Tim,Paul and Bill....could not imagine what you fellows go through ! our snow area here in aussie is about 7 hrs drive away from sydney ! - south east corner of the country. snow only covers ..I don,t know probably only about a hundred square miles if that !! and only lasts from about may, june and a little into july. what makes it more harder to take maybe for you is that australians travel 'all that way' for fun and recreation only...!!!!!! ah, well i still envy people who experience snow every day...........Larry ( 70 deg. and sunny here today...'G'..)