WELL, it’s fair to say as we officially transition from winter to spring, snow conditions at Falls Creek and Mt Hotham are not where we’d like them to be.
Big efforts by snowmaking and grooming crews on both mountains helped maintain plenty of terrain in August, despite Mother Nature’s lack of natural snowfall.
But warmer, and unfortunately wet weather in late August is challenging the expectation of both resorts running their full season until October 6.
Still, we remain eternal optimists and September has surprised us before with some cold snaps that have replenished snow depths.
With all that said, terrain remains open and lifts are still turning, and snow is still there to be enjoyed.
Vail Resorts, which operates lift operations at both alpine resorts, said it’s usual for ramp-down to begin in spring.
“However, we will keep as many lifts spinning as we can, with guest and staff safety, as well as environmental considerations, at the forefront of our decision-making,” a company spokesman said.
Both resorts certainly have plenty of events planned on snow (see page 6), and of course, apres ski is to be enjoyed no matter what is happening outside.
For on-mountain visitors, there are also some great accommodation deals to be enjoyed.
And for day visitors, September and its typically sunnier weather always make the resorts a popular destination for snowplay and sightseeing.
Visitation to both Falls Creek and Mt Hotham alpine resorts so far this season has been more than 30 per cent higher than the average over the past decade.
According to official Victorian Alpine Resorts entry statistics up until Sunday, August 18, Falls Creek had 130,880 visitors in the first 11 weeks of the snow season.
Falls Creek’s visitor days for this season are also up by more than 30 per cent on the 10 year average.
The resort had 338,052 visitors days up until August 18, which was up on this time last year (334,737) and second only to the record 2022 season (358,248).
Mt Hotham’s first 11 weeks of the season has seen 117,113 visitors, which is the third highest number in the past decade, behind last season (127,516) and 2022 (157,570).
It’s visitor days however only stand at 218,681, which is well down on the 10 year average of 227,761, and well behind the past two seasons (320,536 in 2023 and 331,840 in 2022).
Our alpine resorts are still well worth a visit in September - and in fact throughout spring into summer and autumn.
They offer peaceful respite from the daily grind throughout the ‘green season’, with plenty of activities to enjoy (see page 20).
• For the latest resort information, including snow reports and activities, visit fallscreek.com.au, hotham.com.au, and visitdinnerplain.com.au
That is well up on the 123,347 at that time last season, and second only to the 2022 season which had 133,593 visitors to week 11.
