On da slopes, well kinda !!
29 June 2007
Finally the wait is over. Cardrona, to be our second home, opened yesterday. With one main slope, one nursery slope, a chair and poma lift, and three magic carpets, Cardrona was in well not quite full swing, but its was a start and it was great to be on a snowboard again. Cardrona is 23 km from Wanaka, about half of that is on the main road, then the fun begins. Off road and onto a unsealed road (they like these in the Southern hemisphere). A gravel highway leads to the resort, wide, steep in places, lots of places with great dropoffs on all the hairpin bends its scary on a normal day, I can only imagine what it is going to be like when its covered in snow and ice.
I decided to be a good girl and park the car at the bottom of the hill in the lower carpark and hitch up the hill to the resort. In hindsight the road was fine. I was pleasently surprised at the length of the run – I had been told so often that I be dissappointed coming from skiing in Europe, that the runs were short. But I overestimated short – they were too bad, definitely not as long but hey ho. The first run was funny – just getting my balance points back. After that, it was cruising and picking up speed. Naturally, I had a few tumbles – especiallly when I started going gooffy. Mel and Orla had their first days at work, all dressed up in navy and red, and purple and orange. Ah, they looked funny. Unfortunately, there is only one run open so I have been doing laps :( Roll on powder.
Day 2 on the slopes, never materialised. Cardrona is closed, weather has come in. The roads are icy and its snowing up high (wet snow - grrr – but its something). Back to crocheting my scarf and watching Wimbelton.
June 30, 2007
June 27, 2007
Life in Wanaka
I've been based in Wanaka (Albertown) now for the past 10 days and life is good.
We're patiently sitting waiting for the big promised dump of snow. Hmmm. Luckily last thursday, our dreams came true and it started snowing - although it stopped again on Friday afternoon - its a start however.
Deciding not to get too depressed by the lack of skiing and the fact that Cardrona (the ski resort) is not open and no one really knows when its going to open I've been keeping myself occupied. I've taken to a spot of baking - well ok not really but I baked a cake, a carrot cake, no less. If I do say so myself - it was quite yummy. Other evening activities include, catching up on all my evening soaps and crochets (I have no idea how to spell that), but I knitted two beanie hats, he he.. its kinda sad and cool at the same time - but so addictive... now I am crocheting a hat :)
Decided to head to Queenstown last Saturday, just because. The roads had been cleared (mostly) of snow and well we had nothing better to do. Queenstown is like Wanaka rich cousin. Many more people, lots more shops - we were happy to see the place but glad to go home. The funny thing about the trip - was the number of abandoned cars we came across on the way. We count upto 80 cars, just left in the most conspicuous of places: on a hill, in the middle of the road, on a corner. Basically, when the snows came on thursday, people weren't prepared, didn't have their chains, got stranded and had to leave their cars.... madness I tell you madness. Glad I wasn't driving on Thursday eve... Driving with chains - wohoo - so loud and clunky - but the traction is great.
Over the past few days, myself Orla and Mel decided to hit the hills and go tramping (hiking kiwi style). The first escapade was a supposed to be a nice 3 hour hike to a glacier (Rob Roy) from the carpark. Unfortunately, about 5 km from the carpark, the road became a wee bit treacherous. Completely iced over with a drop on one side, we parked the car and decided a roadside stroll would be better. We wandered around the Matukituki (I am sure I've spelled that wrong) for a few hours and came across this wee fella, wandering the fields,
I'm pretty sure he's missing his left eye. But he's so cute, I know I know he's a cow, but a fluffy one... go on - cows are cute, kinda ;)
Yesterday, we went on a proper hike. Myself, Mel, Orla and an Aussie called Dave set off in two cars. We parked one on the Cardrona side of the valley and the other on the Mt. Roy side and tramped from one to the other. The Mt. Roy, Mt. Alpha traverse. We estimated the walk to be about 8 hours with only a little snow at the top. Boy were we wrong, from the moment we got out of the car, we were in ankle deep snow, and it was that way right until the very end. With parts of the walk knee deep. Never the less we had a great day and the views were fantastic.
Funny experience the last fews days. The guys in the house warned us not to put the handbrake on, because they can freeze. We took them up on their advice, but didn't really think that it would happen, until we got into the car yesterday, to find the handbrake had indeed frozen. Luckily for us - it froze down and not up - so we could still drive away :)
We're patiently sitting waiting for the big promised dump of snow. Hmmm. Luckily last thursday, our dreams came true and it started snowing - although it stopped again on Friday afternoon - its a start however.
Deciding not to get too depressed by the lack of skiing and the fact that Cardrona (the ski resort) is not open and no one really knows when its going to open I've been keeping myself occupied. I've taken to a spot of baking - well ok not really but I baked a cake, a carrot cake, no less. If I do say so myself - it was quite yummy. Other evening activities include, catching up on all my evening soaps and crochets (I have no idea how to spell that), but I knitted two beanie hats, he he.. its kinda sad and cool at the same time - but so addictive... now I am crocheting a hat :)
Decided to head to Queenstown last Saturday, just because. The roads had been cleared (mostly) of snow and well we had nothing better to do. Queenstown is like Wanaka rich cousin. Many more people, lots more shops - we were happy to see the place but glad to go home. The funny thing about the trip - was the number of abandoned cars we came across on the way. We count upto 80 cars, just left in the most conspicuous of places: on a hill, in the middle of the road, on a corner. Basically, when the snows came on thursday, people weren't prepared, didn't have their chains, got stranded and had to leave their cars.... madness I tell you madness. Glad I wasn't driving on Thursday eve... Driving with chains - wohoo - so loud and clunky - but the traction is great.
Over the past few days, myself Orla and Mel decided to hit the hills and go tramping (hiking kiwi style). The first escapade was a supposed to be a nice 3 hour hike to a glacier (Rob Roy) from the carpark. Unfortunately, about 5 km from the carpark, the road became a wee bit treacherous. Completely iced over with a drop on one side, we parked the car and decided a roadside stroll would be better. We wandered around the Matukituki (I am sure I've spelled that wrong) for a few hours and came across this wee fella, wandering the fields,
I'm pretty sure he's missing his left eye. But he's so cute, I know I know he's a cow, but a fluffy one... go on - cows are cute, kinda ;)
Yesterday, we went on a proper hike. Myself, Mel, Orla and an Aussie called Dave set off in two cars. We parked one on the Cardrona side of the valley and the other on the Mt. Roy side and tramped from one to the other. The Mt. Roy, Mt. Alpha traverse. We estimated the walk to be about 8 hours with only a little snow at the top. Boy were we wrong, from the moment we got out of the car, we were in ankle deep snow, and it was that way right until the very end. With parts of the walk knee deep. Never the less we had a great day and the views were fantastic.
Funny experience the last fews days. The guys in the house warned us not to put the handbrake on, because they can freeze. We took them up on their advice, but didn't really think that it would happen, until we got into the car yesterday, to find the handbrake had indeed frozen. Luckily for us - it froze down and not up - so we could still drive away :)
June 13, 2007
What a week?
Thursday
Drove from Hokitiko to Arthur's Pass and hiked up Bealey Spur, about a 3 hour hike with fantastic panoramic views of the Southern Alpss.
Friday
Found the free camping at Craigueburn shetler and then headed to Castlehill (Spittle hill) to sample the bouldering. Unfortunately we had no mat so were a little apprehensive of the landings. Luckily for us as we were parking the car a local (ish - canadian living in Christchurch) can and gave us a guided tour including a mat - so we learnt to mantle ;) Castle hill is great, scary, high ball, low ball, mantles, crimps, slopers, limestone, polished, all rolled into one :)
Saturday
Met some crazy Germans and an American who took us to Flock hill for the day (and lent us a bouldering mat - sweet :) Man what a walk in - 45 minutes up hill :(
Sunday
Attempted to drive to Mt Hutt, but Ruby (our car) decided she didn't like the icy steep road up the hill, and then onto Geraldine - where we found a nice camp site, with a kitchen and tv room. Dinner infront of the tv - that's the first in a while. Got to watch Meet the Fockers (film) - very funny.
Monday
Spent the day visiting place between Geraldine and Oamura - searched for penguins but failed miserably, searched for some climbing but got scared off by a big dog. Saw some Maori art on a big boulder. All in all a pleasent day. Found a hut in Duntroon to stay in. When asking for directions to the hut, we some had managed to be given dinner by some nice cafe owners. Sometimes you just land on your feet.
Tuesday
Bouldering season in Elephant Rock - a great season. Stuck to one boulder and did some training - I hurt the next day. Spent the afternoon in the hut, then went to the local pub for a few drinks that evening. It certainly was a locals joint, there were 3 others in the pub. Had some great games of pool.
Wednesday
Drove to Dunedin - stopping at the Moeraki boulder (odd looking boulders - almost perfectly round ones) and Shag Point - well we had to just for the name. He he. and finally we rocked up into Dunedin, parked the car in a nice cheap multistorey car park and went to the chocolate factory - yummmy :) :) and came back to the car to find we had a flat battery - grrr - in a multi - fricking - storey carpark - with not a soul around. Eventually we convinced the person (the only person) who worked there - to give us a push and managed to push start the car. But all was not good. The engine didn't seem to be recharging the battery at all - we crawled along, with very dim head lamps and fading indictors until we found a backpackers on a hill and parked.
Thursday
Found a garage to get a new battery, but he did a few tests on the car and found that it was the alternators not the battery at the moment. So the car is now sitting in another garage waiting for a new part. Hopefully we get it back today.
The journey so far!
Drove from Hokitiko to Arthur's Pass and hiked up Bealey Spur, about a 3 hour hike with fantastic panoramic views of the Southern Alpss.
Friday
Found the free camping at Craigueburn shetler and then headed to Castlehill (Spittle hill) to sample the bouldering. Unfortunately we had no mat so were a little apprehensive of the landings. Luckily for us as we were parking the car a local (ish - canadian living in Christchurch) can and gave us a guided tour including a mat - so we learnt to mantle ;) Castle hill is great, scary, high ball, low ball, mantles, crimps, slopers, limestone, polished, all rolled into one :)
Saturday
Met some crazy Germans and an American who took us to Flock hill for the day (and lent us a bouldering mat - sweet :) Man what a walk in - 45 minutes up hill :(
Sunday
Attempted to drive to Mt Hutt, but Ruby (our car) decided she didn't like the icy steep road up the hill, and then onto Geraldine - where we found a nice camp site, with a kitchen and tv room. Dinner infront of the tv - that's the first in a while. Got to watch Meet the Fockers (film) - very funny.
Monday
Spent the day visiting place between Geraldine and Oamura - searched for penguins but failed miserably, searched for some climbing but got scared off by a big dog. Saw some Maori art on a big boulder. All in all a pleasent day. Found a hut in Duntroon to stay in. When asking for directions to the hut, we some had managed to be given dinner by some nice cafe owners. Sometimes you just land on your feet.
Tuesday
Bouldering season in Elephant Rock - a great season. Stuck to one boulder and did some training - I hurt the next day. Spent the afternoon in the hut, then went to the local pub for a few drinks that evening. It certainly was a locals joint, there were 3 others in the pub. Had some great games of pool.
Wednesday
Drove to Dunedin - stopping at the Moeraki boulder (odd looking boulders - almost perfectly round ones) and Shag Point - well we had to just for the name. He he. and finally we rocked up into Dunedin, parked the car in a nice cheap multistorey car park and went to the chocolate factory - yummmy :) :) and came back to the car to find we had a flat battery - grrr - in a multi - fricking - storey carpark - with not a soul around. Eventually we convinced the person (the only person) who worked there - to give us a push and managed to push start the car. But all was not good. The engine didn't seem to be recharging the battery at all - we crawled along, with very dim head lamps and fading indictors until we found a backpackers on a hill and parked.
Thursday
Found a garage to get a new battery, but he did a few tests on the car and found that it was the alternators not the battery at the moment. So the car is now sitting in another garage waiting for a new part. Hopefully we get it back today.
The journey so far!
June 10, 2007
Wrong on so Many Levels.
Picture this you arrive at a junction when suddenly you are bamboozled with 100's of signposts, bridges, cyclists beware, trains, one way traffic, yield, stop. Trying to work out which are import you realised that probably the stop sign is. Hmmm. Ah - I see you are about to imbark on a one way bridge, ok that's easy , not so, alright its a one way bridge so you have to watch out for one coming traffic, But this traffic can alway be in the form of a train coming from either direction as well. What's more the bridge is about 300 or 400 hundred metres long with no room to pull in if need be, the one way off is straight on or reverse. I had my heart in my mouth driving across that one. Trying to keep the car straight was also fun, as it tends to skid on the wooden and sleepers and metal rails... what a ride :)
June 5, 2007
From East to West
After a couple of glorius days in Christchurch, climbing in the Porthills, we decided to leave and head cross country to the Southern Alps in Ruby, our trusty station wagon.
First stop Castle hill, we arrived just as the sun was setting. It was an amazing sight. We decided as there was still a little bit of sunlight left, to go stroll among the boulders. Stupidly, neither of us had thought of checking the forecast, so we got up the next morning to overcast stormy weather. We couldn't see more than a couple of hundreds metres. Disappointed we couldn't go bouldering we cut our loses and headed out West to Greymouth, where we spent the afternoon, rummaging around secondhand shops, drinking coffee and eating carrot. What more could you ask of a rainy Tuesday afternoon :)
Unfortunately, the rain still hasn't stopped. Today, we explored the rainforests in a National Park just north of Greymouth. It was beautiful and the wet and greyness only added to the atmosphere.
Now I have had enough rain and want to go climbing. Fingers crossed for this weekend :). Although on an positive note, the rain down low, hopefully, means snow up high - which is good for the snow season :)
First stop Castle hill, we arrived just as the sun was setting. It was an amazing sight. We decided as there was still a little bit of sunlight left, to go stroll among the boulders. Stupidly, neither of us had thought of checking the forecast, so we got up the next morning to overcast stormy weather. We couldn't see more than a couple of hundreds metres. Disappointed we couldn't go bouldering we cut our loses and headed out West to Greymouth, where we spent the afternoon, rummaging around secondhand shops, drinking coffee and eating carrot. What more could you ask of a rainy Tuesday afternoon :)
Unfortunately, the rain still hasn't stopped. Today, we explored the rainforests in a National Park just north of Greymouth. It was beautiful and the wet and greyness only added to the atmosphere.
Now I have had enough rain and want to go climbing. Fingers crossed for this weekend :). Although on an positive note, the rain down low, hopefully, means snow up high - which is good for the snow season :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)