26 Tue

Pleasant Valley

Dinner at James and Henry's challet.

Lewis' Birthday Telecon

PLEASANT VALLEY 

Advice received that Pleasant Valley would be a good next step for Phoebe so in the morning we took the train all the way to Blue Cow.

An interesting thought process for me was that usually on the ski field I just follow others who know where everything is. Had to look at the trail map and then follow signs. We skied to where we could see pleasant valley. The trail enters about a quarter of the way down.  Looking down seemed suitably gentle but looking up to the pleasant valley chair station looked steep.  

Phoebe went back to the magic carpet while I went to check it out.   Again it was interesting taking the time to observe the landscape. Normally I'd just go fast following others but now I was looking for the slow path but ensuring we didn't end up stopped. 

Took the chair to the top. The first path I chose was way too steep. Zig zag through rocks. Past a group of 3 teenagers where one had come off their skis and was walking. 

Second trip and I took the path signed back to Blue Cow. Realised I was too high so went cross country back towards Pleasant Valley. 

Third trip and I took the correct path. At first I figured it could be just a long snow plough but there was one steep bit. In the end figured Phoebe might find it too difficult. 

Fourth trip and I took the path back to Blue Cow.  It's quite steep in places and then there's an up hill bit to the bottom of the magic carpet. To me that sealed it as I figured even if she managed Pleasant Valley, the trip home would be too much. 

Decided it would be best to retreat to Smiggins.  Back to the Blue Cow centre.  Decided to indulge in a hot chocolate. $9. Comes with whipped cream,  half a flake, a edible straw and 2 marshmallows. Too hard to try to get them to ditch the marshmallows. 

Morgan arrived. 

James and Henry advised on messenger that they were on their way but we decided that they would be a while. 

SMIGGINS

Did a couple of rides on the pomma followed by a few on the chair. Came back to our bags to have lunch. A friendly "hello" and there was Henry.  Wind at Perisher had closed the chairs.  Had lunch- left over butter chicken & rice all wrapped in Lettuce and then Lebanese bread. The Lettuce stops the bread getting soggy. 

After lunch made our way towards the triple chair almost there and the fellow brought out a closed sign. U turn and we pushed and slid our way towards the pomma.  By the time we reached the pomma, the queue was huge and not moving.  Not moving because of some issue we could not see.  James,  Henry & Morgan were with us in the queue. Eventually we decided that Phoebe would stay and the rest of us would go elsewhere. 

Phoebe later reported she had a good day.  Up and back.  Helped a random little kid named Enzo by letting him go in front of her so he could be with his mates and fixed his Goggles that were hanging off the back of his helmet just out of reach. 

Meanwhile James, Henry, Morgan and Frank took T bars to Perisher. (The interceptor was closed).  Decided to try the centre valley T bars. Once there,  We could see a big queue for the Leichhardt chair and that cemented the deal to stay in centre valley. Switching between all three T bars.  Plenty of variety.  The snow was surprisingly light which made turning easy even though lots of moguls.

Poem: "Do not go gently into that dark night" by Dylan Thomas.