pumped up kicks
Hiking through encrusted snow on Mt Higginbotham at the end of another day.
A couple of nights earlier I tried night boarding at Big D. The thick fog created quiet and mysterious runs, attenuated light haloing the trees. There weren't many people there, probably due to the poor visibility, but I did meet one guy who soon discovered, to his horror, that his iPhone was missing from his jacket. Must have slipped out of the pocket and planted itself in the blackness of a previous run. Amazingly, after making a few calls to it for him, someone heard it ringing and spotted it in the dark! Dude and phone were eventually reunited via the lifties, perfect working condition. Luck must have been on his side.
another way down
Later that day, the setting sun's light on The Orchard and the start of another windy night.
We had some great meals while in Hotham, trying different restaurants each evening. My favourite: the seared snapper in white miso buckwheat broth from Last Run Bar. Unforgettable!
keg and flow
By chance we were in Mt Hotham on the weekend of the annual Dinner Plain Sled Dog Challenge, so a trip down the mountain to the nearby village was a must. Dinner Plain is a quiet little place, or would be on days when hundreds of dogs weren't excitedly wanting to race!
Each start generated a lot of energy amongst onlookers and everyone enjoyed the festive atmosphere of teams returning home, even if the dogs were a bit puffed by the time they made it to the finish line.
After having lunch in the chilly air outside Mountain Kitchen, a local café, we missed the bus back to Mt Hotham and had a spare hour to explore the village. Above, kegs outside one of the village pubs.
indigo orchard
The windswept top of The Orchard, which we were routinely prevented from visiting due to closed lifts. We did eventually make it there on the last day, just somewhat tired and sore.
last chair
In the foggy evening, flipped chairs and the drive bullwheel at the unload station of The Village chairlift.
first tracks
It seemed appropriate that the first photo posted this year should be of people making first tracks at Mt Hotham. Welcoming the morning light through cloud, Mt Feathertop in the background.