Mount Dobson

Mount Dobson, the hill everyone has been talking about this season with the most snow. We have had to wait 2 weeks to get on it though because of the gale winds that high up on the mountain. They were definitely right about the most snow though, as we discovered on the road up!!

Even though there was a lot of snow it was pretty windswept making it hard crust underneath. Not the best for snowboarding on. We were pretty disappointed but still enjoyed a full day on the mountain.

 Time to head off further south, Treble Cone is the goal!! :-)

Scotland or New Zealand??

Yesterday we drove through St. Andrews.....stayed the night in Glencoe Scenic Reserve...

....then today we drove through Peebles........Aviemore dam......

.......and Benmore lake.

Am I definitely in New Zealand?? :-)

We then spent the night at Mount Cook national park and awoke to two inches of snow covering the van.....good insulation though :-)

 

It was definitely worth the snowy drive up because the view of Mount Cook was fantastic, and a wee scoot round the Sir Edmund Hilary Museum before leaving topped it off!

Travel Map

A map of our travels so far............

Roundhill

Roundhill has the most epic entry road into a ski field ever. 32km of gravel road that has not been very well maintained. Holes, divets, very bare patches with the rocks underneath showing through. I feel like I should have lost a whole load of weight considering it was over one hour in, one hour back, and it apparently only takes 10 minutes a day on a vibrating plate at the gym :-)
Pooe wee midge has been rattled and battered but she survived, we just hope all that jumping about hasn't knackered someting expensive. We are definitley not taking her back along that road. This will be a one trip mountain I think.
Once there though it was great snow. All higher lifts were closed due to the wind, but the main T-bar took us to about six blue runs anyway so we were happy.

Someone unfortunately wasn't as happy and had to get airlifted in a rescue chopper. Fingers crossed that neither one of us will be needing one of those anytime this season!

Lake Pearson

While boarding in Arthur's Pass we have been staying at a DOC site by Lake Pearson. I have been told that Lord of the Rings scenes have been shot here, but I'm not good with those movies so no idea which scenes. It is beautiful though surrounded by the mountains, but also very cold. Showering with the lake water definitely makes your teeth chatter :-)

Porters

Porters is a beautiful mountain to snowboard. The sun has been shining every day we have been up. It's lovely and quiet so no huge queues for the T-bars or Pomas, and it has a lot of room to practice, I definitely feel like I'm improving :-)

We have now completed the ultimate goal...............two on a very long, very fast T-bar without falling off lol

We have also now been introduced to Kea birds. A much prettier alternative to seagulls, but still just as annoying for begging food.

Hanmer Springs

After burning out the body snowboarding, the perfect way to relax is taking a dip in the thermal Hanmer Springs pools. You can choose from sulphur, mineral rock, hydro therapy or do what we did and have a dip in them all.