Hi all, As a keen skier I have been waiting for the next good snow storm - especially when this season so far has been quite poor (hooray for snowmaking) But I do have a laugh when the newspapers come up with these names for what is basically a good dump (which in reality should happen at least a few times during the season) - http://www.news.com.au/technology/e...alia-to-the-bone/story-e6frflp0-1227436412256 Anyway , hope this lives up to the hype. The charts do look VERY good until Wednesday. David
Got the wood piled up and under cover. Should be able to see a heap of snow on the mountains around me when this system comes through. It's certainly getting a bit of media coverage? See ya's.
Sitting in a lodge in NE Victoria this morning - wanted to get first tracks (even with insomnia). Got up at 6.00am - very poor visibility, gusting to high winds, very wet snow/clear snow ie not fluffy stuff down low). Temps have been hovering between -0.2 and +0.1 (it would be slightly cooler at the top of the hill (and probably flufflier too). Can't see jack through the snow cams. Have decided hold off going out for a couple of hours.
Visibility was quite poor yesterday too - resort management has closed the village roads and lodge owners requested to put cars into their parking areas.
My plan is to head up to Blackheath tomorrow for some photography and walking. Hopefully the roads won't be closed. Otherwise will see what areas I can access further down the mountains.
Hah, well there you go. I used to post about.....12-15 years ago. Around the time the two long-term regulars went missing (and then were found), if you remember that?
I must've missed/forgotten that event hobo. I have been a sporadic member there for a long time, I even had a £€#[email protected] email address (now that's old).
Wish I was down in Thredbo this weekend. My snowboard has gathered way too much dust unfortunately :/
Way too soft and wet C-Mac. Chatting to a few instructors over a brew or few earlier this evening, give it a couple of days for this storm to blow over and it'll be great.
Our top temp in Melb yesterday was 9.8 degrees and raining most of the day.(didn't even get that high down my way|). My yardstick over the last 30 years as a skier is; 11 degrees and raining - guaranteed snow at Mt.Buller and probably the others. So, my guess is yesterday was a good day for the white stuff? http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Winter/snow-weather/snow-report Still not all that much if you read between the lines on this report, but enough to ski on if you are desperate....mostly man-made on the main runs - so; peak hour traffic on carved up slush. http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Winter/snow-weather/snow-report/lift-run-report
My yardstick if 13°C in Melbourne with a low followed by a high pressure band usually indicates snow at Hotham/FC. The latest systems have broght a reasonable amount of natural cover to the alps with more terrain opening as depths become viable - we don't want to harm the glacial worm or alpine drop bears which are endangered species in these areas.
Pretty true. I heard the news snow report on the teev after I posted earlier, and their take was; Hotham - 50cm of natural Falls - 40cm of natural Buller - 25cm of natural. Discount 10% of that for the BS factor to hype up a season when there isn't one (they do it every year) and that'd be about right. My criteria is I only pay attention when they call it "very good to excellent". Anything below that is a waste of time - but I'm a spoilt, fussy poser. I used to go out in anything when I first started, but not anymore...hate crowds (must have most lifts open), and hate green snow.
You have to remember that different skifields require different depths of snow to operate. Hotham, with its steeps, requires more than Buller which can function on 25cm. FC needs 1m to open summit or the maze but 40 cm sees most terrain open.
Yes, I realise that; have been skiing Vic ski slopes for 30+ years. I have skied at Buller when there is only 25cm of snow - that's why I don't do it any more. That depth scenario translates to about 3 or 4 chairlifts open if you're lucky, huuuge crowds and wait times for chairs/gondolas, and crap snow surface by about 10.30am....good time to stay in the bar, and/or if you have kids; put them in ski-school for the day.
