Photos: 10 Days in New Zealand

Christchurch Sunrise

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 11:47:06 -0800

My first morning in Christchurch, New Zealand, I woke up to this. Photo was taken from the hotel parking lot before driving to Methven a few days of snowboarding.

Rakaia Gorge

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 11:48:06 -0800

Driving across a gorge on a tiny one-lane bridge on our way to Methven.

Mt. Hutt Range

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 11:49:06 -0800

Driving by the Mount Hutt area on the way to Methven.

Lake Coleridge

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 11:50:06 -0800

On the first day Mt. Hutt was closed due to wind conditions, John and I decided to drive all the way across the country to the west coast, via Arthur's Pass. One of the unsealed roads we took had us winding through the hills and past several lakes.

House of Joy

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 11:51:06 -0800

John Allsopp, looking tough on one of our brief stops along the side of the road. Some of the views around us were so impressive, we had to stop driving and get out of the car to admire them.]]>

Hiking up

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:47:06 -0800

Broken River. From the ticket window and boot changing room, we had to hike up another 20 minutes to the first rope tow. This was normally another run back down to the boot changing room, but the drop off to our left was quite dramatic.]]>

Broken River path

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:48:06 -0800

This was the run we were hiking up to get to the first rope tow. Looking back down to where the boot changing room was. The views were incredible. At this point, I already felt like I had been boarding for half a day.

Horrid Rope Tow

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:49:06 -0800

The lodge at Broken River was at the top of this first rope tow. Since neither John nor I could figure out the rope tow and nutcracker device we had to use to latch onto the rope, we had to climb the first 150 meters straight up to the lodge and base of the rest of the runs. You're looking at 35- to 45-degree angles. This wasn't fun.

Broken River lodge

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:50:06 -0800

We finally made it to the top of the first rope tow, the lodge and the base of all other runs at Broken River. This photo of John probably sums up our attitude (or tiredness) at this point.

Broken River kitchen

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:51:06 -0800

The serve-yourself kitchen at the Broken River lodge. It was only staffed by club members, but that was when they weren't out on the slopes skiing themsleves.

John at Broken River

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:52:06 -0800

This was New Zealands largest off-piste skiing area. When more snow covers the mountain, the runs here at Broken River connect with other runs at other club fields on other parts of the mountain.

View from Broken River

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:53:06 -0800

The dropoff right behind John was quite steep. To the left is the rope tow and run back down to the top of the stairs to the sleeping lodges and boot changing room.

View from Broken River II

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:54:06 -0800

Yep, that's me. The highest point of this club field was only 1820 meters, but we were at about 1400 meters. Most of the snow on the south island of New Zeland builds up on the westward-facing slopes. Since we were there right at the end of ski season, a lot of the snow had melted. Looking west toward the eastern-facing slopes, almost no snow remained.

Avalanche Advisory

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:55:06 -0800

These signs were everywhere in the backcountry. This sign was right outside the lodge at Broken River, where we were attempting to figure out the rope tows.

Side of Broken River

Fri, 15 Oct 2004 11:56:06 -0800

This canyon would normally be covered in snow, and would be a potential run all the way back down to the boot changing room. Its scale was massive.