Buller Journal Entries

1 creative work found

• A visit to Mount Buller
  by oiseau

  The following is an excerpt of an e-mail message to my daughter in Canada who wished to hear about the adventure to the snow. :-) ...

  The following is an excerpt of an e-mail message to my daughter in Canada who wished to hear about the adventure to the snow. :-) “I made a very stupid choice by wanting to visit the snow fields. David took me to Mt. Buller on Tuesday (we stayed over night ‘cause it takes 5 hrs to get there from here on the Peninsula) where it was reported that they had the largest snow fall in many many years. It is also the site of horrible bush fires last summer and so I wanted to make a pictorial essay showing the burnt out patches of forest against the backdrop of White snow. What a disappointment! The drive up was pleasant enough and I always enjoy seeing new territory, flora and fauna. Having this constant problem with allergy and head cold combined THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY my ears were in for a trial that I had not anticipated. It didn’t seem that we were going that high up but without reading road signs I knew by the reaction of my ears, from crackling to painful pressure and then quasi deafness as we drove higher and higher through the Mountains, that we were indeed climbing. The views were wonderful but scary at the same time, coming very close to the edge of deep ravines going around corners. I was grateful that the roads were clear even though we needed to rent chains. We’re refused ascent if we don’t have chains in the boot. I was like a child waiting for the snow to ‘appear’. So where is this snow? Up and up and still no snow. Then I saw bits of White in the distance and thought; “is this what they get excited about?” (For those who don’t know, I lived on top of a Mountain in the Laurentian Mountains of Québec before relocating to OZ so I KNOW what snow on a ski hill look likes) :-) Sparsely deposited patches of White in an otherwise normal looking forest floor is what I found. The Eucalyptus almost all recovered from the Holocaust of last Summer show little sign of damage save for some blackened branches here and there, such is the strength of Mother Nature and these very special trees. Along the road as we gain height we find car parks at different levels populated with many many cars, so, there must be people around some where? :) but where? We continue up to a welcome booth and at this point have to pay 32AUD$ to continue the climb. Through printed material we learn that this money helps to maintain the Park and to pay for WATER needed to MAKE snow :) Eventually, after maybe another half hour of driving upwards we come to another check point. Finally ‘some snow’! A small mound created for children to slide on, otherwise quite a barren landscape of asphalt and machinery. Here it is very cold so we have to change clothes, get into Winter gear and then we’re taken to the top by bus. We are not permitted to go any further in our car. Well…........................here’s where your Mother had proven to her, like Winnie the Poo, how little brain she really possesses. :) I had all the proper gear with me, load of layers, leg warmers on top of sweat pants, woolen scarf (more like a blanket) wrapped around my head and mouth. Quite a picture! When I excited the car is when it hit me. The icy blast of cold humidity, a remembrance of home in the Mountains on a rainy/snowy day, and I immediately started to cough and gasp for breath, even with my face covered and only eyes peeping though the opening. Walking to the visitor’s hut took all of my ability and the pain in my chest and sides made me think I would burst, so dramatic I am :) but nevertheless true. Poor David, he said in no uncertain terms;, “We’re going back in the car, we’re going no further up the Mountain” It is not fair to scare him like that and I MUST accept my limitations. I cannot do these marathon trips anymore and I must learn be satisfied with the quality of life I can enjoy right here where I am, on level ground by the Sea. Of course I was disappointed to have come so close and to not be able to see the top of the Mountain. Little did I realize is that I would have seen nothing, we were already in thick cloud cover and that is why I was gasping for air, little oxygen for one thing and dense mist from the cloud made is extremely perilous for me. We had this confirmed by Web Cam in the little hut, a refuge while waiting for the bus to fetch the people to the top. How those people skied is a wonder. On the way down I begged David to stop so I could take a few pictures, they are not very good! BUT, at least I have a souvenir of the trip.” — / Peace is possible – Let it begin with me /