White Out

I think I've seen enough snow to last me, well... a winter at least.

This weekend, I teamed up with Em & El (not my El, another El..) and some of their buddies from work, and headed out to Mt Hutt for a skiing extravanganza!

It was awesome to get back out on those slopes and have a bash down the runs of varying steepnesses. I had almost forgotten how much I love skiing. I'm not claiming to be any good, but I do love standing at the top of a mountain looking down over the white rivers that wind their way down the slopes below.

Mt Hutt is probably Christchurch's closest, best serviced ski field, and I thought for a $87 lift pass, not too bad value. Of course if you get a season pass or a discount card it is cheaper, but I didn't so I paid full whack and even despite it being early in the season and only half the slopes open, I still really enjoyed myself.

I skied most of the day with Em & El as we're all about the same level, and we had a grand old time flying down those slopes, riding back up on the 4 seater chair lift, and then flying down the slopes again!! Somehow none of us took a tumble, I think I was just about the closest when I caught an unexpected small rock half buried in the snow. Oh and nearly wiped out a girl who took a very wide arc unexpectedly close as I was flying along. Fun fun.

The day was awesome, and was balanced out to a nice grey with a trip to AMI stadium in the evening to watch the All Blacks play Italy. Of course the boys knocked the Italians off with a fairly comfortable score in the end, but it wasn't the prettiest rugby I've ever watched.

Monday brought around a more leisurely drive back through Arthurs Pass to get back home to the west coast. I got a call from James (our new CVNZ project fella who I work in Punakaiki with) who warned me to pick up some chains as there were weather warnings in force for the road through the Pass. Glad he saved me the hassle of turning around and going back for them, as they were essential!

I've never had to fit or drive in chains before, but it's pretty simple really. I was a little worried about steering as my van is rear wheel drive, and thus the wheels with grip were not the ones which steer the vehicle, but I didn't really have any issues whilst pottering along at 30-40 km/h most of the way from Springfield to Cragieburn.

The views in this snowy world ranged from awesome snow covered mountain ranges to virtual white-out conditions at times, so I pottered slowly but surely west, and eventually made it to the end of the snow/ice-laden road conditions, whipped off the chains and carried on.

When I did finally arrive on the west coast, I realised it had taken me the best part of 6 hours actual driving to make it across what normally takes only 4... so am now pretty tired and ready to sleep for a day. Though I can't - work beckons tomorrow!

Still, it has been a fun-filled, snow-laden, wonderous winter week or so I have had.

I love snow.

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