Fille de Neige

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Chantel Smith

I like to snowboard as much as possible! I'm found most weekends on the slopes of Ruapehu.
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Not over just yet!

Comment Share Posted on Monday November 2nd at 4:57 p.m.

I've had a rather busy spring and thus haven't posted in a while... Spring 09 saw winter (and SNOvember) reappear. Turoa, at Mt Ruapehu, will be open til November the 8th, so make the most of it and eek out some last turns.

It's been a funny old spring... today on the 2nd of November they are reporting it to be the coldest October in 25 years! The upper slopes of Turoa are loaded. October brought us wintery snowstorms that kept topping things up so in between times, when the weather cleared, there has been lots of happy faces shredding the pow.

After all my time off over winter, I have had to stick to weekends but got plenty more days in all the same. I haven't been as quite as adventurous as my boyfriend (who has hiked the summit, dropped the crater, descended Girdlestone, and played in the glaciers) as I have manged to tire myself out quite nicely on the inner and outer trails... and enjoyed quite a few 'working lunches' in the sun at the Giant cafe with mates.

There is a week left, and looks like at least a few more sunny days to enjoy lift access up there. In case you are not quite convinced here are some recent highlights. It's not over yet. Enjoy the picture show.

Chonnie :)

PS: for those that make it there, we are meeting up at the Giant Cafe 12pm on the 8th Nov. Would be awesome to meet some more of you!

<&rt;1/6 Photos

boyfriend took Oct 6th off work and sent me this pic, Nice.
Sat 10/10 - despite a sketchy weather forecast, we headed down
Sun 11/10 - big snow on the mountain road
Sun 11/10 - Why Not is now the "where are they?"
Sun 11/10 - no gale force winds as predicted and no one here!
Sun 11/10 - some typical wind drifting in exposed places

<&rt;1/7 Photos

Sat 24/10 - another stunning start, with freshies after the last few days closed...
Sat 24/10 - warm up run down the Thumb, after our crew had scratched thru it
Sat 24/10 - some pond skim fun
Sun 25/10 - my boyfriends summit descent tracks above Big Bowl, and the field completely tracked all over from yesterday!
Mon 26/10 - Labour Day crowds... everyone else went home?!
Labour Day - the top car park never filled
Labour Day - nice soft spring snow to ourselves

<&rt;1/7 Photos

Sat 31/10 - yet another dusting of fresh, the view from Massey Flat
Sat 31/10 - the view from the base area
Sat 31/10 - wind drifts right into the lower gullys, was too nice to stop, knew I'd have to hike out!
Sat 31/10 - late in the afternoon and very close to the base area, it was all there!
Sun 1/11 - SNOvember!
Sun 1/11 - jandals in the carpark after a big day = so good!
Sun 1/11 - a Halloween moon