SNOW UPDATE – Lifts Opening This Weekend

Thredbo’s famous footbridge Wednesday 22 June. Image: Courtesy Of Ace @ Hot Shots, Thredbo

A half metre snow storm – which brought the Spencer’s Creek snow depth to 70cm, the deepest for this time of year in over a decade – followed by a melt-freeze cycle has set Australia’s snow resorts up with a solid snow base heading into the school holidays and will see new lifts and runs open over the coming days.

As much as 60cm of snow fell on the Australian Alps between Monday night, 20 June and Wednesday 22 June, a two-day snow event that gave everyone in the mountains a taste of powder. Conditions also allowed the snow guns to run almost constantly for the two days and the result was an all-round solid cover for so early in the season.

“It’s a pow pow day today! At least 22cm of snow has covered the resort with still more in the forecast for today,” Harro wrote in the Mt Buller snow report on Wednesday 22 June. “It’s currently still snowing. The visibility is poor up high, but as soon as you drop into the main runs of Little Buller Spur and Bourke St it should be quite reasonable. The snowmakers have been pumping out major amounts of snow and groomers are all happy again now that they’ve been able to manicure the mountain after the previous night’s wet snow caused them to have the night off.”

Freeze cycle has created a firm base

On Wednesday evening temperatures in all resorts rose and any remaining precipitation turned to slush or even rain overnight but rather than having a detrimental effect the following freeze set the snow into a solid base, on which an excellent cover will now hopefully accumulate!

“The natural falls this week have really boosted conditions particularly at the top of the resort, and with sunny skies and clear nights ahead it is looking good for more snowmaking in the lead up to the school holidays,” said Thredbo’s Susie Diver.

Picnic tables beside the river in Thredbo, 22 June. Image: Courtesy Of Ace @ Hot Shots, Thredbo

Lifts and Terrain Opening for the Weekend

In time for the first of the school holiday crowds, the resorts are planning to open a range of new terrain in the coming days, we put in a call to the resorts for the latest on their lift operations.

Perisher

Towers, Mt Perisher, the double and triple chairs, and Lower Roller Coaster on the Ridge Chair will open on Friday. Guthega and Smiggins will open this Saturday. There will be 17 lifts open on Friday and 25 by the weekend. It’s the most lifts open at this time of the year since 2005!

Thredbo

Thredbo will open Antons T-bar on Friday and Supertrail on Saturday off Snowgums to Bunnywalk, to the village if a couple of big nights of snowmaking occur.

Selwyn Snowfields

As of Thursday Selwyn has four lifts spinning with access to 100 per cent of the mountain!

Charlotte Pass

Charlotte Pass will open for winter 2011 on Saturday

Hotham

The Village Chairlift will open on Friday, followed by Cobungra Platter (Dinner Plain) on Saturday. After the opening of Roadrunner and Summit chairlifts on Thursday, this will bring the total up to seven lifts in operation.

Mt Buller

Shakey Knees chairlift opened on Thursday, bringing the total number of lifts open to seven.

Falls Creek

Mainstreet, Wombats Ramble & Mousetrap. Falls Creek Express, Towers chair and Mousetrap are all operating and the toboggan slope has re-opened with the fresh top-up. The resort expects that with further snow more lifts and runs could open in the near future so watch this space!

Mt Baw Baw

Hut Run Platter Lift, Magic Carpet Lift and Tank Hill Lift are open and all other lifts are on standby.

Thredbo River. Image: Courtesy Of Ace @ Hot Shots, Thredbo

Snow in the village, always a lovely sight. Image: Courtesy Of Ace @ Hot Shots, Thredbo

Little snowboarder experiencing her first powder day. Image: Courtesy Of Ace @ Hot Shots, Thredbo

Snow covered gums, the quintessential Australian alpine image. Image: Courtesy Of Ace @ Hot Shots, Thredbo

Perisher forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.

Falls Creek forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.

Mount Buller forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.

Charlotte Pass forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.

Hotham forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.

Thredbo forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.

Mount Baw Baw forecasts,
snow reports and
live snow cams.