Redemption by Powder..and the inverted helicopter manouvre

1/ Graeme knee deep!

Warning! For all those bored by endless snow pictures - Skip today's blog!!

Thank you dear Lord!!

And so...the rain turned to heavy snow overnight. Over 30cm of snow fell at Le Refuge (our place -1020m) between 11pm and dawn. Our ski hill, Les Carroz was reporting even more!! You can't imagine the excitement! Graeme, for whom the "season was over" and "all this rain is going to ruin the snow" awoke with a big smile! I knew that the snow was good because my dear little sleepy head was actually first out of bed first this morning. A rare event indeed. Tragically, I was still the one who had to do the "bread run" down the hill but with heavy snow fluttering down all around me it was a magical trip.

I really can't say too much about today, the pictures really speak for us. We just had endless, first tracks from first lift until we met up with Rick & Liz and Gavin and Sue around 1pm. Graeme was particularly proud of his tracks under one of the chairlifts!!

2/ Andy "crotch deep"...well I am shorter!! And in case you're wondering - they are all our tracks behind us!!

Well I've never had a "cold crutch" before. The snow was so deep, my unmentionables were being constantly washed with snow. A new experience to be sure. But certainly a tricky place to warm up. It's not that socially acceptable to be giving this area a good rub in public, if you know what I mean?!!

A wonderful attribute of the Grand Massif ski area is that you have a choice of altitude. Today while it was snowing heavily and the visibility was poor there are loads of runs through the trees. Later in the morning when a thick fog came in lower down the mountain, we could head up above the tree line to clear skies and sunshine. Fantastic!

As always, when the snow is deep, the snow marmots are busy under the snow. They were desperate to trip us up all morning. Consequently, we all had some spectacularly good crashes in the soft snow. Just like falling into feather bed, but a little more tricky to extricate yourself from. The photo below captures the aftermath of a particularly special tumble. But if you would like to see live footage of the incident [you'll have to excuse the poor video quality] click on this link and have a look at the video http://picasaweb.google.com/TeWanaka/ArachesWeek9?authkey=llalfG8Xzd0#

3/Snow marmot Andy?

For those who have viewed the video, you will see that I have now patented the "inverted helicopter manouvre!". Despite being hilariously funny, it is actually, a great way to extricate yourself from a deep powder hole. The idea is that there is no point trying to move your skis around while they are stuck in the snow. Get them in the air, where there's no resistance and swing your legs downhill. Then worry about the torso, arms, poles, goggles ..etc later.

It is so successful that I thought that I would share my secret with our mates! Photo below is Sue - admirably performing Andy's - "Inverted helicopter manouvre"!

4/ Rick!! Will you stop laughing!!

P.s. It's still snowing! - early to bed for the Oxley's tonight!