Locals have exposed the harsh reality of Australian ski slopes right now as unusually warm weather hits the country’s east coast.
The mountains are now covered in soft snow, mud and almost bare, instead of being covered in powder snow as in previous weeks.
Recent photographs of the popular Thredbo Alpine Resort Supertrail have provided a “reality check” for holidaymakers hoping to spend another weekend in the snow.
Photos shared on the Facebook group ‘Snowy Mountains Uncensored’ show little to no snow with large patches of exposed ground and bushes dominating the area.
Ski and snowboard fans were devastated by the update, with many planning to venture out over the weekend after shelling out hundreds of dollars in advance for ski passes and lodging.
Many people wonder if it is worth going down to the slopes at this time of year.
This comes as the country records its highest winter temperature on record while experiencing an unexpected heatwave.
The post quickly caught the attention of locals and tourists alike, who were disappointed that the season seemed to be ending early.
Photos shared on the Facebook group ‘Snowy Mountains Uncensored’ show little to no snow with large patches of exposed ground and bushes dominating the area.
“What a joke,” wrote one.
“It’s been a very sad season,” said another.
“Go to Japan or don’t even bother,” warned a third. “I’m devastated, thanks for the update.”
“It’s more or less spring now, the sun is starting to come out, the snow is melting. That’s a fact. Stop complaining,” another added bluntly.
Despite the unusually hot weather, Thredbo Resort is still open for skiing and snowboarding.
A Thredbo spokesperson told FEMAIL that the resort has offered incredible snow conditions over the past two months and while warmer weather and recent rain has affected the mountain, there are still a variety of lifts and trails open for guests to enjoy.
The purpose-built Friday Flat beginners area in Thredbo is now open and offers the ideal terrain for learning to ski or snowboard.
The Cruiser area also remains open, providing access to a variety of much-loved family trails including Walkabout, Ballroom and High Noon, plus Australia’s only Halfpipe, which is open for all to enjoy.
With possible snowfall and colder temperatures forecast for the coming weeks, Thredbo is committed to opening up as much terrain as possible if conditions allow.
It is not the first complaint to hit Australian ski slopes this year.
Earlier this year, an Australian father was shocked to discover how expensive ski passes are today compared to 34 years ago.
Michael Atkinson has been skiing all his life and visits Perisher Ski Resort in New South Wales every year.
He revealed how in 1990, when he was 14, an elevator ride cost him $46, but today customers are charged $249.
The father of two, better known as @outback_mike Online, he detailed how he used to stack shelves at Woolworths for $7 an hour and was able to save up money for a swipe after a seven-hour shift.
Now her 15-year-old son, who makes $17 an hour, would have to work twice as hard to save enough money for a pass.
“And it’s not inflation because I plugged it into an RBA inflation calculator and it should be $107 today – add in GST because it came in later and it should be $118,” he said in the video.
“Adjusted for inflation, the lift pass should cost $118. It’s more than double that. It’s crazy.”
Although some skiers criticized the father’s calculation, pointing out that he was comparing a child’s pass in 1990 with an adult pass in 2024.
At Perisher, a child pass costs between $95 and $124 if booked in advance, and up to $136 if purchased on the day. This is more in line with their calculation of GST and inflation.
However, Perisher considers everyone over the age of 15 to be an adult. Adult day passes cost between $172 and $226 if purchased in advance, and can go up to $249 if purchased on the day.
Thredbo day passes were cheaper overall, with teen tickets costing a maximum of $112 per day.
Mr Atkinson told FEMAIL how this expensive hobby is becoming “out of reach” for the average Australian.
“I think this is going to lead to a greater divide between the rich and the poor,” he said.
The avid traveler said he will never stop skiing despite the cost and how difficult it is to pinpoint the exact cause of the price hike.
The disappointed father highlighted the price difference in a now-viral Instagram video that has surpassed more than 2.8 million views.
