Craigieburn Skiing

Sitting down and thinking on it for a while I can think of a reason why most people, including me, seem to not be able to keep their blogs updated after a few months of travelling. As I have travelled for the last two and a half years, it has become a normal state for me now. I no longer have a constant place I live at or extraordinary things happening in the area I'm settled in, as I tend to travel and stay at those places that many take of work for to visit and spend a lot of their earnings on. For me this has all become semi-normal, so not something I would write in a blog which I reserve for special occasions.

Thinking about this, I will tray and get in to writing more often again, as in the years to come where ever I may settle down, I will most likely regret not writing about all the things I did whilst younger.

On to the happenings then...

A week ago my flatmate Mark said he wanted to go to Craigieburn for a ski. A bit of back-story on Craigieburn is in order I think. Most places in the world you here about skiing are giant ski fields, owned and operated by corporates that have a lot of money and tourism interest in their areas. Hidden away in the Southern Alps of New Zealand you'll occasionally find another type of field, the ski club fields. These are small, sometimes family run businesses that have not got large developed infrastructure or even good access roads, but they are what New Zealand skiers like and love. On busy days you'll find even these small fields won't have a lot going on. Craigieburn is somewhat famous from what I have heard. Our neighbour and work college, Luke, mentioned that he even heard stories about that club field as far as Canada. A quick video look on YouTube found some people saying it can be the poor man's heli-skiing. So being only a few kilometres from Porters we had to check it out at some point.

The day Mark and me picked to go was probably the worst day for weather, but it was the only day we had and we took it. Driving there we passed the Porters turn of and carried on through Castle Hill, a village rather popular with climbers due to the boulders placed around the area by glaciers that have now receded. Even to a non climber like me it still looked like one of those typical New Zealand pictures and I'll have to get back there with my camera some time in the next few months.

After passing the club fields of Cheeseman and Broken River we turned of at Craigieburn and took a drive up through the native forest underneath the club field. Something nearly all ski areas in New Zealand miss is forests. Not that this is necessary a bad thing, but my personal taste rather enjoys trees and woodlands to go down through. Most likely a preference from my years growing up in Nesselwang.

After leaving the car in it's designated place near a shed with a generator running for the accommodations and a tractor with a snow plough parked out the front, Mark and me went to get our tickets (at a slight discount due to working on another field) and then returned with our gear, all set and ready to go. The next stage at Craigieburn was to work out how rope tows work. Rope tows are the lifts most club fields use, they are cheaper to operate than T-bars and Chairlifts, but it requires more skill on side of the customer to use. Both of us were Newbies in that area, so we had a ski patrol/instructor show us how things are done. I won't explain the full workings behind the rope tows, as you can most likely find videos on the internet showing what they are. To round things up, it took me three tries to get going, but the experience of being challenged by a new lift after skiing for twenty years was refreshing. 

Finishing the lifts both of us where buffed by winds blowing through the rocky spires of the top, all alone on the ski field. Talking to the ski patrol lower down, we had found out that at that point we were the only people on the mountain, apart from staff. The first run down promised to be an interesting day, as the conditions were so bad and challenging that it was funny. Heavy snow that barely let you turn, an unknown ski terrain, strong and gusty winds and an ever changing weather pattern (sun, cloud, rain, fog, snow, etc. We had it all) ensured that the day was an interesting one. The stops in the upper lodge of the mountain were a must and a nice dry spot to get ready for another excursion out in the elements. Over the day we were joined by a few other people, but all in all the total amount of customers on the mountain could be counted on two hands. Later on in the day, after skiing through chutes and staying just above the rocks buried in the snow, conditions got even more interesting. The top 50 metres were awesome skiing, underneath that line the fall of heavy snow ensured that the slope turned to glue, stopping even the most die hard attempts at picking up speed downhill. Still, everyone was laughing and having a great time. Mark torpedoed the snow at one point and later on in the day we got close to being blown of the top. We didn't manage to walk where we intended to go, but waited things out, as the wind was so strong we could not go against it.

Once the late afternoon pulled in we called it quits, with a long last run down a chute on the side of the mountain to get us down back to the car. Whilst returning our gear we also had a quick drink at the bar and talked to some of the employees there. Most where Canadian and American, something which is in stark contrast to Australia. Most Northern Americans seem to prefer New Zealand (similar climate?).

After a drink it was back home to get all our gear dried out for work again, but I could feel the onset of a flue getting to me.  

Porters Powder & Lake Ohau Skiing

Once again a long time without writing anything in my blog. The last few weeks have seen me working the most time, but also getting a lot of time off, as the ski field was often closed due to bad weather. Most of the time this was due to wind, but we have also had a lot of snow over the last few weeks which is pretty unusual for New Zealand, apparently. Working has been rather interesting, actually. It seems we liftys have on of the best jobs on the mountain, as we can see a lot of funny stuff happening to the customers and we are outside a lot. What some people walk away from is surprising (collision with a lift tower, face plant in to a wooden fence, etc.) but sometime things don't work out well. We've had a few helicopter calls going through, but that is the case with a ski field. There are a lot of people I try to stay well away from, and even as an employee the mountain can be an unsafe place. One lifty had a border slip down the lift and hit him in the side of his knee and today another one got his shoe sliced up by a renegade snowboard. Anyway, so far all of us have survived (for the most part, but that story has nothing to do with the operations on the mountain).

Last Tuesday we had a powder day and I fortunately had the day of, so I hired a pair of skies from the rentals which were built for powder skiing and went out for the day with Hans mostly, but also a quick ride with Nick, Logan (NMIT guy), Chris and Flo. The best run of the day I had was coming down Bluff Face, with an unbroken powder line, being the fifth one down. The unusual circumstances with the snow is that New Zealand doesn't normally have this much. Last year quite a few runs were closed the whole season, where as this year everything has been open on a nearly consistent rate. Still, even this amount of snow isn't really enough for me, I'll have to keep my eyes on Canada in a few years time. 

Yesterday was kind of a hard choice where to go. Nick, Hans and Celine (ticket office Kiwi) were heading for Queenstown, skiing in Ohau yesterday and heading for Cardrona today. I really wanted to get to Cardrona, just because of the size of it. But they weren’t heading there until today, on which I am working. In the morning I was still undecided if I should go to Porters for the day or head down to Ohau with them. The journey to Ohau is four hours long. So I'd be driving for four hours, skiing for four and the driving back again. In the morning it was raining here at Porters and the top T-Bars seemed closed in the morning (in the end they were closed the entire day) so I headed south for four hours with the others. We passed Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki before we got to Lake Ohau. The journey up to the ski field had to be done in Celines car, as mine is only two wheel drive and I have no chains. That's the interesting part about New Zealand, too. No ski field has a town at the base of it. All of the ski field have a track to drive up. Probably due to the snow line being so high up.

The first hour at Ohau was mediocre at best. The clouds clung to the mountains, so we had nearly no view what so ever. After the first hour of exploring in fog the clouds broke up and we ended up having a nice view down to Lake Ohau with the barren mountains of the Southern Alps around us. At one point they even opened the ridge line which we hiked up to, and had a stunning view of the surrounding area. Throughout the rest of the day we continued to explore the small family run mountain, which according to the staff was a fairly busy day. Compared to Porters there was next to nothing going on.

At the end of the day we headed back down and I said goodbye for now to the other three. They headed down to Queenstown and I drove back up to Springfield. Along the way I rang Grandma, Mum and Lesley to wish Grandma a Happy Birthday and to chat a bit of the drive away. Back at Springfield I popped in to the pub, were most of the Porter workers were having an evening drink to say hi before heading home to get some well earned sleep.  

Skiing Mt. Hutt

The ski season is finally upon us and we had the staff training on the mountain at Porters the past weekend. All in all the entire experience was actually rather fun, considering that training is mostly boring in nearly ever job. But this one saw us meting pretty much the entire crew on the mountain and getting out on the mountain to have a look at how the lifts operate. At the end of the three days all of us had a good idea of what to expect and what is expected.

The next week saw us settling in to our house at Benmore station and meeting all the others that I'd be living with in that time, too. We have Mark, an English guy I have stayed with at the hostel before, Nick (American from California), Lena (German), Flo (German), Chris (German), Gershon (err, don't really know, lot's of places), Hans (Kiwi) and me. The house we are in is really good to. We had a fire and TV installed whilst we were there and the heat the fire puts out is just ridiculous. The owners are also friendly, all being farming kiwis and looks like we got a good deal here (plus we are on the way to the Porters ski field and don't need to use our own cars).

Between going to Christchurch rather regularly and buying shopping and other gear a few of us managed to get a bit of skiing in on the our neighbouring mountain of Mt. Hutt. Due to location reasons they already have enough snow to open, but not enough for all runs. Most of the others managed to go to the mountain fairly soon, but the day all of them went my ski gear had not yet arrived from Germany (thanks to mum for that). They arrived the day they were all gone, and after a few parties to meet up with our other colleagues and a Rugby game between the All Blacks (NZ) and The Lions (UK), Hans, Lena and me managed to get a ski in to Mt. Hutt.

Awesome day to start of with it, too. Most of the Canterbury Plains was covered in a thick layer of clouds and Mt Hutt was sticking out of it. So for the better part of the day we skied above the clouds. Well “skied”. I'm the only one of the group that skied that day, as Hans and Lena both snowboard. But after some awesome views and fun carving the day was coming to an end.

Back at the house most of the others left for a party again (bit to soon for me and I was knackered from skiing) and Nick and me were the only ones left at the place. Shortly after it was bed for me, but a brilliant first skiing in New Zealand.  

Ski Teacher Silvretta Montafon

The annual ski teacher excursion was this weekend. Our goal this time was Silvretta Montafon in the Austrian Alps, just on the boarder to Switzerland. After a fun drive there with a bit of a traffic jam we got ready whilst Hanse got the tickets.

Heidi, Sebastian, Hanse and me then set of up one side of the valley to ski around in the resort on one side. You could also ski on the other side which is what we did after a morning of skiing down most of the off piste sections. It was a bit icy at some times, but Hanse and Sebastian can tell rather well how the snow is going to be, so we had two excellent guides. If a bit insane at some points, but we got down everything without a hitch.

In the afternoon and for lunch we went over to the other side and whilst Sebastian skied down to the very bottom the three of us that where left had some lunch at the top, with a view in to the mountains. We carried on skiing throughout the whole afternoon, met the others sometimes and basically where only on ski routes (not pistes) the whole time. The pistes where a bit to full for our liking. At the end of the day Sebastian and me had a run down a step black piste whilst Hanse and Heidi returned to the bus to make sure everything was in order.

Set of back home and had a great evening in the restaurant with all the rest of the ski teachers.

Off-Piste Skiing Nesselwang

Out skiing today, and what a ski day it was.

Pip, Radford, Tom and his girlfriend Amy are over here for Rhiannons 18^th birthday and also decided to ski whilst the snow is still here. As Amy has never skied and I am a ski teacher I spent the morning skiing with her and teaching her how it is done. She grasped the concept fast for someone who has never stood on skies before and after just three hours we had her up to the Kronenhütte for some coffee after which she skied down. We also met Heidi and Herman in the Kronenhütte, enjoying the fresh snow from yesterday night.

After the drink I took Amy down where we met the rest. The girls, Chris and Philip went home for some lunch whilst Radford, Tom, Dad and me went up again. We lost Radford near to the beginning as we decided to go down the Grüne Strich and Radford stuck to the normal piste.

We had loads of fun in the afternoon, going through forests where no one had skied till then. Going through fresh snow and over tree stumps. Toms way better than what I remember. He just does not fall over any more and we spent the afternoon skiing down through forests and along snowed up valleys. We met a few people, but the bulk of them stayed at the bottom and the few that did come to the top of the Alpspitze stayed on the piste.

A super day and probably going to spend some more skiing time the next days as winter is luckily still present.

Rhiannons parts coming up and I am the grill chef, on the 28 of February!!

Jon's Gaudy Club

Out skiing with Jons Gaudi Club of the Ski teacher division today. Jon does some formation and coordination skiing for the better skiers to try. We spent two hours skiing everything from close formation to spinning down the ski slope. About 13 people joined in the fun and Jon created a video of the weekly event.

After that Jon, Marnique, Christoph, me and later Lukas went for some Kässpetzle in the Kronenhütte

Snowy Christmas Holidays Day 1

Whew, what a day. Dad had to be saved by the mountain rescue yesterday, as he got stuck in some really deep snow. His full explanation here (141228 Riedberger Horn). I heard about it yesterday evening and after ensuring he was ok and finding out he needed to go back up the next day, offered my help. Wanted to get some fun out of it, too. How many times do you get the chance to walk up the mountain, early in the morning before everybody else with a mountain rescue guide to help.

Dad picked me up at quarter to six this morning and we set of to pick up Klaus, our guide. Got him on the way in Oberstdorg and carried on towards the Riedberger Horn up a pass that you normally have to have snow chains on. As the company has a lot of business to do up there, they are classified as locals who don’t need it, as long as they have 4x4 cars. Reached the bottom of the lift, got all geared up with snow shoes that we had borrowed for this occasion and after a hot chocolate got driven up as near as possible to the top as Tom could get us with his quad. Klaus got taken up first, then me and Dad in the rear. Klaus up front so he could lay the track, as we where the first ones up, then me to harden it and Dad at the end as he was still knackered from the day before. He showed us the trench he got caught in and his touring skies are still in there somewhere, will stay there till spring probably. We reached the top after watching the sun rise on untouched powder snow, to find a biting wind and -15°C air temperature. We didn't stay up there long and picked up the generator Dad had left up there the day before. Reached the mast after another 500 metres and got warmed up in the shade of some frozen trees before getting the generator up and running.

Took a few attempts but we got it running and plugged in to the mast so it could load up the battery’s. Had some tee and cake to celebrate and then went back again. Back up at the Riedberger Horn Tom gave Dad a ring saying that the mast wasn't receiving any electricity. Brilliant, turn back around and after a few attempts got it running properly again. The weather was turning more grey and windy by then, the herald of the big snow storm the weather forecast had predicted for the afternoon. Sprinted back on two broken snow shoes (Dads right and my left), which had occurred somewhere on the way. We got back to the piste and as Klaus had had touring skies and was down a lot faster, he was waiting at the end with the mountain rescue skidoo. Took us both down and after getting everything packed up and the conformation that the mast was charged, took Klaus to Kempten so he could catch the train home.

After a hurried lunch I was rushed back to Nesselwang to get a picture taken so I could apply for an international driving licence in Marktoberdorf for my planned Australia trip. Drove to Marktoberdorf with Johanna, got that settled and on the way back where caught in the middle of predicted snow storm. Proofed interesting, as Johanna has no 4x4 and we where nearly flattened by a truck going uphill near Rückholz.

Reached home, got changed quickly and Johanna drove me near the ski lift where the ski teachers where training for the upcoming New Year demonstration. Skied my part and then went home for some rest before tomorrow.

Dads blog of this day can be found here and more pictures at Picasa.

First Alpspitze Skiing

Finally it has snowed, as it should in winter. And luckily not just a bit but a lot. A load of traffic jams, car accidents and so on have happened in the area with all the tourists coming to us to ski. And to think we are so lucky and just have to walk for quarter of an hour to get to the lift. Daniel and me left early so we would arrive before most of the people. In the end we where the first on the lift and the first on the piste. Also the first to notice that the piste was full of snow cannon snow. It basically means “snow that will cause an accident due to sudden deceleration”. After we both got down all covered in snow we went right to the top and started of with the real fun of going into powder snow. We spent an hour up there going down next to the piste most of the time.

Once we noticed that there where to many people there we walked back home.

Finally winter is here and it still hasn't stopped snowing.

Stubai Glacier

Yesterday biking, today skiing. Not a lot of places you can do that on the planet.

A few weeks ago, two fellow ski teachers asked if anybody from the ski teachers wanted to go skiing on the Stubai glacier today. A few said yes and some went during the week, but in the end it added up to being three of us. Set of early in the morning, whilst the night was still present and made our way to the glacier. Stopped at a bakery for some breakfast on the way and carried on. No traffic jam on the way, as we where so early. Normally it is the norm getting towards and in winter that the pass roads are blocked.

Changed, got our tickets and took a lift up to the glacier where we had sunshine, blue ski and not to many people for the whole day. There where a lot of people there, but due to the glacier being such a large ski area, it was distributed nicely across the pistes. We skied of piste a few times as well, but that didn't end up to well for our skies, as there seemed to be an abundance of rocks and hard ice there. Had a short stop for something to drink and then carried on skiing until lunch. As everybody was hungry at that point, the restaurants ended up being rather full, but we found a place to eat none the less.

More skiing after lunch but Christoph noticed his lack of sleep from the day prior and Marnicq was starting to fell the toll of skiing the whole day, too. After a few more runs we set of back home and got home fairly fast.

A weekend full of doing stuff and next week of to Egypt with Johanna and Jon. 

More pictures at Picasa.

Biking and Skiing

Done quite a bit again this weekend, biking and skiing.

Went biking around the Grüntensee with Johanna on Friday afternoon. Same route like last week. Snow had become a bit less, but there where still some stretches on which it had stayed. And instead of (sensibly) going around some of the snow I this time thought it would be possible to bike right along the Grüntensee. It ended with me having my bike going towards the frozen lake and me staying in the same place, without a bike and on my back. Johanna tried to break with the bike breaks and her feet but didn't stop for a while. Continued along with an aching back and arrived back at home. Carried on for an ice and to clean my bike at Frenches after having a chat.

Saturday it was off to Warth, with the Skiteacher for a day of skiing. Arrived at shortly before 9 o'clock to get prepared (I had had enough of the bus, the back rows where singing the same song over and over again). First few runs where a bit hard, getting used to the skies again, but the rest of the day was spent with skiing down super pistes and of piste skiing. Skied for 6 hours without rest and then had some lunch before skiing some more. Left Warth at about 17.00 o'clock and answered the ski teacher quiz on the way home (listening to the same bl***y song from the back row). Back in Nesselwang home for a shower and then to the local restaurant with the ski teachers. Probably the last big skiing of this season.

Jon made a track of our skiing route here and more pictures at Picasa.

Weekend 8.3 and 9.3

A weekend well spent, that is what I can say for sure about this one.

Saturday started off with doing all the business that has to be done on a weekend (buy shopping, take the wertstoff, …), all in a SMART. Dads car is currently being washed, so he got a car from the company to keep him going. One of the smallest on the market.

The afternoon was spent with taking pictures. Went our with Nico and Markus to a near landing field, taking pictures of starting and landing planes. Back home, before the cold set in to play a few rounds of PC before going to bed.

Next morning 8 o'clock, skiing. Mum, Dad and me of to the Neunerköpfle. Had to wait a bit at the beginning but once we where at the top, we had super snow conditions. Carved down the mountain wonderfully and took a detour down an iced up hump slope. Stopped for a drink with the beautiful Alp scenery and after one more round headed home.

Afternoon saw me grilling with my water rescue colleagues at our lake. Super company and loads of fun.

So the weekend sums up to: new car, photographing, skiing and grilling. All in all a brilliant combination, especially as we have had nothing but blue sky and sunshine (spring weather).

Dads blog info here.

Oberjoch Skiing

Out skiing with Dad in Oberjoch today, a short break before going back to school later in the day. Set out at 8:30 in the morning to arrive there before the rest of the world. Unfortunately, probably to be accounted for the lack of snow in the other ski resorts, there where more people there to begin with than usual. Still had a few rounds down a nearly empty piste before the bulk of the tourists arrived. Off piste, on piste, we did it all.

Had a short break for a drink and where planning one last round, but saw the masses of people that had arrived, so we left it at that and went back home.

Dads blog can be found here.

St. Anton Skiing

Skiing at St. Antons today. Extra took a day of work to enjoy the winter in a big ski resort.

Set of at 7.03 (3 minutes late!) and went along motorways and normal road until we reached St. Antons, after a short stop on the way. Had problems finding a car park, as the last time dad was here it wasn’t hidden behind meters of snow and disguised as a bus park.

After buying the tickets it was up the mountain and down for the first round. A bit cloudy and us being so high up were in the thick of it. Had problems seeing the snow texture, but got down with only one crash. Then right to the top, somehow getting there with a few lifts and a high up cable car. I didn't notice it was that far up until I saw it after the clouds had lifted later. But arriving at the top we still had cloud cover, which ended badly. Not seeing a hill in the deep snow dad went flying over his skies, straining his ankle because the bindings didn't open. Went up and down a few times and had lunch in the “Ulmer Hütte”. After that somehow down again, me not having a clue were to go and sending us down the wrong track at one point. Going up after that we went along a ski track, not a piste. Really empty, compared to the rest, and far of into the mountainside. Lots of lumps and mum had a crash at one point, but not a bad one. Steeply down a long lumpy stretch of snow, me going of the side of a cornice and lots of brilliant views of the slowly sun lighted mountains.

After that dad said his leg was aching really badly and he had to stop. After an disorganised downhill trip, with dad ending up at the car, me at the bottom of the lift and mum somehow at the top, I went back up. Meting mum, we went up once again after which she went down the piste and I took another round down the ski track, alone. Super views once again, but I couldn’t concentrate on those to long, as I went down the long lumpy stretch a lot faster than last time. Arriving at the bottom to go back up and meet mum, the whole piste was blocked. The mountain rescue team had closed of a complete access point to a lift, as someone had been injured and was lifted out of the forest area with a winch by helicopter.

Then back up and the last run down, on icy pistes, and of towards home after changing into normal clothes. Stopped at McDonald's on the way back for an evening snack.

Track at GPSies and Dad's blog here.

Hahnekam Skiing

 

Skiing at Hahnenkam in Austria today. Woke up early in the morning (7am) to get there with Dad before the rest of the tourists arrived. Being that early the lifts had not even open yet, so we waited a while. Then the first few rounds with Dad having a crash trying to avoid a sky tourer. Down and up a few times on not overly packed pistes. Had a drink and set of to go home when we met Vincent and Laura Lipp. Went up and down a few times with them, including me crashing at a rather high speed and Vincent landing on his head after brushing and spinning a small child.
Had something to eat after that and then one last round down to the car and on our way back home.
Dad's blog here.

Friday Skiing

Back from work early today, with beautiful sunshine and cold winter temperatures.

Out on the piste in no time with freshly waxed skies and super views above clouds once again.

Met mum and Daniel at the car later, as mum was ski teaching, and watched a helicopter come in under us to pick up an injured person.

Brilliant way to spend the rest of the afternoon.

Oberjoch Christmas Skiing

Traditionally one of the first things we do on Christmas Day is skiing. Mum has to mostly attend church and Daniel and Rhiannon were sleeping, so it was me and dad this time.

As we have had warm weather which has melted away a lot of snow (cry), we went to Oberjoch for an hour and a half to ski on nearly empty slopes which were iced up. The tourists were probably afraid to go down as most of them where huddled near the tops of the slopes.

After a hot chocolate and another fast trip downhill it was back home to unpack presents and for Christmas lunch. 

Dads blog here.

Skiteacher Training Nr. 1

Out with the ski teachers today, doing our first practical training this year. The older ones repeating kids practice that we can then do with our groups whilst the newbie ski teachers learnt it all for the first time. Daniel was there with me, whilst Rhiannon was of with some of her friends in Nürnburg and mum had a cello concert in the church.

Cycling + Skiing

Skiing today and biking yesterday. Only really possible here and a few other places in the world.

Warm up bike tour round the Grüntensee yesterday with snow still abundant on the mountains. Makes some really interesting views.

Cycled with Dad towards Gschwend first and then further on over the Römerbrücke to Haslach. Of to Wertach where we meet a colleague of his who was also cycling. Whereas we stuck to the tarmac road he cycled on some of road tracks which where covered in snow. Wasn’t that easy apparently. After Wertach it was back toward home and a bath as it still does get cold here in the evenings. Track at GPSies.

Today was of to Schattwald with mum and dad in the morning for a bit of skiing. Brilliant pistes early in the morning which you could really stick to. Went up and down a few times, had a drink and enjoyed the views of the Alps. As dad would say: “shit life” (ironically)