Five months after fire devastated large swathes of Western Victoria's famed Grampians National Park, nature has come full circle.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Predictions of snowfalls down to 700m in Victoria meant it was always a possibility at the highest parts of the Grampians.
And snow there was.
By 9.30am, rain and slightly warmer weather had melted most snow at Mt William, which at 1167m, is the highest spot in the Grampians.
But there was still plenty of the white stuff around. Hidden in gullies, sheltered under logs and anywhere protected from the driving rain of Tuesday morning.
A few cars arrived shortly after The Courier, as sightseers got out of their cars and set-off for the final climb to the summit, not satisfied with the small patches of snow in the car park.
But they were there to see more than just snow.
They were there to witness the true wonder and rugged beauty of these hills, the very last vestige of the Great Dividing Range.
Cascading waterfalls poured from just about ever slope as the night's rain - and perhaps some melting snow - was washed away down some incredible rock formations.
The morning sun peaked out from behind dark stormy clouds at one point, creating a sparkle across the amazing landscape.
The noise in the tree tops from the ferocious wind was deafening and the rain, sleet and light snowfalls made life less than comfortable.
But for the locals who decided to push up the hill on-foot, there was no question.
"Mate, you've just got to have a look," one sightseer said.
It's this attitude and the pride people living nearby have for the Grampians that attracts so many back to this part of the world.
As if to say "we're not done yet" this incredible mountain range again surprised on the drive back down the mountain.
Two emus burst out of the bush and decided to hold up traffic on the main road back to Halls Gap, taking all the time in the world to get to where they needed to go.
The huge birds disappeared back into the bush after apparently getting their fill of human interaction for one day.
Nature has come full circle. It has soothed the Grampians' January burns with an icy remedy.
Snow has replaced fire - and the Grampians are better than ever.