Skiing at Guthega

  

With the car packed to the rafters, we headed off on Wednesday for a few days of snow. Andy's dad is a member of Doorack Lodge, located at Guthega (which is adjacent to Perisher) and this entitles him to 4 person weeks per year (and more if space allows). So this year it was decided to go earlier in the ski season, therefore hoping for better snow conditions.

Downhill skiing was on the agenda on Thursday for Andy and his Dad, while his mum went off for some cross country skiing lessons with Geoff. That left Ella and I by ourselves so we headed out for a walk. Conditions were fantastic -lots of snow and blue skies! Ella enjoyed watching all the skiers and snowboarders wizz past. I decided I'd had enough of a workout after about 40 mins of trudging through the snow with 15kgs on my back! On our way back to the lodge, I looked back actually to see if there were any skiers coming and noticed Ella laying back fast asleep in the backpack! Somehow she stayed asleep while I took her out of the backpack, undid her snow clothes and put her is her cot! Unbelievable really.

That afternoon we headed out again for some tobogganing! Ella thought this was great fun as you can see from the video clip below!

Friday, Andy and I both got leave passes so we headed out on a cross country skiing adventure. As it had snowed lightly overnight, the conditions were even more perfect than the day before. Up Farm Creek we went. Andy being very patient while I stacked a few times - at least I didn't spit the dummy!  Traversing through the snowgums along the edge of Mt Back Perisher was wonderful.  Popped over the saddle and into the warm coffee shop at Blue Cow.  Then it was down Pleasant View trail back to Guthega.  A great day out :)

By Saturday the weather conditions were less perfect and so was Ella and my health!  Andy ventured off for a real cross country trek with his dad and Geoff.  They were hoping to climb Mt Twynam then drop down to Blue Lake.  However the weather gods had other ideas and they were forced to turn back part way up Mt Twynam.  Half way home, they decided to try a different route home, which turned into an ascent of  The Paralyser from the north. Again, they met with failure due to low visibility (after a few hairy moments on the side of a steep icy hill) and skied home via Farm Creek. Meanwhile back at the lodge, after climbing up and down the stairs numerous times,  Ella and I headed out to empty the rubbish on the toboggan.

Sunday was pack up, clean up and drive back day.  The car needed to be dug out of the snow and Andy was excited that we got to use the snow chains (which we had purchased a few years ago and not yet used).  Ella was knackered and slept the whole way home (2.5 hr drive).  When we arrived home mid afternoon, to Canberra it was 4C and had apparently been snowing!