Category Archives: snow

around home, NZ, snow

Naseby snow week

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This has easily been the best week of winter weather this year in Naseby, and according to some – the last few years. A decent fall of light, fluffy snow on Sunday and Monday has stuck around for five days now, with the help of a couple of dustings and some low overnight temperatures. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting out in much dryer conditions and playing in the sun riding, walking, running, skating and sledding. Pity my local ski buddy is unavailable this week, it’d be great to try to get back on the Ida Range now.

It’s been difficult to take a bad photo this week, such is how beautiful it’s been – so here are far too many of the sights I’ve enjoyed over the last few days.

An hour into the snowfall, the rain that was falling when I left home was beginning to turn to snow. I was surprised it did such a good job and was soon settling.

Finishing a little work to find this.

Wandering home, no sign of the ploughs yet.

Couldn’t sit at home – out the back of the forest on the bike. So much fun, especially getting showered in snow from the weighed-down branches and generally sliding around.

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Even more around on Monday morning.

I really do appreciate how it sits on the bare branches.

And the washing line.

That’s about the most use my letterbox has been all year – mail doesn’t get delivered to houses here.

Time for a walk.

Scott out clearing the side streets.

Hard work pushing nephew through this, thankfully didn’t take much to get him to sleep.

One of my favourite local houses, probably one of the smallest too.

Three hours of walking in the morning wasn’t enough, time for a run to see more.

Over the Maniototo to the Rock and Pillar Range.

I followed the water race a bit, before ducking off onto mountain bike trails to find some untouched snow.

Getting some elevation, and a lot of snow falling on me as the sun hit the trees.

I was surprised to find how much the pond had risen in the last few weeks with all the rain. It was just beginning to freeze over again on the edge.

With my older nephew at daycare, it was a lot easier to get Adele out to enjoy the idyllic scenes. Pushing the Chariot for an hour in deep snow was my exercise for the morning.

Drip, drip, drip as the roof slowly unloaded itself (it’s still going two days later).

Corrugated and curved snow.

Sunsets haven’t disappointed either.

A little family trip to the pond. With a morning nearing minus ten, there was enough ice to skate – just. See where I put my toe through the ice!

Kakanuis.

Another run to the back of the forest – where I found large patches of still untouched snow. With the frost, it’s so dry now – love scuffing my feet through it while running.

around home, NZ, snow

Little ski beyond Little Mt Ida

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July seemed a month of Covid finally catching up family here. First, I got off lightly with a mostly-enjoyable week of what I’m calling Covid-lite – plenty of reading, watching, eating and keeping warm by the fire. A little congestion returns occasionally, but I’ve been pleased with energy levels generally (as another venesection approaches), and on a couple of easy runs and a short gravel ride. Unfortunately family around the corner didn’t get off nearly so well, having a thoroughly horrible week of illness and little sleep. There wasn’t much I could do to help, save run a few errands; strangely it was more isolating than the week I was confined at home.

That month done, first of August seemed auspicious timing to finally get out in the local hills. James was keen and arranged access to explore beyond Little Mt Ida. Getting up on to the main range and to Mt Ida (which I’d walked to from the back of the range earlier in the year) was mooted, but we’d see how conditions were. I was pleased just to get to go up Little Mt Ida for the first time – long having looked at it with curiosity when nearby.

The access track was still frozen hard as we drove up it on a clear and quickly-warming morning. Truck parked on the zig-zag as we reached the snow, already the wind was picking up as getting the gear organised was very much done in the shelter of the vehicle. Not enough snow to bother putting skins on, as we’d soon be off the track and cutting across tussocks, skis were precariously attached to the side of my pack (tail-ends hanging a bit low) and off we set – trail runners sufficing so far; with no better place to put them, I was left trying to keep ski boot straps on my shoulder.

Mt St Bathans as we left the truck.

A steady walk up the mostly snow covered road, we kept going straight ahead off the road as it switchbacked to the summit. Twenty minutes of gradual descent to the conservation area boundary was easy enough, my skis didn’t catch too much, and there was enough snow that I only got spaniard-stabbed once. But my, it was windy on the saddle.

Getting much steeper, still some way to go before even thinking about putting skis on.

Home Hills on left in front of St Bathans Range.

The walking became much more difficult being undershod, thankfully James was breaking trail. Reaching the small gully we’d been aiming for, we decided it wasn’t worth trying to skin up – so we continued hiking. By now I was getting a bit concerned as to how I’d get down from here if we didn’t find more snow. Bit steep and icy for me carrying skis and boots; a misstep and stumble induced a decent twinge in my good-shoulder, so that was something to be mindful of. After near-on two hours and a whopping two kilometres, and ever-increasing wind, we approached more snow to the fate we’d anticipated – it was far too windy to go any further. Fortunately, there was a little gully off to the south that had been collecting much windblown snow.

Couldn’t stop looking at it.

Time to finally put skis on. Looking over Little Mt Ida to the Ida Valley and Dunstan Range.

Not exactly groomed conditions, so a great time to see if I could remember to ski. It wouldn’t be pretty, but it sure beat trying to walk off this slope! I certainly couldn’t turn as sharply as James, but my way down in some really nice snow was made – with some thought and trying my best to avoid varying shrubberies.

Unsure what I’m doing over there, but some proof I had skis on yesterday.

Good fun, even if big pockets of powder did catch me unawares and leave me trying to get up with skis slightly akimbo. I look forward to skiing again shortly. Traversing through increasing amounts of foliage, the skis were soon back on our packs – at least we’d dropped almost a hundred metres easily and avoided hiking the steepest part. With the ends of my skis constantly catching plants and snow, walking downhill was engaging; amusingly, my right ski kept trying to ankle-tap me as the strong wind blew it around.

Not unpleasant tussock walking with plenty to look at.

We went up the tussock covered slope above the top of the track at right, came down the gully to the right of that.

Back at the road, we couldn’t not ditch our gear for the short walk to the summit.

East to the Kakanuis.

Most excellent to get up in the hills for a little, low-speed adventure. As is often the case, I most appreciated seeing an area I’m somewhat familiar with from a different perspective and assemble the pieces on the landscape further in my mind.

around home, bikepacking, bikes, friends, NZ, snow

Not-Working Central North Island Fun

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Not working full-time started with a flurry of activity over two weeks. Leaving Pan Pac after six years, that fitted in with the main motivation for resigning – having far more time to be outside and spend with family and friends.

Things kicked off immediately with finally, after vague mention over years, a day skiing at Ruapehu with very-recently former-workmate James. A couple of years since I’d been on skis, it was thoroughly enjoyable to be out on the snow. With a decent dump earlier in the week, the snow and skiing was good. A wee bit rusty, I was pleased not to fall – nor pop a shoulder, a near thing when an errant t-bar sprang back and caught my supposed good arm and put me all in a tangle.

Above the clouds most of the day, it got uncomfortably warm early afternoon. We called it a day early as cloud rolled in and visibility was soon gone.

Bit of a rush back to Hawke’s Bay to arrive on time to finally see the much-Covid-postponed presentation by Mark and Hana of their four-year bikepacking trip from Alaska to Patagonia. While I was familiar with the adventure from following them online, hearing the stories firsthand and seeing the photos on a cinema screen gave a much greater appreciation of their travels. While the photos look impressive on my laptop (a good selection in this article), they were phenomenal with a 4K projector – quite astounding. Excellent evening, thanks to Hana and Mark for travelling up and Andrew for persevering with organising.

There wasn’t enough time to show our guests some Hawke’s Bay bikepacking, but Ricko did manage a great morning tour of Havelock North, Te Mata Peak and surrounds on mountain bikes.

Some of us did find time for a hastily organised and short overnighter to Waipatiki Beach just north of Napier. Even taking the long way around on one of my favourite local gravel roads, it’s only three hours there. Plenty of time to appreciate the evening light, cook dinner and natter before dossing down in the “closed” (Covid?) lounge.

A quick trip over the stream to the beach on leaving the campground.

Brent and Pete negotiating the only place I know to reliably find mud in Hawke’s Bay – on the old bridle path to Aropaoanui Rd.

Heading into the strange sun-mist mix that soon burnt off.

In no time we were back in town for morning tea and coffee with more of the usual HB bikepacking cohort. That may have been a sub-twenty hour overnighter – still brilliant but.

After a day of doing some of the more boring things I should be doing packing up a house, I headed over to Taupo (finally) for a few days of mountain-bike exploring and staying with friends Debbie and Emma. An overcast afternoon on a soggy W2K trail soon brightened and I enjoyed the out-and-back as the views improved. I was taken aback to be recognised as I was hosing off my filthy bike, nice to bump into and catch up with Brian (Wellington) from this year’s GSB.

Joining a different Tuesday night run group gave a nice change of scene, but I’m unsure my legs were impressed with doing intervals. Wednesday held a “recovery” ride with Emma and Debbie at Craters. Trails had dried out by then and it soon became apparent that it wasn’t recovery pace. Much fun riding further out in the park than I had previously, especially on the long relatively gentle downhill Megalicious – plenty of easy jumps that even I could land properly.

Timing of the Taupo sojourn was dictated by the eventual screening (more Covid postponements) of South – the Tour Te Waipounamu film. While I’d shown this excellent account of the race (mine here, not so excellent) to a few groups of friends earlier in the year, I was eagerly awaiting seeing it on a big screen – plus I’d also offered to join Pete for the Q&A session following each screening. It did not disappoint and it was interesting to hear the reactions of a wider audience; we got some good questions too, and hopefully added to the evening.

Somewhere in there, a plan was hatched for me to join Pete and Fay on the first night of three training for next year’s TTW. Bikepacking hadn’t figured in my hasty packing for this week away, but with the generosity of friends just enough gear was cobbled together and affixed to my bike.

Well, this is different. First time using a Freeload rack, I rate it with rear suspension.

From the Waihaha Rd end, Pete and I rode into Waihaha Hut over a couple of hours. The drizzle lessened soon after setting off and that was the end of wearing a jacket for the trip.

Not a promising start and I wondered if my little car would make it up the hill and out of the wet paddock.

Views of the lake lacking a bit.

Tieke Falls on the Waihaha River.

The trail was soaked, but with a firm base the riding was not difficult. Once the rain had stopped, it was nice to take our time stopping often at viewpoints and with much chat along the way. Crossing the road, the modest ascent to the hut began – including a bit of pushing on a section that was just a bit wet, rutted and technical for a loaded bike with a balding rear tyre (Taupo certainly showed that tyres that are fine in dry Hawke’s Bay are not so elsewhere).

These bridges are so much easier when there’s a wooden deck!

Flattening out a bit, great riding through the native bush.

Waihaha Hut – finally made it after fourteen or so years thinking I must ride there one day.

Shortly after arriving dry at the hut, it started tipping down. This about the time Fay was setting off from the carpark – she arrived fairly soaked. A pleasant hut evening catching up and discussing TTW preparations and Fay’s upcoming event. The rain didn’t let up overnight, but had by the time I set off for the car – leaving the others to their all-day hike-a-bike training. The return only took a couple of hours, and with a bit more visibility, I stopped to look at different things.

A bit more water around.

Some more of the lake today.

Back at the car, I ditched my overnight gear and, as the sky cleared, set off north to the end of the trail at a landing on Waihora Bay. With a lighter bike and the trail surface muddy (firm volcanic base still underneath), I had a grand time sliding around corners, getting soaked from the regular splashes and seeing what was around the next corner. Crossing an impressive slot canyon, it was tight and twisty down to the lake for a brief snack – the return wasn’t as difficultly steep as feared.

Legs of two halves.

Back into town to clean-up, pack and say farewell it was then off to Rotorua for a weekend of much time with close friends and a little bit of riding. It’s a little odd, considering how good and plentiful it is, that riding was very much the secondary consideration there. As always, there was a new trail to try; this time Roger showed me Te Poaka – another long downhill with plenty of fun to be had on small jumps. I can see it would be easy to get up well too much speed, even at my pace some of the trees were getting alarmingly close.

Some recent felling has really opened up the Lake Rotorua view from this part of the Forest Loop.

Tarawera – still up there as a most-special place for me.

More riding (so many kids!) and a fork bought for next-bike Sunday morning, the trip down memory lane was strong then catching up with more former Pan Pac workmates over in Papamoa.

Twas not a bad place to grow up.

family, friends, hiking, national park, NZ, snow

Mt Taranaki

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I had planned to break the five and half hour drive after work to New Plymouth with a stay overnight halfway. But the weather window was good and someone decided that Friday was the day to summit Mt Taranaki – I could hardly miss out on such an adventure and new experiences with dear family and friends. I’ve climbed higher peaks, even in the North Island, but never in winter through such snow and ice cover. So I was pleased to arrive safely in New Plymouth not too tired.

Leaving the parking lot at the North Egmont Visitor Centre, it was just on sunrise and we were treated to the mountain being bathed in a wonderful glow.

The clear skies were also pleasing to see.

A relatively steep double-track road (used to service the transmission tower we reached just before donning our crampons) took us through dense native forest. Gnarled old trees, branches and foliage lost as the mountain stood above.

I was taken with the difference and large crown of the cabbage trees – most unusual compared to the ones I usually see.

As the snow layer thickened, we reach an alpine club hut. A little salubrious – electricity, flush toilets and swipe card access. Crampons were fitted to my boots (and everyone else’s, but it wasn’t unusual for Adele, James & Dan), snacks taken on, sunscreen applied and we were off into the snow and ice.

It took a little to get used to walking around with big spikes attached to one’s feet. Using the handle of an ice axe as a walking pole, on the uphill side of the traverses, was more difficult to get a rhythm going with. Switching hands through the leash (it doesn’t pay to lose an ice axe down the slope) every time we switched directions also required more concentration than simply walking.

After a short section of quite narrow snow between rocks and a drop (great introduction), our route opened into a nice wide gully.

Apparently it was time for me to learn to “self-arrest”. Which basically involved throwing oneself down the hill, getting a bit of a slide going on (keep your feet up to prevent snagging them) and leveraging the ice axe into the snow to stop the descent to certain peril. Brilliant. Two such attempts were enough.

Steep enough for this novice.

We watched a large layer of cloud slowly approach us from the east and smaller clouds blew on top of us and soon fled. It was a surprisingly calm day for the most part. Occasionally we were exposed to a bit of a southerly, but conditions were generally benign. Small patches of white-out conditions had us following the poled route.

Due to my inexperience it had been decided we’d take the easiest, least interesting route up. It was plenty interesting for me but – constant thought of where one was stepping, trying to get as much contact between crampons and snow, driving ice axe in. So much so, that I had to stop to admire the view, rather than looking aimlessly while walking. There were four others that we shared the walk up with – everyone taking slightly different routes up.

Approaching the crater, the ice formations became larger, more unusual and at times surreal.

In the crater, the surface turned from snow to lumpy, knobby ice.

It looked rather windswept. While we were still bathed in sun, a layer of cloud encircled the lower reaches of the mountain.

Out of the crater, one last pitch up to the summit. Here the ice was in much larger lumps, some of them shattered when bearing weight, others didn’t – they all looked potential ankle breakers though.

Five hours after setting off, we had ascended 1500 metres and enjoyed a bit of time on the rather flat and, in this case, calm summit.

Dropping back down to the crater, we lunched in the sun before starting the descent. Back on the snow, it took a little while to get any sort of technique to go at a decent pace – this involved moving from walking across the face using the whole sole of the foot to turning to walk down the steep slope and relying on one’s heels to dig in. It worked, until it was too steep and I became more faint of heart.

The weather closed in again, and after two hours of slow descent (oh for skis) I think I was starting to get a bit fatigued. So repetitive…

One of the other parties inadvertently followed us down – which would have been OK, except we were not going back to the hut where they were heading. As the visibility vanished, we cut back to the poled route so that they did not get lost. Parting ways just before the hut, we missed a bit of the track out by taking a narrow gully – we tried sliding down, sans sleds, but it was rather bumpy.

Back on the access track – golly it got steep, no wonder it was paved in part.

Things cleared a enough to admire a bit more of the scenery.

My legs held out enough to make it back to the car. But how I would pay for it the following days – barely able to get up and simply walk, my quadriceps have never felt so tight. All worth it though – a fantastic day out learning new things, going new places with great people.