SNOW REFLECTIONS

Growing up in north and western Queensland did not prepare us very well for understanding or knowing snow - heat, dry, floods and droughts maybe, clear dry skies, flies - but snow no. We thought there was just snow !! Now we know there are many different snows - dry snow, powder snow, wet snow, hard or soft, safe or dangerous - snow you can pack into a snow ball or snow man and snow that just doesn't pack. There is fresh snow and old snow, solid, cold snow and melting moving snow, snow that is safe to walk, ski or climb on and snow that is extremely dangerous and to be avoided at all costs. Most of all we found that snow is just beautiful and a wonderful new experience for all of us. We walked in the melting snow of spring and the fresh snow of autumn and winter, skiied, tobaganned, built snow men and had many, many snow fights. We experienced snow falling gently, softly and so, so quietly, snow blowing into our faces so hard it hurt as we struggled to the Col Frontiere at Peyrelue. Fresh snow resting on every surface so that touching a branch would result in an avalanche, snow on your face and and all down your back. Walking through the forest three days after heavy snow we were absolutely stunned by the beauty of randomn snow falls - big lumps of snow suspended high in the trees would suddenly and soundlessly drop and fall to the ground hitting lower branches all the way down - the result was a shower of snow particles catching the sun - just magic !! The sheer beauty of the landscape under a layer of snow has delighted and moved us deeply - edges are rounded and softened, sounds muffled and colours while reduced in number almost to white, black and blue have an intensity that is stunning at any time of the day. Waking up and going outside the cabane de Cherue surrounded by deep snow and apparently little else but blue sky, the only sound a little wind through the valley is an experience which will stay with us all.

Easter

Easter this year was a traditional Australian easter for our family. We stayed at home, a number of visitors called in and stayed and we played cricket in the garden, rode horses, walked in the Bald Rock National Park and ate some chocolate. Easter was early but cool and a bit wet, so cricket was good, but swimming was out the water at Stanthorpe is a bit cool in this weather !!!. Walking in the National Park was excellant, one of our favourite walks is to South Bald Rock, a couple of hours along the old state border fence, open views and cool, forested tracks. The border fence runs along the watershed of the Great Dividing Range so the track is high with slopes to the east and the west. Granite country is endlessly fascinating with changing colours, shapes and textures and a huge array of vegetation - ferns and mosses in profusion this year after a wet end of summer and beginning to autumn. The huge granite boulders at South Bald Rock are spectacular and provide a wonderful landscape in which to lose yourself wandering, gazing and imagining. The water pouring off the rocks over the ages has left little stream beds and coloured tracks across the surface and there are gardens with stunted trees and shrubs scattered across the huge open spaces on top of the rock. Massive boulders balance unbelievably and threaten to topple at any moment. The gorge through the middle of the rock provides habitat for remnant rainforest species and caves if we can ever find them.