Most Recent Blog Posts
-
Perisher - Simply the Best Perisher - Simply the Best
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Perisher - Simply the Best
Monday 3rd October 2011The photos and video from today tell the story clearly. About
half a metre of snow reported in the last few days, a good
freeze and some snow overnight, sunny skies and little wind
and the riders on the mountain today were abuzz, spirits high.
Skiers were out early, the bus to Eyre the go as only 4 lifts
were running, V8, carpet, Mt P double and Eyre. These lifts
coped with the traffic but it would have been good for lift
access via Leichhardt or the quad to have been on offer and
the restaurant at the double chair open. The road to Eyre
also opened a bit after 9 and Eyre Kiosk was up to its usual
high standard.
By 1pm snow slowed low, typical Spring fare but few would
have complained. Perisher had fired while others had faltered
or finished.
So now it's time for summer pursuits though more than a few
will find plenty of turns out in the backcountry and others will
start planning Northern Hemisphere adventures. For me it'll
be Utah again, another bumper La Nina season predicted
like last season's record year, Snowbird running for 204
days almost until their summer soltice. Life's good! jkh
PS (13/10/11) Utah copped a storm last week. Check
this vid by the boys at SkiUtah:
- Blog post
- 7 months ago
- Views: 462
- Not yet rated
-
The Road to Eyre - Mon26Sep11 The Road to Eyre - Mon26Sep11
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Yes the road's open as far as Spencers Creek, a few riders parking at Eyre today, enjoying the Spring snow after a good freeze overnight and a bit of snow a day or so ago still evident in the trees.
With just a week till Perisher closes, there's still time to get some good riding if the weather's kind, cold temps overnight and cool days probably the most important ingredients. The cover's thinning of course but today's groomers on Mt P - Vista, GS Bowl, Towers and Eyre, still have very few obstacles as you can see in today's video and the photos. jkh
- Blog post
- 8 months ago
- Views: 467
- Not yet rated
-
Lifts Spinning, Cover Thinning Lifts Spinning, Cover Thinning
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Don't get me wrong. Perisher's still well-covered.A week
today since last I ventured up, but with 13cm of fresh snow
claimed yesterday and a calm bluebird day predicted today it
was time to head for the hills, admittedly a day late, for
maybe the last time this season, hopefully not.
Sub-zero temps yesterday and last night till 10pm at the top
and only a couple of degrees plus since then looked
promising but first impressions at the base were of a thinning
cover with part of the Superpipe farmed off elsewhere. The
Slopestyle Course looked soft and slow.
Front Valley proved very skiable with a firm layer
underneath, a few bare patches through Centre Valley,
Happy Valley firm in the shaded areas and Towers early
uncrowded (later deserted) and fast fun skiing.
International Tee-bar track was a chance for short turns on
the groomed firmer surface, off the groomed soft enough but
a bit tricky till it softened mid-morning then became too soft
by 1 pm.
Olympic Tee-bar opened with soft skiable snow above the
top towards the quad and from the dogleg into Sun Valley.
Eyre boundary was OK with spectacular views to Charlotte
Pass and the Main Range.
I was grateful for heavyish skis
with a bit of rocker to negotiate the slush but by 1pm we
headed back to the carpark very satisfied.
jkh
- Blog post
- 8 months ago
- Views: 309
- Not yet rated
-
Perisher Covered Mon12Sep11 Perisher Covered Mon12Sep11
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Amazingly, Perisher still boasts a terrific snow cover and
cold temperatures like today's have kept the snow very
skiable all day, softening on high traffic areas but little
changed off-piste, still pretty rock hard and wind-rippled
when my legs cried out for mercy around lunchtime.
The groomers were the go for most, the few stashes of
freshies only loosely linked and unpleasant to get to.
International T-bar was closed, it's that time of the season.
The rumour is the cheap Freedom passes for 2012 will be all
sold pretty soon. They're certainly selling well locally, with
many local skiers priced out for a couple of years rejoining
the fold. Thredbo's counter offer looks like a really good
deal and Hotham/Falls seem to have a combined pass for the
same price now. Go figure! jkh
- Blog post
- 8 months ago
- Views: 397
- Not yet rated
-
Spring Freshies at Perisher We Spring Freshies at Perisher Wed7Sep11
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
A few centimetres of fresh snow across Perisher Valley last
night on an already quite good cover and snowgoers this
morning were treated to a cloudless sky, no wind, cool
temperatures and freshies, a rare commodity this season.
The V8 on Front Valley was up and running just after 8 so
riders could test the fresh snow for a few runs wide of the
groomers, such as on Centre Valley, before Mt P opened at
9.
The few cm of fresh were not light powder and a bit
challenging for some skis and some skiers, boarders making
the best of the conditions on International, Sidewinder,
Hypertrail and wide of Eyre.
The fresh snow won't do the snow base any harm at all and
conditions are looking good if the cooler temperatures
persist. Tomorrow should bring similar weather with possible
snowfalls for 4 days after that.
As predicted, Thredbo now have offered season pass rates
similar to Perisher's for 2012 with a few extra goodies that
will suit some. Check it out. jkh
Thursday Update
And then there was Thursday. Cool, blue skies, great
grooming to sample before the cut snow from yesterday
softened a little, Hypertrail the pick and free of race squads
for a change and not discovered by most till after 10am.
No complaints from anyone I'm sure. It was obvious that
Perisher's season pass deal for next year was carefully
orchestrated, big signs in all the buildings, signs on chairlift
towers, in the skitube carriages and piles of fliers in shops
around Jindabyne.
- Blog post
- 8 months ago
- Views: 345
- Not yet rated
-
Sweet Deal Perisher Season Pas Sweet Deal Perisher Season Passes 2012
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Check the Perisher Website for season passes at bargain prices for 2012, limited number. I just got a seniors pass for $459 for 2012 including skitube ($99 up front) compared with $824 this year. Adults $699, schoolkids $399, skitube a mere $60 extra. You've gotta be happy with that. It's almost as cheap as Utah. Especially as Perisher this past week still offered good skiing across the resort on a complete cover all over Perisher, unlike many Aussie resorts. Wide of Eyre on Thursday was firm packed and even with a soft cm or so on top and almost no riders there. Even Front Valley was skiable though soft in the afternoon.
Check my blog from Tuesday if you haven't.
I guess Thredbo will respond. jkh
- Blog post
- 8 months ago
- Views: 593
- Not yet rated
-
Gone To Guthega Tues30Aug11 Gone To Guthega Tues30Aug11
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
An almost flawless blue sky, icy breeze high, warming sun after a subzero night and we spent the morning haring all over Mt Perisher forgetting it had been over 7 weeks since the storm that had set up the good snow cover Mt Perisher was still enjoying.
I was exaggerating when I said 'all over Perisher'. You see, the Hypertrail, often the best on mornings like today has been quietly hijacked by ski racers this season, no doubt for the same reasons we've enjoyed it over the last few years when groomers are the go before off-piste softens later. Long fall line run, decent pitch, quiet and out of the way.
Legs tiring by lunchtime we headed to Guthega Hotel for a leisurely though not inexpensive lunch, enjoying the sun and extensive views of a well-covered main range. Even the link trails to and from Guthega remain sound though I guess Perisher will be thinking about closures before too long. jkh
- Blog post
- 9 months ago
- Views: 392
- Not yet rated
-
Magic Mountains Monday Magic Mountains Monday
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Blue calm skies after a big temperature inversion overnight with -9.3 at the base of Perisher, a good cover all over, fast firm skiing early, softer but still slippy and skiable later and all day, lots of smiles from a busy crowd not just on us, similar predicted for the next day or so!
Get out if you can, make hay while the sun shines. jkh
- Blog post
- 9 months ago
- Views: 454
- Not yet rated
-
Can't See the Trees for the Fo Can't See the Trees for the Fog
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Skiers had trouble seeing the trees for the fog today. Trouble seeing the good snow cover at Perisher, trouble staying dry early even though it didn't appear to be precipitating. Okay, I only had one run before scurrying to Aldos for a warm beverage. Would they have pea soup?
I aborted, taking a punt that conditions wouldn't improve much and the cams this afternoon seemed to confirm this. It seems there've been more than a reasonable number of foggy days this season but as you could argue it's really only mid-season perhaps there are great days to come, maybe some good freshies you can see.
Certainly the coming week looks more promising and it's significant that the Snowy Hydro snow depth measurement at Spencers Creek has increased again this week despite the weather and no big snowfalls since July 7th. jkh Fri19Aug11
PS Saturday: Bluebird day across MT P today.
- Blog post
- 9 months ago
- Views: 347
- Not yet rated
-
Monday Morning Freshies at Per Monday Morning Freshies at Perisher Mon8Aug11
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
After a very warm week temps dropped and the snow gods
blessed the lucky many with enough but not too many cms of
fresh snow so that the unblemished blanket could be trashed
in record-fast time this Monday morning by riders who may
have been more reluctant had the fresh been deeper.
A very busy Mt P early quietened down as usual by late morning,
the cut fresh snow off-piste very skiable.
No complaints, the cover high seeming much more
than my recollection from Monday a week ago, and snowy
icons, if only little ones, dotting the BOM predictions for the
rest of the week.
This is more like August. jkh
- Blog post
- 9 months ago
- Views: 368
- Not yet rated
-
Electronic Tickets, Gates at P Electronic Tickets, Gates at Perisher and a Senior's Vertical Challenge
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
The senior skier first met the snow as a young adult in the sixties.It
was 'skiing' back then, now it's 'riding'. Lifts 'ran' then, now the
the same lifts 'spin' or 'turn'. Snow was snow not 'packed powder' or
'wintery mix'. For the working man or woman back
then, 'ordinary Australians' now, Perisher's single ride lift tickets
of the 60's were movie 'Admit One' tickets that came in
cumbersome rolls of 1,000 or more and you bought 10 for $2
(after decimal currency happened, that is) and hoped the lifties
would sometimes forget to take one as you struggled onto the Front
Valley T-bars.
Now, in his sixties himself with a seniors hi tec 'My Ride' season
pass tucked in his pocket, a bargain at $824 bought preseason
with skitube, the senior skier, age somewhat concealed behind
goggles and helmet took on his personal vertical challenge at
Perisher.
You see, a couple of weeks earlier he'd headed through the new
gates on the V8 early, noticing the usual smiling green-jacketed
Information type perusing his gate, him, and her handheld computer.
"I hope it's a good photo?" he'd asked jokingly, adding "Oh, and I'm
really much younger than the 65 recorded there!" Still smiling she
replied "No, you're actually 65 and 11 months. Damn! And so the
idea for his vertical challenge became clear.
You see, gates to enter the lifts operated by your 'chipped' My Ride
card (but don't let it actually get chipped) also record your run so
that you can access later on your computer how many vertical
metres you skied that day at Perisher and which lifts you rode. The
riders logging the most vertical get their names in lights on the
website. Yippee!
But, curiously some lifts have no gates. Some of those lifts are
favourites of his and the best option to ride Mt Perisher on those
blizzardy blustery days when the chairs are on hold (not likely to
run that day) and weather up high impossible. International T-bar
is the go then, out of the weather, a good pitch, quiet, indeed a good
option in all weather. International T-bar doesn't rate gates. Shock
horror, the injustice! Nor do the lifts the senior skier often accesses
to get to Mt P on blustery days when few souls can find their way
to the cloud-shrouded mountain to ride its fresh bounty.
His 'minimalist' vertical challenge? Could he ride all morning with
a ZERO vertical recorded on his My Ride Dashboard, riding only
those 'spinning' lifts that didn't rate gates?
26 short runs later, all across Mt Perisher but the very bottom,
Olympic and Centre Valley too, the senior skier had had a great
morning, AND passed through NO gates where his very personal
details could be examined by friendly smiling staff little older
than his teenage grandsons. See the video of his riding that
morning below.
The senior skier is already planning his next challenge. To
understand the background to this challenge and his
experiences over 40 plus years with matters vertical, lift
ticketting, snowriding developments, check MY next blog.
jkh
- Blog post
- 10 months ago
- Views: 442
- Not yet rated
-
Kicking Up Dust at Perisher Kicking Up Dust at Perisher
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
What a difference between this July and the last! Great dry
snow, good cover, lots of sunny days and cold nights, windy but
with today's technical gear not really a problem. Holidaymakers
must be going home exhausted but jubilant and lots have been
driving home today past my home in Cooma as my old legs
recover from two days "ski anywhere" riding across Perisher and
put together a short video from Monday and Thursday:
Skitube's been bursting with schoolkids playing and racing with
two incidents during the week worth mentioning, I think. The
word out is that a weather event on wild Sunday led to a bunch
of cars at Bullocks Flat Carpark having their windscreens pop
out, through air pressure or debris, I'm not sure which?? At least
it made for great wind blown snow on Monday.
Early skitube users on Thursday ran the gauntlet of police radar
on the short stretch between the Alpine Way and Bullock's Flat
Carpark which has '40' speed signs posted but I'm not sure why.
Mostly staff, I'd guess, and I heard one young woman won a finein excess of $300, a bit harsh you'd think. The 3 police cars
were packing up at 8am as I arrived, whew!
So the ski season is in full swing and looking very promising
indeeed with more wintery weather likely by Sunday. jkh
- Blog post
- 10 months ago
- Views: 348
- Not yet rated
-
Perisher, Good As It Sounds Perisher, Good As It Sounds
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Minus 10 at Cooma overnight, clear morning, pleasant drive till dodging
sleepy Jindy drivers with iced windows and spluttering exhausts, no police
to hold us up for obscene time for futile RBTs today, so on the hill by 8:30am, goody.A metre of snow in the last few days was evident on the slopes as well as on the Snowy Hydro Snow Depth graph (photo of Olympic in background due to open tomorrow, I'm told).
Firm chalky snow early, wind-crusted in exposed areas and blown off in places, groomers sweet, sweeter with traffic and wind, still some freshies like these in protected areas,
(photo low on Mt P).
Temperatures stayed cold enough for snowmaking all day on Accelerator,
Toppers Dream and the Superpipe area near Sundeck Hotel, still the best spot for lunch (photos 'Toppers dream' and 'Accelerator').
Quit at 2pm due to sore knees from hitting the crud off North P and down Yarrandoo. No liftlines mostly today.
Favourite runs:
1. International off piste (no turnstile so vertical doesn't count);
2. Eyre boundary (a bit lonely);
3. Rock Garden (wind-blown snow) down Yarrandoo (lumpy and bumpy).
4. Everywhere else!
See video:
jkh
- Blog post
- 10 months ago
- Views: 366
- Not yet rated
-
So What's Perisher Really Like So What's Perisher Really Like Today?
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
No complaints about conditions today, blue skies, lightwinds, few liftlines for the start of Queensland and
private schools holidays, soft groomers and quite a few
lifts open.
The predicted -5 overnight didn't eventuate, the
temperature staying closer to zero, so the amount of snow
made last night wasn't as impressive as often, just a
dusting at the sides of the groomers. Hopefully tonight's
predicted -6 will eventuate with lots of snowmaking and
soft snow for freshies on the leeward side of the groomers.
As usual, getting out early was the go and quite a few
riders did. Front Valley and Towers were fast on firm snow
that became soft and dry almost from the get go.
Off-piste was firm with only a dusting blown off from thesnowguns efforts overnight.
Keeping a new buddy company on his usual route down Eyre
and the road to a nearby lodge, I was able to film these
areas that really aren't for most riders yet the cover thin
and needing caution as the sign at the top of Eyre said.
Low down the surface was breakable crust and tricky.
Check a video showing today"s conditions at:
Definitely a great day to be out on the slopes. jkh
- Blog post
- 11 months ago
- Views: 331
- Not yet rated
-
Today, Perisher the Goods -Thu Today, Perisher the Goods -Thursday23rdJune2011
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Expecting just to pick up my season pass today at a fogged
in Perisher chilled with drizzle and strong winds it was a
pleasant surprise to find a bluebird day with the Perisher
Quad Chair open to the top station and no CLOSED signs under
Olympic face down to Sun Valley and Happy Valley.
More surprising was the extent of the cover across the resort,
now registering 71cm at Spencers Creek. True, yesterday's fresh
50cm had firmed up but the firm ice top layer softened to soft
dry snow in well-trafficked areas such as down from mid-station
for riders who were less confident on the firm packed offering
on and off-piste, which was quite skiable everywhere for
advanced skiers and a lot of fun in the sun.
With the next three days' weather looking like more of the same
and Towers and Lower Rollercoaster opening tomorrow, it looks
like another trip to the mountains in the morning. My guess is
that more terrain and lifts could open over the weekend.Another
dump soon and the resort could be well set up for a very good
season.
Check out today's youtube video "Under Olympic at Perisher at:
- Blog post
- 11 months ago
- Views: 351
- Not yet rated
-
Snowbird Utah Still The Goods Snowbird Utah Still The Goods - 28th May 2011
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
While we in Oz and NZ are eagerly awaiting the start of our ski
season, lucky Utah riders were still grabbing quality lift-accessed
powder at Snowbird last weekend 6 months after their 2010-2011
season started. Let's hope our season proves good and long, too.
Check the snow cover and quality as the northern hemisphere
summer starts.Brian has been skiing since November or December (it's so long ago now).
Like many Utahns he fits work hours around powder days like these
late ones and has the same passion for boarding and skiing
(he does both) as you probably do if you're reading this blog. Since
i rode with him at the end of March (photo) he's upgraded to Liberty Helix skis
and loves them. These videos are his.
Bring on the snow. Let's see snow in the eucalypts soon. jkhBIZARRE UTAH Postscript 10Th June 2011
As Perisher opens Front Valley today, Snowbird in Utah also still has
skiing this weekend, 10 days from their summer solstice, with a mid-
mountain base of 3.98 metres and a season total of 19.4 metres. - Blog post
- 11 months ago
- Views: 343
- Not yet rated
-
Same Ol' Same Ol' with a Twist Same Ol' Same Ol' with a Twist
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Another big snow season in Utah, no surprise. And it wont let
up, with 5 to 10 inches expected tonight on Alta's 15 foot
base and Brighton's mere 12 foot, over 600 inches of powder
for the season, so far on the Salt Lake resorts in Big and
Little Cottonwood Canyons. Just last week in early April Alta
copped a 43" storm of 7 to 9% water content powder snow.Fifteen feet had fallen by the time I arrived in Salt Lake
City on the 25th January for my sixth year here in a row,
flakes falling on 64 days from the end of October till then.I know, same ol' same ol', I've told you this for the last
few years.True,and I had vowed not to repeat myself
this time, telling why I choose Utah, cheap, friendly, great
snow, serious resorts, great sidecountry and backcountry,
but I can't help it. It's just so good for the powderhound
with time to spend here.Cheap airfares, $A1240 Salt Lake return from Sydney on United
, cheap midvalley digs, around $200 Intown Suites per week
for a suite with kitchenette, bathroom, TV with more stations
than you can scroll through, free wifi, free local phone
calls, on the ski bus route which is free for season pass
holders (Brighton Mon-Fri season pass $US434 if purchased
the previous April), an hour ride each way to the resorts.Flakes fell on 15 days only in my first 4 weeks here, a total
of only 8 feet of snow in all but still some great days like
Thursday 17th February, a bluebird powder day early with
Australian and Utah buddies to film and new skis to boot and
erh... new boots too. $US679 + tax for new K2 Aftershocks
with integrated bindings, big reductions on K2 for some
reason.(see video)
And now the twist, well more like a pull really, trying to
self-arrest after a gentle fall on a steepish run, sliding
slowly so bindings didn't release when a ski tail dug in,
calf muscle pulled, no skiing for 4 weeks. Bummer but as the
first time this has happened I shouldn't whinge. Another
hundred inches of snow fell while I was injured and I kept
occupied putting together youtube videos for a buddy and his
son who were in Utah for those 4 weeks skiing and testing
their new Go Pro Hero Helmet cam. (see videos):I did get back on the hill with my tail between my legs for
my last 2 weeks in Utah, the last week yielding a few great
days like Monday 28th March with two good Utah buddies
(see video) but I stayed inbounds and was a bit restricted
still, reverting to my old roomy boots and soft 'old man's'
K2 Recons. 60 inches of snow fell in the two weeks and a
remarkable 11 feet fell in the 11 days after I left,
but who's counting?
Now, more than 7 weeks since the fall, the calf hematoma is
little reduced in size and with our mountains getting their
first snowfalls, it's time to step up the rehab exercises
to be ready for our winter, the roomy boots dumped in a Utah
trash can and the Recons stashed in a Utah buddy's garage
just in case of mishap next year. Bring on the snow! jkh - Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 495
- Not yet rated
-
Spring in Australia, Skiing an Spring in Australia, Skiing and Stuff Sun26Sep10 jkh
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Just another Spring day at Perisher. Check the photos and
video.
Few folk out, no lines, blue skies, cool breeze,
firm snow early in places, silky soft on groomers like
Towers and Hypertrail, slushy in sunny parts by lunchtime,
still not a rock poking through on Hypertrail and the likes,
yet another ski anywhere day on Perisher with only 8 days
left to ride lifts for 2010.
At 12:30 when my legs cried out for relief the snow was
still very skiable, steeper slopes easier, staying close to
the fall line and maintaining some speed the go.
So after a disappointing slow start to the season, August
and September have almost made up for it. jkh
- Blog post
- 2 years ago
- Views: 815
- Not yet rated
-
Spring Magic at Perisher Mon20 Spring Magic at Perisher Mon20Sep10 jkh
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Yet another great day of spring skiing at Perisher
in glorious weather on snow that held up very well
considering a temperature inversion last night
leaving upper mountain temps above zero all night.
The extensive mysterious snow moving on Thursday
and Friday became clear with a photo shoot being set
up this morning and entertaining boarding and a little
skiing happening throughout the day.
We rode till kicked off the mountain with snow on
areas like Sidewinder firming up again a little late.
What a great finish we're having to a season that started so humbly.
jkh
- Blog post
- 2 years ago
- Views: 830
- Not yet rated
-
Buckets of Snow at Perisher Th Buckets of Snow at Perisher Thur16Sep10
- From: jkh404
-
Description:
Buckets of Snow at Perisher
The depth of this snow farming (see photos/video) on
Olympic gives an idea of how much snow there is into
Spring in the Snowies.
Patrons are few, however, so lifts are closing and the
word is Blue Cow will shut down soon, which only makes
sense really.Lower areas like Smiggins will thaw sooner but it's hard
to imagine Mt Perisher won't have a good cover beyond
the long weekend. Hopefully the resort will offer
riding in the week after the long weekend, still NSW
school holidays, which will please local businesses and
holidaymakers as well.Today on Mt P wouldn't suit everyone, 50% snapfrozen
crud from yesterday, 25% quite edgeable slightly-softened
hardpack, 25% fresh untracked snow following 3cm over-
night and windblown in the cold gusty weather. Chairs
on hold and needed to be. Legs weary by lunchtime from
riding T-bars all morning with no waits. I had a great
morning and should thaw out soon.There's lots of good riding still to be had if you're
considering a last hurrah! jkhFriday Update 17Sep10
Similar snow to yesterday but without the cold wind so
the chairs were operating. Few riding so the Trip Chair
and International T-bar shut at lunchtime.Since yesterday the snow farming metamorphed into a snow
jump for a weekend event with 4 machines working all day
again (see video below. jkh - Blog post
- 2 years ago
- Views: 636
- Not yet rated