Fille de Neige
snow.co.nz/blogs/fille-de-neige/
Chantel Smith
I like to snowboard as much as possible! I'm found most weekends on the slopes of Ruapehu.
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5 days, 3 fields
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Posted on Thursday August 13th at 12:12 a.m.
Just a quick post from the road, folks!
Arrived into CHCH on Saturday, checked in at Methven and got up to Hutt in time for the last 2 hours of riding. As we went up people were starting to come down. We thought maybe it was cos it wasn't that great up there, but turns out that the runs were being swallowed by the fast encroaching afternoon shadow. (Riding on the western slopes of Ruapehu, you forget that we get all that afternoon light.) The snow was really nice, so on Sunday we stayed and returned for some more action in the sun. Bumped into some familar 'Kune crew while we were there, and it was great way to start the tour.
'Kune Crew do Hutt
So Monday we finally made it to our first field on the Chill Pass. We aimed for Porters, to get the T bar legs on. The light was a bit flat, and the wind was very strong at the top, but the snow was good and windblown onto the trail straight off T3. Come Tuesday those NW winds were coming in strong, but by the report Porters sounded sheltered, so we returned again. This time the light was much better, but the wind gusts did blow thru from time to time on the lower T's. We didn't make Big Mama. Saw no one go out there either, so we might a have score to settle on our way back thru.
a windy sunrise from Springfield
mmmmmm
Wednesday, finally a nutcracker day. Weather reports have still been sketchy, but Broken River was the call of the day. Lined with trees and patches of ice down the bottom and at the carpark, we chained up and headed up the road. The inclinator was a leg saver, and the walk past the huts up the steps was amazing. The access tow was frontside for me, backside for our Australian friend from the lodge, and straight on for my travel buddy on her skis. Snow was soft and sticky like spring. There was sporadic big snow flitting down as we arrived, but the light was good and the cloud held about the tops until we left. I stayed on Access and Rugby tow, will give backside a go next time....
Day off today. It rained all last night in Springfield and we slept in. Back into it tomorrow :)
Broken River
