Better Than Last Year

The start to the school holidays this year has presented a much better cover than last year. Although the amount of fresh on the ground was not as much as last Friday, it made for a fun morning and the quality of the new snow was lighter and drier than last week. The base keeps getting deeper and more rocks are getting covered.

Having had the day off yesterday (130kph wind, -23C wind chill and very few open lifts), I felt confident to take to the off piste more than I had at any time earlier this season. School holidays crowds, blue sky and fresh snow meant a queue for Kosi chair. At the top riders split off in all directions. And fun it was, as I took to Plan A and Plan B avoiding the crowds. There are still areas closed below the Bluff and down Cannonball.

Surprisingly the run-out past Tower 10 was fast, very fast as it packed down. The cover has improved a lot and ski patrol were having quite a time of it digging out fences in areas which received the most snow - no I'm not telling where that was.

After 3 very enjoyable runs off piste the mountain looked well and truly skied out. I was hoping The Basin would be opened but no. The weather closed back in and you couldn't even see into The Basin from Eagles Nest. May be tomorrow.

What did open this morning was Kareela Hutte under new management (Thredbo Kosciuszko). Numbers inside grew quickly as Nick, Ian and Glenda welcomed locals and punters alike. The new layout seems to work well. The gluhwein was good. I suspect it will be very crowded for the next 2 weeks of school holidays.

First ride up on Kosi Chair and the sky was blue

Snow in the trees and everything looking great

The natural snow measuring spot at Meadows showing an improved cover

Race club got to Upper World Cup first

My first run was down Little Beauty to mid station then Lower World Cup :-)

Second run was down True Blue :-)

Then out across Merritts Falls and the trees around the still closed Sponars :-)

Now, back home, the blue sky is gone and mizzle on goggles has become the order of the day

Tomorrow's another day, as the hoards arrive but remember it's only July 1st.

Don't forget to vote! Vote early, vote once. Pay attention to the changes and don't be a donkey.