deep on the higher exposed slopes facing the south-easterly wind.

The village had returned to white but by Friday afternoon there was little sign of it. Today the yellow snow was resurfacing as a hot sun bore down on a surprisingly firm base that softened right up by 11am. The groomers had done a magnificent job and first runs were great - a pity it didn't last.

After coffee I crossed the resort for sausage sangers and drinks by the pool at Merritts. The "pool" you ask? Under a brilliant sun, Thredbo's "pond skim" event attracted a lot of entrants. I wouldn't necessarily call them competitors. Crazy, yes indeed, as they attempted to ski and board across a 30m long pond full of freezing, brown snow-making water.

The event callers sounded as though they were rehearsing scenes from the Vicar of Dibley as they broadcast the progress of each entrant: Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, No. Followed by the occasional: No, no, no, no, Yes!

Enjoy the photos and my 'best' picks from the pool. I simply didn't have enough space to do them all justice.

Thursday morning and there was a fresh cover across the village

In the 'white room' at the top of Sponars

Meadows natural snow measuring station on Thursday

Lucky Phil pointing it out today, only 2 days later

Randy this morning, entering Milk Run alone
Get better soon Duncan - I guess you just weren't ski fit ;-)

The scene is set: The pond at the bottom of Ballroom and the top of Merritts chair
but neither the time nor place to scratch in front of so many ;-)

This liftee could do with a tow. My call for best costume. And best dive
Quite a few skis went to the bottom

A tad too much 'right'. Best splash. Best attempt to find Sam's mobile on the bottom
And Sam, in budgie smugglers (no wonder he lost his phone ;-) making it look so easy.

X marks the spot. Anyone seen my skis?
I know I can, I know I can - and one soon to be soggy taco.

Best wake and ...
I'll leave the last to Caroline doing the best escape manoeuvre to avoid the best air manoeuvre

I saw more people heading outback this morning than on any other day this season. Spring has sprung and the main range still has a great cover. Actually, for this time of year, in-resort is also doing very well. Although quite a few runs have been closed there is still good top to bottom skiing on excellently groomed runs and a good cover off piste up high.

Just over a week to go ...