Avalanche !

The elements eased fractionally yesterday allowing all lifts (except for Sponars and Karels T-bars) to eventually open. This gave us access to much more terrain. Alas the snow had firmed up considerably. That said, the off piste was glorious. The snow pack had filled in everything and runs down through the trees from the Bluff towards True Blue, etc were on a smooth yet firm series of rollers with gaps between every tree. The further you dropped from the top the softer and heavier the snow became.

Very few ventured out into the weather and fresh lines could be found everywhere. The wind kept topping up the upper slopes while wet snow kept falling lightly all day.

The village roads improved greatly and traffic (what little there was) could move freely once more.

Today saw the sun shining whilst the wind was still strong. The snow pack was topped by 10cms of fresh dry snow overnight (making 75cms of new) and the wind blown was constantly topping that up.

The morning’s surprise was to see the slide that had occurred on the Bluff prior to lifts opening. Very big slabs more than 60cm thick of packed snow had slid up to 200m down the Bluff. Some slabs were the size of double beds and would have been very unpleasant to be hit by.

I had noticed yesterday that in some steeper areas the snow was “balling” badly which is an indicator of slide potential. Obviously the big dump of wet snow had not bonded well to the previously icy base. However this slide was not the end of it. I heard later in the morning that the Bluff had slid twice.

My close encounter happened on Wiamea. About mid morning I skied the main face on a steep and wide beautiful wind drift. Five minutes later as I rode up Cruiser chair I could see there had been a slide on the main face right where I had just skied. At the top of the slide was a 60cm high lip left behind where the entire face of Wiamea had let go and slid for about 50-100m. Even while riding up Cruiser there was a detached cornice lying in slabs under the chair in the Powder Bowl. This was probably detached by ski patrol. Meanwhile I heard from a couple of fellow passengers on the chair that part of Stanley’s had also slid.

With the strong wind depositing even more new snow the lee side slopes are still getting loaded and the potential for more slides is growing. Something you just don’t see every day in Thredbo or any part of Australia for that matter.

Bunny Walk yesterday

Phil on Bunny Walk

Wonderful untracked powder everywhere

Something you rarely see in Thredbo - mowing the bridge

The top of the Bluff slide with Ski Patrol inspecting

Skier passing by the slide debris

Bottom of the Bluff slide looking towards Ramshead chair

Unfortunately my camera battery packed up in the cold conditions and I’ve missed some great shots of the other slides.

It is currently sunny with light snow falling from the southwest. Snow showers are predicted to clear tomorrow and the next cold front is due on Saturday.