More Thredbo

Saturday July 14, 2012

The weather was pretty treacherous for skiing when we woke up this morning.  So naturally, we headed for the mountain.  Christine prepared a filling breakfast, before we braved the wind, rain/hail/snow, and ice.  After a couple of runs and graceful wipeouts, we took a hot chocolate break.  One more trip down the mountain and we were wiped out.  It took a few minutes in a steaming shower to get feeling back in my fingers and toes.  

Bundled up on the summit

Mass at Thredbo Chapel

Rick, Christine, Rachel, Patrick, and I went to mass at the chapel in the village.  It was a small room lined with windows, where we got an up close and personal view of the stormy weather outside.  The sacristan came around asking for help, and I was happy to get the chance to be and Eucharistic minister for the mass.  On our walk back to the lodge, the Saturday night festivities on the mountain began.  We ran up the hill to our room to watch.  There was a “flare run,” in which skiers cruise down the mountain holding flares in a long train, lighting up the slopes.  They form a large circle at the bottom and extinguish their torches together as fireworks go off.  It was so exciting to watch, and since I missed the 4th of July fireworks in the US, it was a very happy compromise.

Everyone had a hand in our last dinner at the lodge.  It was quite an extensive menu, and we spent hours at the table together.  During the meal, it began to snow.  Australians get incredibly excited about snow, and it was the first time some beginner skiers ever saw snow fall.  Everyone hoped it would keep up so we would have good conditions in the morning.