August, a Month to Remember at Falls Creek
Mitch Smith sampling some of the powder from a 50+cm storm to kick off the month
Words | Steve Lee
August 2010 has gone down in the record books as the biggest in 18 years, with a stunning 248cm of snow in its 31 days. With all snow you would think the weather would be pretty average most days, however we had plenty of sunshine to enjoy all that snow; in fact a near perfect mix of 15 snowy days to 16 Sunny ones. It really was a perfect month to be at Falls Creek.
The month started off with a monster storm that delivered over 50cm, 1 and 2 August saw some great powder snow under stormy skies.
Matto Smith samples the early August snow
Things warmed up a bit on 3 August, the Summit Chair opened under sunny skies and the snowpack got heavy, winds also packed it down and the snow turned from pow to crud, which in the big scheme of things was just fine. With no solid base under the 60+cm of new snow we had been in a fragile state but the change of temperature firmed the snowpack and a set up a good base. With loads of grooming and sun it was a fun day that saw lots of smiling faces.
Falls locals skiers Craig and Laif Moegel on the corduroy
A new system rolled in 4 August and the snow started to fall again, not a lot came down but with the really cold temps the snowmakers were able to crank up and combine with nature to absolutely consolidate the season snow wise. All the main runs had a cover of over a metre of manmade and natural cover, the perfect mix. We enjoyed a few days of super nice winter snow and the base was frozen solid.
6 August down valley the sun was starting to shine
7 August is my birthday and without boasting too much it usually delivers one of the great days of the season. It had been a topsy-tervy 2010 so far but with a great cover now in place and a stunner on the way we could all meet this day comfortable that our season was here to stay.
French ripper Jerome Lambert enjoying Castle park
From the other angle, local snowboarder Kieran Mclaughlin flies high in Castle terrain park
7 August to 9 August was really superb, just beautiful winter days, great snow and loads of sun. On cue the next system rolled in and more snow arrived, a mix of wet stuff at first with some good dry powder to follow. By the 11th we had nice snow falling and yet another powder day was called.
Busting out the heavy machinery
There were more snowy days through the middle of the month and snow/sunny day ratio was running at a dead heat. On 16 August the temps dropped and good quality snow began falling again. Another good weather stretch was on the way, so a final top up of good snow from this storm was just perfect and we were able to kick off my backcountry tours with 10 – 15cm of fresh and a bluebird day, it was game on.
Yours truly leaping into some Mt McKay Magic
Epic conditions for the first back country tour
After a few stellar days of sun and cold winter snow yet another front came through, delivering snow of a quality as good as you will get anywhere. With temperature consistently below minus 5 degrees and great snow falling life in the mountains was all good. On 21 August the Inter Poma opened and Falls Creek had 100 per cent of lifts and terrain open. Hitting the Maze in 30cm of fresh is so much fun, and the timeless Inter Poma makes for such a quick turn around, you can nail 8-10 runs an hour.
Sam Perry smashing the Pow on Inter
22 August we were in ‘the calm before the storm’. We had just enjoyed such a great week of snow, but that was nothing compared to what was store for Falls in the coming days.
Alec Summers dropping Cabbage Patch rock
And then it arrived!
Not often people get to ski waist deep pow anytime, let alone in Oz. With 54cm of snow falling from late on the 25th to the next morning we got just that. Both the 25th and 26th can only be described as EPIC. So much snow, almost too much to get moving on the relatively small hills of Australia, that kind of depth you really need big mountains to get the momentum going, but hey we did the best we could!
Chris Hocking, shooting of another kind
Sam Perry face shot
To wrap it all up, in my memory, and that of most Falls locals, August was out of the box, as good as winter gets and just a pleasure to be a part of. Record snow falls of 248cm and 16 days of sun to enjoy it with. Can we order the same for perhaps July 2011!!
Falls Creek forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.
