blu 3 Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Were back, Perisher to open Front Valley for this weekend 20-22 May at discounted ticket price. Otherwise, day Tickets for this year are AU$109 or around 9,100JPY. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Highest peaks in Aus already have a reasonable cover for some backcountry turns. These photos are from last weekend (not my photos) Some of the chutes off Mt Curruthers Line off Mt Northcote Mt Northcote and the summit of Mt Kosciuszko (Australias highest point at 2228m) rising behind it. It's areas like this that actually have great skiing in Aus and reasonable snow quality. I don't really rate any of the ski resorts highly at all (incredibly overpriced for generally crap snow conditions) but backcountry Aus really can be awesome. Looking forward to getting up there when my ski gear gets here from Japan next month. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Sweetness. May have to reconsider my summer plans Link to post Share on other sites
window-cleaner 0 Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Looking good. Can't wait. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Looks good GN Nice photos. I have never been to Aus snow, looking at that though I might have to. Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Just a word of warning though seemore. Aus resorts don't look like that and you'll find them painfully expensive. I can't see myself ever skiing at Aus ski resorts. I'll save my money for Japan or elsewhere that actually gets good snow and allows you to ski at a reasonable price. Aus backcountry though, like in the pictures above, is definitely worth the effort. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 What's best powder season in New Zealand? Link to post Share on other sites
sand 17 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Originally Posted By: DiGriz What's best powder season in New Zealand? powder in NZ, the best season is complete luck of the draw unless you going to go heli-skiing. Snowfall is fairly unpredictable, Early to mid August was the best bet when I lived there. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Thanks, Sand. Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 So do they have good cover to open this weekend then? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 Not a good cover at any of the resorts. I think Perisher is opening up one of their lifts and skiing will be mostly on man made snow. Here's a webcam pic of the run open. Not too bad for May. This webcam gives a good view out towards some of the higher peaks in Aus and the backcountry terrain that is fairly easily accessible. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 how high are the mountains GN? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 The highest point in Aus is 2,228m. The ski area above that is open has a base elevation of around 1,700m with the highest lifted point getting a bit up over 2,000m (not a lot of vertical). At nearby Thredbo the base elevation is at 1,370m and tops out at over 2,000m which is the biggest vertical of any resort in Aus. Snow cover down at the base though is sporadic and dependent on man made snow for much of the season. These resorts are in NSW. In Victoria the highest peak is 1,986m. The highest point at a ski resort in Vic is about 1,850m. Being further south though means a slightly lower snowline than in NSW. The snowline in mid winter would average from around 1,200m in southern Vic to over 1,400m in the northern part of the Snowy Mountains in NSW. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 My favourite mountain in Aus is Mt Feathertop. Has some awesome terrain. Around a 4 hour walk up from the base to a nice hut you can base yourself out of. It's the 2nd highest peak in Victoria at 1,922m. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 That looks sweet! Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Yeah but I hear that place is loaded with Aussies! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Not so many on backcountry peaks like above! The resorts are full of the bastards though. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Full of bastards. Classic! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Originally Posted By: Go Native Not so many on backcountry peaks like above! The resorts are full of the bastards though. Oi! I resemble that remark. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 It's a good one though. Link to post Share on other sites
jared 0 Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Powder in NZ is pretty hit and miss.. we were just deciding when we would take some time off work and decided on the middle 2 weeks of August was the best bet. Late enough in the season that there should be plenty of snow on the ground whatever the weather at the time. The snowfall is entirely random and could happen any time (but usually doesn't). Hard for planning holidays but ok if you live close enough to just take the day off work when you need to. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Cpt. Stag, You reckon it´s worth hanging around b´packers for an extended period waiting ? If so, which towns are the best? Link to post Share on other sites
shadowtec 0 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Well I have a 3 day trip booked at Threadbo (I have not been there for a few years) I hope to have a couple of more trips but I like to focus on another trip to Japan (2 weeks to a month I wish for) Link to post Share on other sites
jared 0 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Jynxx - its not worth hanging around waiting for powder, but it is worth going skiing. The absence of powder doesn't mean it is not fun to ski. There are lots of steeps and fun terrain as well as parks also groomers for some hard carving if that's your thing. Also you should usually be able to find some good snow to ski on if you go BC. Its just not very often we get to ski deep fresh lines. Best town? I have done the last few seasons in Queenstown but this year we are shifting back to Wanaka to ski. If I lived closer to Christchurch I would be heading for the club fields. All have their own strengths and weaknesses. Link to post Share on other sites
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