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Posted on Thursday July 1st at 6:32 p.m.
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With that in mind I headed down to Happy Valley today. It's that or nothing at Whakapapa until they get the Rock Garden and upper mountain lifts groomed and ready to go.
As my lodge it on the Rock Garden I had two choices - walk with the skis or strap them on and take a deep breath and brave the ungroomed slope and firm conditions. I chose the latter. Turning was impossible so I took a cue from the ski patroller in front - if in doubt snow plough!
Happy Valley was sheltered and sunny with a fair few punters desperate for a few turns. The cold had kept last night's snow-making in primo condition and I was soon actually enjoying ‘schussing' around in the sunshine.
The off-ramp on the Double Happy chair was causing a few headaches for lifties and learners alike. With its steep icy pitch it's one of the more challenging features of the benign little valley. I saw at five ‘whoopsies' in the few minutes I was standing there watching. Luckily none of them were serious.
Unhappy Valley
After two hours I started to feel a bit ‘ground hog' and skinned my way back to the lodge. Going up was much better than going down.
Fingers crossed the Valley and Knoll t-bars open this weekend as promised.