Arrived in Queenstown nearly five weeks ago and very quickly fell ill with probably the worst cold I've ever had. My subconscious experiment in to how long it takes to reach burn out had come to an end. Just short of three months. My body said no more. Chilled times with much more snow boarding followed, as well as moving back to Deco Backpackers. There's a good crowd there, partying at the weekends and taking the snowboarding / skiing seriously during the week. It's been a poor season snow wise. That was until last week. POWDER DAY at the Remarkables!!!!! It's these days that are unforgettable and so much fun. 25cm of light fluffy powder snow, It's the sort of day you take a sickie, cancel the wedding, forget about everything else and become an obsessed single minded powder hound. On the first lift up after ski patrol had given the all safe. Fanging down the mountain, wide fast floating turns in the snow, hit rock, go tumbling get up go again and again, hiking the ridges later to get more freshies. Awesome, epic day it's what it's all about. So quiet, not so many people this late in the season.
The next day we hike higher to get fresh tracks again. 45 minute hike to one of the peaks, at times so steep having to use my snowboard to dig in and pull myself up. What a killer climb, 10 minutes to recover at the top and look down on the ski field and take in the incredible views. Three minutes later at the bottom it's all over we stand and contemplate what we have just achieved.
Then the last of the night skiing at Coronet Peak. Everyone is up on the mountain giving it maximum, all the nutters were out, probably the most dangerous evening of riding yet.Yeah but what's been happening away from the mountain I hear you ask.
Went to Doubtful sound. It's south of Milford Sound, where I visited last year, in Fiordland and much more remote. First a 45 minutes boat trip across Lake Manapouri, allegedly NZ's most scenic lake, a 30 minute drive on gravel roads though lush green rain forest with a fresh dusting of snow on the mountains and down to Deep Cove.
The landscape could be a film set for Jurassic Park. The rain was coming down in sheets, it rains on two out of every three days. I'd have been disappointed if it had been sunny!?! There's only one person that lives at Deep Cove, the hostel manager. A Hermits life for sure. Captain Cook name the fiord, he was doubtful he could sail out again as the mountains were so steep and high and would prevent the wind from filling his sails.
I'm loving Queenstown again. I don't want the winter to end. Party times, chilled times out in the garden at the hostel, meeting so many cool and happy people. Meeting friends from last year. I really don't want to leave.... Being here for the second time I thought would be enough, trouble is I can't get enough!!! Another season here next year, who knows.
