Well, the journey was manageable, and customs lenient with me. No strip searches this trip. I found myself in denver, getting picked up by a friend driving past from vermont going to play at being a cowgirl in northern wyoming before patrolling at grand targee (t7 - you were right about the hill!).
We spent four days climbing 14,000 and 13,000ft peaks in central colorado. What to say, it was hot, very little snow left, and at last I'm getting used to the altitude. The first 14er hurt, but since then I've been feeling a lot better.
We then drove north to wyoming, and this is the only part of the states I've been to that reminds me of home. It's a lot like central western NSW, but with the benefit of having some real mountains in the west side. Tobacca chewing, horse riding, hard drinking country folk...
Now I'm waiting to start with nols tomorrow, and will be out in the wind river range for 16 days. I think I might have a bit of having to deal with some cooler-than-thou outdoors types in the states, as well as some nicer ones; I'll try to be my usual mellow self and be quiet.
Still undecided at present, but thinking of hiring a car and driving back to LA after finishing up in wyoming. Canyonlands of utah are on the cards.
love,
owain.
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Craigieburn Shennanegans
Oh, wow!
Look at this, yet another post from Kiwi land. We've discovered that there is a small internet cafe up here in Arthur's Pass. That's a hell of a lot closer than Methven, from whence I last posted.
So today was the Craigieburn day (we tried earlier, but they have a nasty habit of closing the area to non members or ski weekers if they think it might be busy). And I think I can confirm Chris and Owain's opinions that this is an awesome hill. It's a bit of a pity that the snow is pretty ordinary and the avalanche risk quite high (even inbounds), as there is some lovely terrain to try next time.
The forecast apparently talked about snow tonight - we're crossing our fingers, toes and anything else we can find - rum and coke.
Look at this, yet another post from Kiwi land. We've discovered that there is a small internet cafe up here in Arthur's Pass. That's a hell of a lot closer than Methven, from whence I last posted.
So today was the Craigieburn day (we tried earlier, but they have a nasty habit of closing the area to non members or ski weekers if they think it might be busy). And I think I can confirm Chris and Owain's opinions that this is an awesome hill. It's a bit of a pity that the snow is pretty ordinary and the avalanche risk quite high (even inbounds), as there is some lovely terrain to try next time.
The forecast apparently talked about snow tonight - we're crossing our fingers, toes and anything else we can find - rum and coke.
Monday, 20 August 2007
Ice and Rocks and Chunky Bits
Hey, is this Club Hocking's first post from New Zealand
Well, the first week over here has been interesting. The NZ snowfields have decided not to repeat last year's season :-(. Skiing wise, the quick summary is:
Sunday 12/8 - Took the long way around to Queenstown (Ooops) from Wanaka to try to ski the Remarkables, but we arrived to late and they had closed the mountain. Too many skiers! We ended up heading around to Coronet Peak and had a fun afternoon there. It is really amazing how little snow you can have and still open the resort.
Monday 13/8 - Headed up to Cardrona as it looked like it would have the best beginner terrain for our less experienced boarders. Turned out to be a pretty good call. Cardrona was quite cold and still retained some reasonable soft stuff from the last snow fall. Florent, Nir and I had a great time skiing the arcadia chutes - steep, soft, narrow - way too much fun.
Tuesday 14/8 - Headed up to Treble Cone - one of the most seriously expensive resorts around - $100 for a day ticket and $2000 for a season pass. I think it has about 4 lifts. The snow was a bit more hardpacked and icey up there, but we had a good time skiing some of the steep black chutes - drop-off, mine shaft and gun barrel. In the afternoon I hooked up with the local paragliding tandem dude and flew my glider back down to the base of the mountain.
Wednesday 15/8 - I took the day off skiing this day while the others did Cardrona again. I spent the day hitching up Treble Cone and paragliding off it. Another two good flights, but no thermals :-(.
Thursday 16/8 - Checked out of the backpackers and headed off up to Castle Hill Village via the west coast and Arthur's Pass. It was a fairly long day, but as anyone who has driven that road will know, the views are fantastic. We ended up getting in to our little chalet at Castle Hill Village at about 9:30pm.
Friday 17/8 - After a bit of a late start headed up towards Mt Hutt, as it looked like it would have some easy terrain for Scott, our not so accomplished trayer. Fantastic views heading up the mountain, and it looked like we'd have some great steep powder slopes as well. Turns out the great steep powder slopes were scratchy scree slopes with a 20cm or so cover of powder. It was a fun run, but the Gotama's have now been well and truly christened and scratched and core shotted.
Saturday 18/8 - Today it was just Florent and I as both Scott and Nir weren't feeling so well. We decided to check out porters, and were rewarded with a fun day. The first run was down the bluff face. About 500m of steep and not too bad heavy powder. It got pretty chunked and crusty by the bottom, but the Gotama's were more than up to the challenge. We ended up skiing about 4000m of descent that day.
Oh, and my brother Jimbo bid at an auction for me back in Sydney. I won, so I'll soon be living at 20 Binning St Erskineville. House warming plans won't be too far away.
Sunday 19/8 - Tried Craigieburn, but they were turning away all non members to try to preserve their limited snow cover. Next we headed over to Broken River and hiked up the hill for a ski there. There is a decent hike to get from the car park to the lifts - about 300m vertical, so you get well warmed up before the runs. We skied away the afternoon, and fun was had.
Today, Monday 20/8 - has been spent in Methven sorting out house finance stuff while Florent and Nicholas ski Cheeseman.
So that's the news from Kiwiland. Hope all are well back in Australia, and I'll see you all when I get back.
Well, the first week over here has been interesting. The NZ snowfields have decided not to repeat last year's season :-(. Skiing wise, the quick summary is:
Sunday 12/8 - Took the long way around to Queenstown (Ooops) from Wanaka to try to ski the Remarkables, but we arrived to late and they had closed the mountain. Too many skiers! We ended up heading around to Coronet Peak and had a fun afternoon there. It is really amazing how little snow you can have and still open the resort.
Monday 13/8 - Headed up to Cardrona as it looked like it would have the best beginner terrain for our less experienced boarders. Turned out to be a pretty good call. Cardrona was quite cold and still retained some reasonable soft stuff from the last snow fall. Florent, Nir and I had a great time skiing the arcadia chutes - steep, soft, narrow - way too much fun.
Tuesday 14/8 - Headed up to Treble Cone - one of the most seriously expensive resorts around - $100 for a day ticket and $2000 for a season pass. I think it has about 4 lifts. The snow was a bit more hardpacked and icey up there, but we had a good time skiing some of the steep black chutes - drop-off, mine shaft and gun barrel. In the afternoon I hooked up with the local paragliding tandem dude and flew my glider back down to the base of the mountain.
Wednesday 15/8 - I took the day off skiing this day while the others did Cardrona again. I spent the day hitching up Treble Cone and paragliding off it. Another two good flights, but no thermals :-(.
Thursday 16/8 - Checked out of the backpackers and headed off up to Castle Hill Village via the west coast and Arthur's Pass. It was a fairly long day, but as anyone who has driven that road will know, the views are fantastic. We ended up getting in to our little chalet at Castle Hill Village at about 9:30pm.
Friday 17/8 - After a bit of a late start headed up towards Mt Hutt, as it looked like it would have some easy terrain for Scott, our not so accomplished trayer. Fantastic views heading up the mountain, and it looked like we'd have some great steep powder slopes as well. Turns out the great steep powder slopes were scratchy scree slopes with a 20cm or so cover of powder. It was a fun run, but the Gotama's have now been well and truly christened and scratched and core shotted.
Saturday 18/8 - Today it was just Florent and I as both Scott and Nir weren't feeling so well. We decided to check out porters, and were rewarded with a fun day. The first run was down the bluff face. About 500m of steep and not too bad heavy powder. It got pretty chunked and crusty by the bottom, but the Gotama's were more than up to the challenge. We ended up skiing about 4000m of descent that day.
Oh, and my brother Jimbo bid at an auction for me back in Sydney. I won, so I'll soon be living at 20 Binning St Erskineville. House warming plans won't be too far away.
Sunday 19/8 - Tried Craigieburn, but they were turning away all non members to try to preserve their limited snow cover. Next we headed over to Broken River and hiked up the hill for a ski there. There is a decent hike to get from the car park to the lifts - about 300m vertical, so you get well warmed up before the runs. We skied away the afternoon, and fun was had.
Today, Monday 20/8 - has been spent in Methven sorting out house finance stuff while Florent and Nicholas ski Cheeseman.
So that's the news from Kiwiland. Hope all are well back in Australia, and I'll see you all when I get back.
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
I'm in LOVE!!! ...with my new skis
My new skis finally arrived ELANs 'free spice'They look beautiful... they are SPARKLY!!!
...and they ski like a dream.
They are loverly
Monday, 6 August 2007
Weekend Report (4-5th Aug)
Well even greater fun was had by all this weekend… due to lots of FRESHIES!!!!!
I was diligent and did some work on Saturday but Sid, Freeheel, Wildandfree, T7 (who was teaching Telemania) as always and Hermi who piked and alpined on Saturday.
Sunday ‘The Little One’ on his snow board, Marvin on his tinny icelandics and I on the girls as usual joined in with the rest (exept for T7 who was teaching again for most of the day). Hermi sacked up and teled so their was a posse of telemarkers (and one snowboarder yet to be converted) moving around the mountain soaking up the fresh snow (I even figured out how to ski in it, almost)… lots of fun… Marvin did a Marvin at lunch and went home to contemplate his diodes. Sid went for a skate prep for the hopit. Hermi and I had a tele lesson from T7 in the arvo which was great. Hermi is looking tidy, the little witch, after only 3 days on teles... and I'm getting even speedier.
I had so much fun I had to go back and do it all again today! (Had a go on T7's Slashers... I don't think I'm going to give them back... I like... mine!) Now I’m completely rooted!!
I was diligent and did some work on Saturday but Sid, Freeheel, Wildandfree, T7 (who was teaching Telemania) as always and Hermi who piked and alpined on Saturday.
Sunday ‘The Little One’ on his snow board, Marvin on his tinny icelandics and I on the girls as usual joined in with the rest (exept for T7 who was teaching again for most of the day). Hermi sacked up and teled so their was a posse of telemarkers (and one snowboarder yet to be converted) moving around the mountain soaking up the fresh snow (I even figured out how to ski in it, almost)… lots of fun… Marvin did a Marvin at lunch and went home to contemplate his diodes. Sid went for a skate prep for the hopit. Hermi and I had a tele lesson from T7 in the arvo which was great. Hermi is looking tidy, the little witch, after only 3 days on teles... and I'm getting even speedier.
I had so much fun I had to go back and do it all again today! (Had a go on T7's Slashers... I don't think I'm going to give them back... I like... mine!) Now I’m completely rooted!!
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Destructive Chairlift Testing
Here is a damn impressive video I found during a brief study break today.
Monday, 30 July 2007
Red Bull X-Alps
Hey Guys,
not much posting here over the last week, so I thought I'd spice it up a bit (i.e. I want to post about paragliding). The red bull x-alps is on at the moment (www.redbullxalps.com) . It's a bit of a crazy competition where you try to fly and hike from Austria to Monaco. You can check out the progress with the following google earth link:
http://tracking.redbullxalps.com/googleEarth/xa2007.kml
Obviously, it is just a good way to scope out the best backcountry and resort lines for the upcoming winter in Europe.
Danger Mouse
not much posting here over the last week, so I thought I'd spice it up a bit (i.e. I want to post about paragliding). The red bull x-alps is on at the moment (www.redbullxalps.com) . It's a bit of a crazy competition where you try to fly and hike from Austria to Monaco. You can check out the progress with the following google earth link:
http://tracking.redbullxalps.com/googleEarth/xa2007.kml
Obviously, it is just a good way to scope out the best backcountry and resort lines for the upcoming winter in Europe.
Danger Mouse
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
21st abd 22nd weekend media
Here are some images from BBB of herself and her friend Joe Snowboarding, plus this shot of Sid that I think is great!
and some footage of Joe snowboarding and Hydrophilica in switch tele mode!
and some footage of Joe snowboarding and Hydrophilica in switch tele mode!
Hermione Granger
We are making a public notice to say that this weekend the BBB and I renamed Chris N 'Hermione Granger' with approval from all!! (why Hermione Granger? cause he's a good boy that's good at stuff!) So we here by publicly demand that Chris change his profile!
Otherwise the BBB and I got up to lots of mischief as usual... I laughed my guts out while taking photos of the BBB trying to snowboard (T7 said he will put those photos up soon)... entertainment only topped by sing star where BBB got Priscilla out with a glass of whisky and then Priscilla sang Roxanne as Miss Sucky Sucky... oh dear what a weekend... still recovering.
Monday, 23 July 2007
WOW, That was fun.
I can feel my legs after my first Tele day. Thanks T7 for the tips and thanks all for a great weekend. After that, I am keen now to grab a set of Tele skis and get started. Can I ask what that ski website and and suggested set of skis were again T7? Suggestions on any other website worth a look are welcome from all as well.
Ta much
Chris
I can feel my legs after my first Tele day. Thanks T7 for the tips and thanks all for a great weekend. After that, I am keen now to grab a set of Tele skis and get started. Can I ask what that ski website and and suggested set of skis were again T7? Suggestions on any other website worth a look are welcome from all as well.
Ta much
Chris
21-2 July
What a magic weekend!!! Perfect weather, nice dry snow and Sing Star
Thanks to all for making it good.
DM and T7 both got to play on new skis yesterday, and both were very happy boys.
Sunday arvo T7 and I went out on the trails and did some skating, now I'm too stuffed to concentrate on work!!
Gotta run now
Thanks to all for making it good.
DM and T7 both got to play on new skis yesterday, and both were very happy boys.
Sunday arvo T7 and I went out on the trails and did some skating, now I'm too stuffed to concentrate on work!!
Gotta run now
Sunday, 15 July 2007
What a great weekend
Everyone was amazed to see the entire mountain open this weekend. Hydropphylica has been reaching ever higher top speeds and I managed to wreck myself following Sid on 5km nordic trail. Sorry but there is no media, forgot the cameras both days. If you'vew been toying with the idea of coming down, do it soon cause it is great!
Saturday, 7 July 2007
Whites River backcountry
Just back from a week backcountry up around Whites River and Schlink. Saw some people the first day, then only the two of us for the rest of the time, until the run out.
Cold temperatures, and three solid days of new dry snow - MAGIC!
Photos linked from Flickr
The beautiful skin up to the Rolling Grounds
Part of the ride down, blissful.
And how did the new sled go? Pretty well really. Not too much drag on the uphills or in the deep snow on the way out, and very nice to not have the weight resting on my shoulders. A fair amount slower than when I tour with a rucksack, but can you have as many luxuries then? Fresh baked choccy cake, goats cheese and mushroom crepes, and much much more... On the side slopes it performed reasonably well, although I learned early to try to get the centre of gravity as low as possible. The most evil situation was skiing across slumping snow bridges on creeks, having to turn it accurately to get the sled to climb straight out the other side rather than flip when climbing on a sharp diagonal. Pretty eassy to turn with the hips.
The new O1 bindings and the jak bcs performed fantastically. Longer stride length and no energy spent on bellow flex was well worth any weight penalty.
Cold temperatures, and three solid days of new dry snow - MAGIC!
Photos linked from Flickr
The beautiful skin up to the Rolling Grounds
Part of the ride down, blissful.
And how did the new sled go? Pretty well really. Not too much drag on the uphills or in the deep snow on the way out, and very nice to not have the weight resting on my shoulders. A fair amount slower than when I tour with a rucksack, but can you have as many luxuries then? Fresh baked choccy cake, goats cheese and mushroom crepes, and much much more... On the side slopes it performed reasonably well, although I learned early to try to get the centre of gravity as low as possible. The most evil situation was skiing across slumping snow bridges on creeks, having to turn it accurately to get the sled to climb straight out the other side rather than flip when climbing on a sharp diagonal. Pretty eassy to turn with the hips.
The new O1 bindings and the jak bcs performed fantastically. Longer stride length and no energy spent on bellow flex was well worth any weight penalty.
Sunday, 1 July 2007
About Us
Ha Ha Ha! I beat Yukiko! I was first to post a video of us! Ha Ha Ha! It is a video of the first time we saw white cold stuff falling from the sky. Later it stayed on the ground and it was cold on my pads! But Fun! Ha Ha Ha!
Sat 23rd Video Report
It's a bit late but here is a video report of Sid and I skinning up Mt P and getting first tracks of the season on International followed by the whole skate back to Front Valley on the Kosciuszko road.
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Getting Soggy your softshell?
Hi,
Just though i'd give you all a heads up.
Sid ordered from grangers superpruf for softshell water repellancy from here.
If anyone else wants some send me a text, I ordered a few extra.
Sorry to advertise on the blog but thought this might be relevent to a few folks.
Just though i'd give you all a heads up.
Sid ordered from grangers superpruf for softshell water repellancy from here.
If anyone else wants some send me a text, I ordered a few extra.
Sorry to advertise on the blog but thought this might be relevent to a few folks.
Snow in the tinderries
Cold and wet here in Canberra this morning, and if you go to the abc website, http://www.abc.net.au/canberra/stories/s1962097.htm there's been snow in the Tinderries - the mountains east of Michelago.
Lets hope this weeks weather system sends some snow down to the mountains, we may see some more terrain open up if things go right. Alternatively, with this sort of system you can get lots of rain, in which case we'd have to sacrifice those who haven't performed appeasment...
Lets hope this weeks weather system sends some snow down to the mountains, we may see some more terrain open up if things go right. Alternatively, with this sort of system you can get lots of rain, in which case we'd have to sacrifice those who haven't performed appeasment...
Friday, 22 June 2007
On the Piste - UC ski study
Just read this on the ABC website
A team of researchers from the University of Canberra is trying to determine whether hydration levels affect the balance and cardio-vascular performance of skiers.
The research is designed to help people who ski socially, and builds on results from last year showing that skiers who had accidents were more likely to be dehydrated or fatigued.
G-P-S equipment will be used to measure the balance, heart rate, speed and fatigue levels of a group of skiers on the New South Wales snow fields.
Doctor Tracey Dickson from the University of Canberra said people often sleep less and drink more alcohol and caffeine when they go skiing, but there were also other factors which affect performance.
"The combination of altitude, dry air, doing a physical activity and not drinking as much can add to dehydration, which can ultimately increase their fatigue, decrease their enjoyment and possibly contribute to injuries" she said.
A team of researchers from the University of Canberra is trying to determine whether hydration levels affect the balance and cardio-vascular performance of skiers.
The research is designed to help people who ski socially, and builds on results from last year showing that skiers who had accidents were more likely to be dehydrated or fatigued.
G-P-S equipment will be used to measure the balance, heart rate, speed and fatigue levels of a group of skiers on the New South Wales snow fields.
Doctor Tracey Dickson from the University of Canberra said people often sleep less and drink more alcohol and caffeine when they go skiing, but there were also other factors which affect performance.
"The combination of altitude, dry air, doing a physical activity and not drinking as much can add to dehydration, which can ultimately increase their fatigue, decrease their enjoyment and possibly contribute to injuries" she said.
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