Mount Kosciuszko

Snow Down Under

Australian ski resorts are open some five weeks ahead of planned date this year due to heavy snowfalls. For instance, Mount Buller resort situated in province Victoria has recently received about 35cm of early snow powder.

So on Saturday, May 2nd Mount Buller opened its lifts. And its new six-seater chairlift which serves Bourke Street trail will be launched this weekend. The resort’s management has no plans to open before June, but the weather conditions enabled early start. It’s the earliest opening in this ski area’s 45 year history.

General Manager of Buller Ski Lifts Laurie Blampied commented: “This is the earliest we’ve opened a lift and ski run in the history of Mount Buller resort. The closest was 45 years ago when we opened on the 16th of May in 1964… It’s so exciting to have such early and extensive falls so we decided to seize the opportunity, open up early for a special weekend and share it with everyone.”

White blanket also covered Perisher Blue in New South Wales, which received about 25cm on Monday night. Rather cold temperatures (overnight temperatures dropped up to -5 degrees Celsius) make possible launch of snowmaking machinery to empower this result and start season early. Mount Hotham has also got great snow crop last weekend providing possibility to start having downhill fun much earlier than scheduled.

Photo: Mount Kosciuszko, by Evgen Volski

Date: 05/05/2009