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.
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