‘Madness’: Ski resort issues sad update
One of the nations' most popular ski resorts has announced one of its earliest ever closures of major ski runs.
It has been a underwhelming season for snow sport lovers after warmer than average temperatures and low snowfall failed to produce ideal conditions in alpine regions.
Perisher ski resort, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, announced Sunday will be the last day of operation for two of its most used lifts for the 2o23 season.
“Given current conditions, it has quickly approached the time of the season when we need to wrap up operations in certain resort areas,” the resort said in a statement posted to Facebook on Sunday.
“The last day of operations in Blue Cow & Guthega will be Sunday 3rd September.”
It is one of the earliest season closers for the major ski lifts, according to reports from Perisher loyalists on online forum Ski.com.au.
One of the lowest snow years on record in 2006, when snow depth at Spencers Creek fell to 22.7cm, was not enough to prompt such an early closure of the Blow Cow lift, with operations running to September 28.
The current snow depth at Spencers Creek is 105.6cm.
Perisher Valley will remain open into October with 28 of its 47 lifts expected to remain open in the coming week.
Meanwhile Thredbo has kept open 12 of its 15 lifts, Charlotte Pass has four of five open and Selwyn Snow Resort remains closed.
People took to the comments section of Perishers post to confirm how unusually early the resort has started to wind down its operations.
“Madness that is unheard off at Perisher. never can I remember the snow season finishing up that early,” one person wrote.
Most people issued a thank you to the resorts overnight grooming crews who have worked hard to keep as much of the resort open as possible.
“Just back from a week at the resort and have massive respect for the mountain ops and grooming crew who worked some serious magic each night,” one said.
“We had a blast despite the less than ideal conditions and are counting down to next season!”
