Mt Mawson in Tasmania is buried under three metres of snow and battling to get ready for the weekend. Got a shovel? They want to hear from you

THIS little Aussie ski resort is buried under three metres of snow. If you’ve got a shovel, they desperately need to hear from you. Now. Please help.

YOU’RE really going to dig this story. Then again, it might make you feel buried under the weight of responsiblity.

This story is about Mt Mawson, a tiny Australian ski resort you’ve probably never heard of, whose ski lifts are currently buried under about three metres of drifted snow.

This was earlier in the week. This pole is totally under the snow now.

Mt Mawson, near Hobart, is one of two Tasmanian ski fields. You might recall that three weeks ago we spoke to the people up on the hill at Ben Lomond, Tasmania’s other (much larger) ski resort, which is near Launceston.

The good people at Ben Lomond told us that while the so-called “Antarctic Vortex” had brought wave after wave of snow to mainland ranges as far north as Queensland, little old Tassie totally missed out on all the fun.

Not this week, it didn’t. You no doubt heard how it snowed all the way down to the beaches in Hobart earlier this week. But what’s really remarkable is how much it kept snowing in the Tasmanian highlands. And snowing and snowing and snowing for days.

This is great news for people who want to ski Mt Mawson, but it’s also bad news, as Peter Davis, President of the Southern Tasmania Ski Association, explains.

“I’ve never seen so much snow,” Mr Davis tells news.com.au. “We’ve had some big dumps in past where the ski tow ropes got buried, but nothing like this. The first pole on the ski tow is three metres deep and it has disappeared under the snow.”

An image from the upgraded snowcam at Mt (Mount) Mawson (Mt Field National Park), the website says there has been enough snow to ensure a good base for the rest of winter, skiers revelling in the extensive snow coverage

Mr Davis was part of an unpaid team who slogged hard over summer to install snow fences alongside Mt Mawson’s ski tows. The fences act to retain snow which often blows in on gale force winds direct from the Antarctic.

“The fences are working a little too well this week,” Mr Davis notes.

With 36 hours or so until what should be the busiest weekend in memory, Mr Davis says the race is on to get Mt Mawson ready. First things first: the road has to open. The National Parks service has loads of fallen trees to clear and is doing its best on that front.

The Jeep Trail to Mt Mawson, first day of Winter 2015, Mt Field National Park. For Gazette, June 3, 2015.

After that, it’s going to be all about the digging. The way Mt Mawson runs is that each of seven clubs who share the facility also share the volunteer labour. This weekend, the Oldina Ski Club just happens to be on duty. Peter Davis reckons it’ll take 15 to 20 members to dig the bottom tow out. And it’s just one of three tows.

Bottom line: if you’ve got a shovel and a few spare hours tomorrow, we’re pretty sure they’d love to hear from you. And your reward?

For just a $30 day ticket, which is by far the cheapest in Australia, you’ll get what Peter Davis says will be: “A day skiing on Tasmanian powder in an awesome wilderness area.”

Existing ski shelters at Mt Mawson ski slopes, Mt Field National Park, Tasmania. For Gazette, March-April 2015.

Proposed ski shelter for Mt Mawson ski slopes, Mt Field National Park, Tasmania. For Gazette, March-April 2015.

Meanwhile up north in Tasmania, Ben Lomond local George Foot says all six lifts should be spinning this weekend, after the heaviest prolonged snowfall on “The Ben” he’s seen in his 25 years.

As for the big resorts on the mainland, it’s looking like the best weekend of the season by far with sunny skies forecast and all lifts open at most areas.

It’s all about Australia’s best ski resort Thredbo this weekend, with the famous Top 2 Bottom race on Australia’s longest ski run presented by G.H. Mumm champagne and a weekend of amazing apre-ski action featuring French “sensation” La Folie Douce.

There’ll be G.H. Mumm champagne powder in Thredbo this weekend, guaranteed.

This reporter will be down there competing in the Top 2 Bottom and will almost certainly come last. Nothing a glass or two of champagne won’t fix.