Australia – Buller’s Quiet Side, Far From the Maddening Crowds

April 11th, 2020
Oscar McLennan sending this classic air somewhere hidden in the snowgums, “way out left”.

 

Mountainwatch | Chillfactor  

This story first appeared in  Chillfactor Magazine. All photos by Tony Harrington, words Watkin McLennan

When it’s on it’s on and this day was on like Wayne Wong. On Sunday August 20, 2018, Mt Buller had received 48 hours of cold snow from the Southwest, most of it falling on the Saturday night. People launched into Bull Run Bowl before lifts opened, and the usual lift-line symphony broke out – cheers from the line, laughter from the lift and high-fives kept the beat. Everyone was out there experiencing Buller at its best.

 

The best thing about tele skiing is dropping the knee makes the snow feel a whole lot deeper. Skier: Jock Gunn

 

Buller if full of hidden gems, like this one out on “Reeve’s Ridge”. Skier: Mitch Reeves

 

When you ar not from Buller, the first thing you do when skiing Buller is ski down into the Wooly Butts. This magical area is like no-where else on Earth. Skier: Coen Bennie-Faull

 

Jock Gunn, Coen Bennie-Faull, Oscar McLennan and photographer Tony Harrington knew not to compete with Bull Run’s Symphony. Instead they dived into Buller’s less visited corners. Corners with mythical names like “The Wooly Butts” and “Far Skier’s Left”, these three Buller locals and one Hotham ring-in (Coen) found quiet chutes and tree-runs muted by 40cm of sound-dampening powder. They found the Buller that existed before Buller became Melbourne’s Mountain.

 

Some times the deeper you go, the steeper it gets. Skier: Oscar McLennan

 

Sometimes the trees get thick, but who cares when the snow is deep? Skier: Coen Bennie-Faull.

 

There is a hidden zone of rock drops and water falls, well below Buller’s Village. Skier: Mitch Reeves.

 

Tight trees lead to wide glades, you just need to know where to go. Skier: Jock Gunn

 

A wise man once said, “Ski next to the tea tree. That’s where all the snow ends up.” Coen Bennie-Faull has obviously spoken to this guy.