Skiing Safari with Hunt's Tours

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SKIING SAFARI WITH HUNT'S TOURS Have you heard of Hunt's Tours - nor had I until Brian : Hunt 1 conducted Jan and Arold Heine, Sue Webb, Mary Inglis and John Moynihan around four South Island ski fields after the famous Broken River tour.. Hunts Tour Co., is easily recognised by a dusty Tasman rental van complete with a shot altemator full of packs and gear for every imaginable emergency - four cartons of food, namely tins of fruit, kilos of bacon and cheese and hundreds of tiger pats, (Tararua biscuits re-named because of their likeness to the Kaiopoi tiger's deposits). This proved to be the Tour's staple diet, unknown to the tour members at the beginning of the trip. Erewhon, the first port of call is noted for its beauty and interesting personalities, but not as a gun skiing area. The 'top' tow was not operating because a rock hit the tow shed. Not to be daunted by this excuse which was similar to the one I heard on a visit three year's ago, we six skined and sidestepped to the top basin to ski. What a precty sight ve made going up with cur coatort stops and coming down with Heine-red avalance cords billowing out of the povder STOW. Being the first people up in the basin this season. our expedition did not go unnoticed among the locals, including the ski instructor who was most impressed with our 'efficient' skier John. That night we dined out at the local restaurant to celebrate the trip leader's birthday. We were served in candle-light 3 (generator breakdown) by the erstwhile ski instructor who communicated to us in a variety of foreign phrases. Erewhon is worth a visit if only to drink in the mountain atmosphere and to meet the personnel, but not if your purpose is to bomb 'the slopes. The trip to Treble Cone, near Wanaka, was highlighted by viewing the Southern Alps giants in their full glory against brilliant sunshine. The tour members were kept very happy peak-identifying to Neil Diamond's music. Even the three hour break-down stop at Geraldine did not deter the tour's spirits. While approaching the Lindis Pass at' dusk we had a "you wouldn't believe it experience". A man holding a crash helmet hailed us for a lift. Like you, we thought he had fallen off his motorbike, but no, he was a pilot who had just crashed his hame-made plane. Apparently the VW engine didn't, want to / take him tohis déstination 12 miles away.: HuntTours, ever A ready to serve, came, to the rescue. ir a At Wanaka our tour leader allowed us to live it up in a Motel for two nights but not before checking that the motor camp d a was mercifully' closed.. Treble Cone,a new, ski area is well worth a visit and a definite riyal for Coronet Peak. The staff were extremely friendly and courteous." The field was clear of litter and an air of efficiency and service prevailed. The nooks and crannies present a, skiing challenge. Next we spent. a fun day at Ohau. This field's biggest drawback during this first week of August is the lack of sun on the ski slopes. - We found it frustrating to see the warm sun on: the peaks and basins -above while we skied in the shade donned in our warmest gear. At the crack of dawn next day we travelled to Mt. Hutt to experience parallel T Bars, hovering choppers, fancy mocca and groomed slopes. In spite of the commercialism we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves even to the point of being hurried off the slopes by the road patrol at the end of the day. I can assure you Hunts Tours offers you variety, lots of laughs, early morning tea in bed but preceded by hourly time checks throughout the night. Tour members can even have fun trying to usurp the tour leader's decisions. Unfortunately much of what happened is unpublishable, but, from a consumer's viewpoint I its worth signing up.on Hunts Tours. - A MARY INGLIS DEC L