After 3 snowfalls within 5 days it's finally starting to look and feel like winter around here. Wandering around Queenstown a couple of nights ago in the rain, going on the state of things the last few months, one could only presume it was raining on the mountains also. When I awoke early the next morning I wasn't even going to bother to look out the window but curiousity overcame me. I narrowly avoided having a heartattack when I saw snow halfway down the Remarkables. Record times where set getting gear, crew and negotiating the Crown Range on the way to Cardrona. Powder was available in windblown pockets and although the lower mountain was still limited, with more snow coming through over the weekend a decent coverage is underway.

At Treble Cone on Friday the Summit Slopes and Saddle Basin were going off with no shortage of stocked locals and visitors keen to enjoy the conditions. The Summit Slopes bore a constant flow of hikers offering helirun like turns. Once again the lower slopes were a little limiting but the snow that was there was excellant. Another storm was rolling in as we departed Treble Cone.

It looks like we are going to experience a winter this season after all.

Boarder Zone Correspondent - Steep & Cheap Cookie