Goodbye Winter

Spring is in at the air. even though it's only August! The flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing and there are weeds ...in the gutters!! Time for spring gardening and cleaning!

Momentous Occasion

After a total of 398 days (but who is counting!) I was allowed to run again. Not really sure if you can call it running as it is 5 x 1 min jogs with 1 min between every second day. Indi was very happy too and the sun was shinning! Onwards and upwards hopefully.

Indi also had another reason to celebrate - she encountered her first echidna, seen only 500m from home next to the bike path. She was intrigued and scared all at the same time. As it waddled away she was wanting to follow it and even made a few noises to let me know!

A week later, we came across another echidna on Bruce Ridge. Indi was much more brave with this one!

Gym Competition

Katy had her first (of 2) gym competitions. A new floor and beam routine needed to be learnt and executed! Andy and Sandra were both in the stands watching all the action. I, on the other hand was helping on the canteen so missed several of her performances as they changed the order of the girls each time and I hadn't realised. 

Best Ski Day

Our last ski day was the best! It was a family affair to start with. We explored all the options on Freedom Chair with Andy and the girls seeking out the fresh stuff. Then was over to Blue Cow. Andy and at the girls decided to climb up from the top of Summit chair up Mt Blue Cow before making their own fresh tracks down the side! Looked like fun as I managed to time their run while on the chair!

We returned to Guthega as Andy was keen for one more back country trip. This time it would be him, Patrick and Josh catching up Rob on the slope of Mt Tate. Apparently they were lucky to spot each other as the clouds rolled in just at the wrong time reducing visuality drastically. It was another descent to the Guthega River and ascent up Guthega Trig.

 

 

 

I continued on the slopes of Guthega skiing solo and trying to improve my technique. Not too sure much was achieved but I did enjoy it.

Clouds Looming

Funnily enough we were all excited to see the clouds gathering yesterday afternoon - as we were all hoping desperately for some fresh snow. The wind whistled throughout the night and we woke up to a different landscape - one that we were more accustomed to! The clouds were low for most of the day and it snowed in flurries.

Andy and the girls didn't waste a minute to get out into the soft stuff! I on the other hand, was feeling a little sore so took thing easy with only a few runs late morning. This week of skiing is the most active I've been thanks to the limitations of my knee and my muscles were certainly letting me know.

First Time Going Down a Chairlift!

Wednesday saw Patrick arrive early (Susie had driven back to Canberra last night to do the switch). The boys (Andy, Rob, Tom, Patrick and Josh) had planned a back country adventure - a loop including Twynam and Tate. First though was the 2.5km walk (yes no snow) to the suspension bridge to cross the Snowy River.

With skins on, they began the trek upwards. After a few km's the boys came across a beautiful igloo in the process of being completed! Intrigued, they stopped and chatted to the igloo builders and were granted an inside tour!

 

Conditions up to Twynam weren't great so the group opted out of the climb to the trig instead passing below Mt Anton, climbing up the spur towards Mt Anderson then skiing down and across another section of Pound Creek. From there it was skinning up Tate East Ridge then a steep fun descent down to the Guthega River aiming for the small wooden bridge.

Meanwhile back on the resort, Al and I had a solo guthega day, while the rest of the kids ventured further afield - to Blue Cow and Perisher! We also had the first time experience of riding the chairlift DOWN(!) to  Basecamp. Interesting and sad at the same time. We enjoyed a relaxing lunch and coffee while watching the clouds begin to loom over the main range and wondered how the boys were going...

As we made our way back onto the slopes, we bumped into the girls who were returning from their adventures and with more clouds looming we all made our way back to the lodge.

Mixed Bag

Tuesday was another beautiful sunny day. The early birds including Andy and Ella ventured out for a lap of Blue Cow and Guthega soaking up the nice conditions before the weather turned.

Back by mid morning, the group splintered. Andy was joined by most of the Walter / Jones family plus Susie and Josh for a midday back country trip. Together they climbed Guthega Trig and skied down into Falls Creek before retracing their steps.

I stayed with a sick and mostly asleep Katy only heading out for a short walk across the dam and back.

Where is the snow?

Our group in the lodge this year changed a little and changed more the closer to our holiday. We booked 20 out of the 24 beds - our family of four; Al, Rob and their 3 children; Susie, Patrick and their 2 children; Em, Tom and their 2 children plus Cath, Eoin and Aoife. Unfortunately Cath fractured her tibia overseas 4 weeks before the trip so her family pulled out. Mia decided she couldn't miss school so Patrick and Susie came up for half a week each to ski with Josh.

Monday dawned another blue bird day - we all headed out for various adventures. There were many groups going in different directions and speeds. Andy, Rob and most of the kids were off! Al kindly hung back with me and we did our own thing while in the general vicinity of the others.

By mid morning it was time for a coffee break so we headed over to mid station. Wile we were there various children joined us and as we were about to leave we got word that Katy was feeling sick. This was not surprising - I had taken her to the GP only a few days early thinking she had symptoms of tonsillitis. The GP confirmed that was not the case and more likely a virus. Mira brought Katy to mid station and I skied home with her. We couldn't ski all the way to the lodge though :( 

It was later that afternoon that I got word that Katy had tested negative for covid but positive for influenza A! No wonder she was feeling sick. Katy spent the rest of the afternoon sleeping.

Blue skies but no snow!

It was a very sad season for skiing this year. The lack of snow cover meant we drove almost to the lodge - something we have never done before. Normally it takes multiple trips as we pull our food, luggage and skis on a sled over the snow (and uphill) for 500ish metres. 

Therefore the unpacking process was quick and Andy and Ella were off testing out the slopes. Katy was under the weather so she stayed put. I joined Andy and Ella a little while later  for a few runs to test out my knee and try to remember how to ski!

The weather was lovely but the snow wasn't. Coverage was thin and the pistes had lots of brown patches (grass and rocks) that needed avoiding. Anyway it was nice to be back in the mountains despite this.

Dog Walks

Yep dog walks are a large component of my day and often coincide with children's activities (or occasionally before the taxi service is required!) Indi has definitely benefitted and I've tried to keep active while on a running and riding ban.