The Ski Tour That Nearly Wasn't

Machine-read text (unproofread)

Read from the scans by software, so it contains mistakes. Typing it up properly would help blind readers: use Suggest an edit.

The Ski Tour That Nearly Wasn't Mary Inglis For those of us who spend their holidays in the hills and mountains we have come to terms with the weatherman's fickleness and Hunts Tours Ltd 1978 We left Friday afternoon for Christchurch was no exception. The two week with mixed feelings as the skiing was pilgrimage to the South Island skifields not what we had prayed for. That night was largely dominated by some indiffwe bunked down with Tina and Peter Reid, erent weather and lack of snow which and Bryan, Sharon, Colin and Barry necessitated major alterations to the returned home a day earlier than had proposed plans and withdrawal of some been planned. people from the trip. But, with clever decisions from our leader and a big After numerous decisions, we opted for helping hand from Air N.Z. we saved skiing at Mt Hutt. The slopes were the trip and enjoyed 11 out of 14 days extremely icy from the storm the day skiing. before. Most of us tried to glen the "real" story about the death of the The first port of call was Amuri where person blown out of the car two days we revelled in two days of fine weat ther previously. It was amazing how many and good snow enjoying the variety of versions we collected when we compared runs the field offers. notes. On Sunday night we moved to White Star That night more decisions - what should Hut, Broken River for the week where for we do with such indifferent snow and the first two days we thoroughly enjoyed weather? GO HOME seemed the sensible perfect snow conditions and the peacething to do. So we contacted the group fulness of the basin. On Tuesday we who were to join us and told them to were joined by Mary, the ratifier of the stay home. Sunday dawned fine so we leader's decisions. She may have been spent the day at Porter Heights and chased by bad weather because for the thoroughly enjoyed ourselves especially next three days we were all incarcerated skiing the "big face". by wind and rain. In an attempt to keep cheerful and pass the time we played Back to Christchurch that night to re- "Just a Minute" based on the same lines turn home but guess what, a beautiful as the famous radio programme. All sea fog immobilised the airport. More manner of subjects were bluffed through decisions - outcome - another day skiing with and without hesitation, repetition at Porter Heights with no crowds. From or deviation. Some excellent examples the top tow at Porters we could see of creative thinking appeared, namely Windwhistle, the club skifield under Mt John Moynihan's speech on family plan- Olympus. Following more decisions we ning. Some alcoholic beverages and cancelled our booking home and travelled disco dancing brightened up the evenings. to Windwhistle.

This field is a gem - remote because up the road as the van barely fitted of the terrifying four wheel drive the width of a bridge near the bottom access road. John's skilful driving of the road. The accommodation consists enabled the Avis rental to make the road of a mountain type hut situated 35 end. The ski area consists of three minutes from the tows. rope tows and two mountain, not lodge type huts. The variety of runs is superb After a "team talk" we returned to the and one can mostly ski in the sun all Canterbury fields to spend two beautday. The local people who run the field iful days at Porter Heights skiing in were most helpful and friendly. thick powder snow. John especially enjoyed himself and Gregory admitted After a good day's skiing the party's that the snow was better than Switzermorale improved greatly so to celebrate land, but most of us took some time that night we had "little gins and gaining courage to plough through tonics". One person had to be put to such deep snow. bed - guess who? An opposum visited during the night and scared the wits By Saturday night we had, at last, had out of Huntie who in turn woke up the our fill of skiing so home we finally party in his panic. Next morning dawncame. This time the plane let us ed fine for another great day's skiing. depart. So ended Hunts Tours 1978, a I didn't want to take my skis off at holiday with a difference or did I the end of that day. That evening we mean decision! travelled to Geraldine in order to have an early start to Fox Peak behind Trip members:- Brian Hunt (leader), Fairlie. Unfortunately the nor'wester Sue Webb, Bernie Napp, Gregory Napp, caught us up and the wind and rain made Peter Pohl, John Moynihan, Jan and skiing impossible. However, we looked Arnold Heine, Mary Inglis. the area over. It consists of two rope tows on an intermediate slope. A four wheel drive vehicle would be preferable First week:- Bryan Aitken, Juliet to our Avis to negotiate the access Griffiths, Snow Hall, Sharon Howe, road. We nearly didn't make the journey Colin Lewis and Barry Biggs.