Skiing the Southern Alps for Earthquake Revovery
July 12th: Scarborough Bluffs and The Crusaders
July 6th: Residential Redzone
I had seen the Earthquake damage downtown before I left on my trip, but I didn't have the chance at that time to see the residential redzone. In the afternoon, I took the New Brighton Bus out to the redzone, and walked through it all the way back to the city center. Many parts of the redzone were more horrifying and shocking than downtown itself. Seeing destroyed houses resting on the ground as rubble, and cleared empty spaces, and knowing that families once lived there was saddening. I took many pictures, and the footage can be seen in the video I posted showing the earthquake damage after my trip downtown.
 Redzone |  Redzone |  Redzone |
|---|---|---|
 Redzone |  Redzone |  Redzone |
 Ground Damage |  Mailbox |  Ground Damage |
 Ground Damage |  Family's belongings |  Redzone |
 Ground Damage |  Danger |  Abandoned House |
 Redzone |  Demolition |  Ground Damage |
 Ground Damage |  Danger |  Ground Damage |
 Redzone |  Redzone |  Family's Belongings |
 Redzone |  Child's Bike |  Child's Bike |
 Bike Wheel |  Decoration |  Seemed to be a memorial |
 Tire Swing |  Fallen Fence |  Redzone |
 Abandoned House |  Shattered Glass on Ground |  Abandoned House |
 Abandoned House |  Park |  Ruined Park |
 Redzone |  GOPR3287.JPG |  Belongings |
 Ground Damage |  Ground Damage |  Redzone |
 Redzone |  Abandoned Park |  Redzone |
 Traffic Cones |  Abandoned Park |  Abandoned Park |
 Abandoned Park |  Abandoned Park |  Ground Damage |
 Abandoned Park |  Redzone |  Flooded Street |
 Flooded Street |  Earthquake Damage |  EQC |
 Abandoned House |  Abandoned House |  Rebuild |
 HOPE |  Abandoned House |  Abandoned Stadium |
 Abandoned Stadium |  Abandoned Stadium |  Abandoned Stadium |
 Abandoned Stadium |  Abandoned Stadium |  Abandoned Stadium |
 Abandoned Stadium |  Abandoned Stadium |
Earlier in the week, I had my international student orientation. I met a lot of people, and made some American friends. On the 12th, I went on a short hike on the Scarborough Bluffs trail in the Port Hills of Christchurch with my two friends Andrew and Gordy.
 Scarborough Bluffs Track |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 Andrew |  Andrew |  |
 View of Taylors Mistake |  View of Taylors Mistake |  Taylors Mistake |
 Sheep |  Sheep |  |
 Lyttelton |  |  |
 Andrew |  |  Gordy |
 |  |  Lyttelton |
 |  |
Later that night the three of us went to the Crusaders game. It was our first rugby game, and we were pretty excited. The Crusaders were playing the Highlanders for the final game of the regular season, and with a Crusaders win, they would clinch a semifinal home playoff game. The Crusaders crushed the Highlanders with a final score of 34-8.
The rugby culture and crowd environment was far different than American Football. The three of us were very surprised when the videoboard congratulated the other team when they scored. The fans were also not obnoxious, and showed a lot of respectfor the oposing team.
 Crusaders Game |  Crusaders Game |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  Set up for the kick |
 The Kick is Good! |  |  The Scrum |
 Crusaders Defence |
July 19th-July 21st: Temple Basin
Before I left for NZ, I had posted on the Canterbury University Snowsports Club's (CUSSC) Facebook page, letting me know of my intentions. I had made a few Facebook friends with people in the club, but had yet met them. That week, the club president, Chucky, invited me to go up to Temple Basin for the weeked. The tow ropes were not running, but the main lodge was running, and we were planning on hiking to the top of the mountain to ski some lines. I hired avalanche gear for the weekend, and a group of six of us departed early saturday morning. By volunteering to help transport goods to the club (such as 10 mattresses, some food, an industrial mixer, and 2 tanks of gasoline in this case) we are allowed to drive the temple truck and the petrol is paid for.
Loading the Temple Truck
The Beacon:
One of the best features of the Temple Truck (along with the hydraulic back lift)
Stopping for Pies!
Theo Enjoying His Pie!
Temple Truck Selfie!
After the two and a half hour drive and river crossing, we arrived to the bottom of the goods lift. You have to hike up the mountain for about 45 minutes to get to the main lodge at the bottom of the ski field. Temple basin was by far the most remote and unique ski area I had ever been too. At the bottom of the mountain near the car park is the goods lift, a crate where you put all you gear in, and send it up to the top like a gondola. Usually, when the mountain is open, there is someone up at the top and bottom to help load and unload all the gear. This time however, it was just the six of us. Teo, Will, and Jack stayed at the bottom to load the gear while Chucky, Kirk, and I hiked up to the top to unload. The hike up was beautiful.
View from the Temple Track
Top of the Goods Lift
Matresses Coming up the LIft
The crate was removed and the mattresses were tied to the lift
Me and Kirk
We had to climb one of the towers to help the mattresses fit through
After a while, we finished unloading, and the three of us went into the Ferrier lodge to make lunch while the other three hiked up to join us. The Snow Sports Club also runs a lodge up at Temple Basin, but that lodge wasn't running at the moment to save power. After lunch, we started climbing to the top of the mountain.
 Hiking up Temple |  Gear |  Top of Hot Pocket |
|---|---|---|
 Top of Hot PocketChucky hanging on for his life |  Fresh POW |  Fresh POW |
We only had time for one line, but it was a great one down hot pocket with fresh untouched powder. While we to hurried to get back to the lodge before we got stuck in the dark, I snapped a few photos of the spectacular sunset we saw on the mountain.
 Start of the Sunset |  Sunset and my GoPro |  Temple Basin Sunset |
|---|---|---|
 Temple Basin Sunset |  Temple Basin Sunset |  Temple Basin Sunset |
 Pink Mountain |  Sunset Selfie |  Temple Basin Sunset |
We got back to the lodge, made dinner, and kicked back for the night. We woke up at 8 the next morning to get ready to go back out. We hiked up to the top of the downhill tow and skiied the mingha (the backside of the mountain).
 Top of Downhill |  Top of Downhill |  Looking over the Mingha |
|---|---|---|
 Chucky and Will Hiking up Downhill |  Toilet of the Alps |  Famous Toilet of the Alps |
 Mt. Rolleston |  Mountain |  Track to the Downhill tow |
After a good day of skiing, we went back to the lodge and ate a quick lunch. This time, I hiked to the bottom with Theo and Will to help load to goods the other three were sending down at the top. We loaded a bunch of old mattresses to be taken away, all of our gear, some rubbish, and headed back home. It was a great weekend, and it was great making some Kiwi friends.
July 25th-July 27th: Mission Up the Anti Crow
On Friday night, I left with my friends Ryan and Tim for the trailhead to the Anti Crow hut at the Waimak crossing. Our mission: spend the night at the hut, hike up the Anti Crow River on Saturday, set up camp and hike a few lines on Sunday. After almost being killed by nearly striking a large herd of cattle on the middle of the road (a farmer had left their gates open), we made it to the trail at 10:00. We hiked through the bush, and eventually emerged in a clearing next to a river fork leading into the WaImak. It was at this point that we had lost the trail markers. We studied the map, treked back a bit, and made our way into the large river bed (we still weren't on the trail). We made our way along the river bed, frequently checking the map and compass as we guided ourselves towards the hut. It was a perfectly clear night; the milky way gleamed very brightly, and the rest of the sky was dotted with endless stars. The surrounding mountain peaks and ridges were also very visible thanks to the clear skies and bright starlight, and we were able to reference the topographic features as we navigated.
After a few hours of navigating along the river bed with our heavy packs, we luckily made out a trail marker, and followed it into the bush for about 20 minutes until we arrived at the hut. Just before, we were joking and almost considering setting up tents for the night, but we knew we would've woken up the next morning to see the hut in sight a few hundred meters away. We were determined to find the hut. We arrived at the hut at 2:00 AM. Before we left, we had figured the two hour hike would take us about an hour and a half because the DOC always exxagerates the hiking times. In the end, it took us four hours to make it to the hut. There were already a group of people sleeping in the hut, so we quietly unpacked outside, before entering the hut for a few hours of sleep.
We had one last stop before we arrived at Temple, the Waimakariri River Crossing. To earn the rights to ski at Temple Basin as part of the Snow Sports Club, you must cross the river naked as initiation. Jack (he had already been initiated but still did it anyways), Kirk, Will and I stripped down and made our way across as Chucky and Theo watched in amusement. The river was extremely wide, and the sharp rocks coated with a nice morning frost gave my barefeet and nice welcoming. The rest of my body felt the nice presence of the swift river waters and freezing airs. It was a struggle, but I made my way across and was officially initiated!
Initiation
The Pack
Cattle in the Road
New Zealand: Where you have to call the cops because a farmer left their gates open and their cattle escaped
The Trail
We woke up the next morning around 7:00 that morning and cooked a large batch of tasteless oats. We savored every hot bite as the temperatures were well beyond freezing. I found my Achilles tendon to be sore and as I streched my foot up and down, there was a weird tugging that didn't feel right. I realized I must have overstressed and tweaked it that night while tramping over the large riverbed rocks with my heavy pack. When I put on the pack and walked around a little, I felt a sharp pain in the tendon. I decided to ditch my skis and boots at the hut to lighten my load and carry on. However, when we set foot, the pain persisted. Not wanting to risk going further and causing a tear or other serious injury and not being able to make it back, I told Ryan and Tim that they should carry on without me and that I would just leave my pack at the hut and do some nice hiking around during the day, spending the night at the hut again. Although at first they were bummed and wanted me to come, they agreed.
I went back to the hut to leave my pack, and caught up with the guys on the trail. We got to the Anti Crow River, and turned left up the river (see map above). I continued on with them for a while as we scrambled over rocks and made multiple river crossings. I eventually grew hungry and bade Ryan and Tim farewell as I turned around back towards the hut where my food was. Tim had our frozen meals, and I left them with him because I didn't have a stove with me and I didn't know if anyone else was gonna be at the hut with a stove that night. I carried on with a loaf of bread, two PB&J's, and some jam, 1/3 of a chocolate bar, 3 gronola bars, and a carrot. As I was making my way back down the river, another unfortunate event happened. I lost my balance for a quick second on a loose rock, and my ski pole went flying out of my hand and into the river as I watched it float away before me. The pole was new (yet full of character as it accompanied me during my ski trip along New Zealand) and was given to me as a birthday present by my younger sister just before I left the states. I spent a while going up and down the river searching for it in hope that it snagged on a rock, but I had no luck.
 Getting Water From the Stream |  Morning Sun |  Ryan's Artistic Log Shot |
|---|---|---|
 Sneaking a Selfie on my GoPro |  Hiking towards the River |  Hiking towards the River |
 Hiking towards the River |  Hiking towards the River |  Hiking towards the River |
 Hiking towards the River |  Anti Crow River |  Ryan Crossing the River |
 Anti Crow River |  Anti Crow River |  Tim |
 Anti Crow River |  Time Crossing the River |  Anti Crow River |
Group Photo Before Splitting Up
I made it back to the hut starving and ate one of my PB&J's, a piece of bread with jam, and a few bites of chocolate. I also met two hunters on my way back who were planning on staying the night.
At around 12:30, with a less empty stomach, I went back up the trail main trail that we left from this morning. This time, instead of turning left up the river, I continued up the trail all the way until it met the Waimakariri River bed shown on the map. I took some photos, and then started to turn back because I wanted to take a few timelapses. I set up a nice timelapse along the Anti Crow River, then hiked back to the hut and shot another timelapse of the valley. My battery quickly ran out and I wanted to save my second battery for a timelapse the next day. It was just about getting dark as well.
View of Arthurs Pass From the Hut
The two hunters returned, and me and one of the guys lit a fire. I was lucky they were staying at the hut because I did not have a lighter on me! It was good company, and I kept myself busy by chopping some more wood. Just before dark a couple arrived to join us at the hut. We kept the fire going, and the two parties and myself prepared our meals. They both cooked up meals on their stoves while I had a few slices of bread with jam and a few bites of my carrot.
Humored by the fact that I was living off bread this weekend, but feeling pretty bad, the couple gave me some of their food (they brought quite a bit of extras). I savored the taste of packaged pasta and curry as it was a nice break from bread. Once again, I ate using the pliers on my pocket knife. In return for the food, I offered to wash their dishes for them. The water supply at the hut was frozen, so I grabbed my headlamp and walked down the trail to the nearby stream. We all chatted for a bit before we got into our sleeping bags and went to bed sometime around 7:30-8ish.
I didn't sleep much at all that night. At the beginning, I kept myself busy by slowly feeding the fire and staring at the flickering flames. Eventually I let the fire burn out so that there was still wood left for the morning and other visitors. I lay awake for hours in my sleeping bag. I had a few panick attacks for the first time since arriving in New Zealand. It was odd because I never get them. I thought about everything back home on the other side of the world, where Ryan and Tim ended up for the night, and my plans for tomorrow. I would step outside to go for a relaxing walk and watch the stars (it was another very clear night). I eventually fell asleep for a few hours until the coldness of the morning woke us up.
As I ate slices of bread and jam that morning, I pondered several ideas for the day. Ryan Tim and I planned to meet at the and we would walk back, and I knew Ryan and Tim were gonna get back to the hut pretty late. I considered hiking back to the car with half of my load and then coming back so that when the three of us hiked back I had a lighter load and was less slowed down by my Achilles. As I was walking with the couple, they said that they parked at a car park located at the end of the orange and white striped road on the map. It was a little closer then the place we parked at just before the bridge. They said they were going to hike around the area this morning, and said I could make my way to their car and that they could give me a ride to Tim's car.
I left a few notes behind in the hut for Ryan and Tim to meet me at the car, and started navigating my way along the river bed in my wet socks and boots. I made it to the car park after about an hour and 45 minutes on my injured tendon. The couple caught up with me quickly and we loaded up the car.
 Frozen Ponds |  Anti Crow Hike |  Southern Alps |
|---|---|---|
 Frozen Ponds |  Anti Crow Hike |  Anti Crow Hike |
 Anti Crow Hike |  Anti Crow Hike |  Sun Going Down |
 Sun Going Down |  Anti Crow Hike |  Anti Crow Hike |
 Anti Crow Hike |  Waimak River Bed |  Anti Crow River Underwater |
 Chillin on the Anti Crow |  Chillin on the Anti Crow |  Timelapsing |
 Anti Crow River |
 Morning Hike |  Morning Hike |  Morning Hike |
|---|---|---|
 Morning Hike |
I got dropped off at Tim's car and was rewarded to find peanut butter inside. I made a PB&J and walked down to the Waimak to set up another time lapse. I ate the rest of my chocolate and carrot, and kept myself busy by hitting rocks into the river with a stick (a game my brother and I always used to play on rocky beaches). I took a short nap in the car, and soon enough I saw two headlamps as Ryan and Tim came around the corner. We exchanged stories as we drove home, stopping of course for some fish and chips on the way.
Although there were a couple unfortunate events, it was still a great weekend. There's nothing like a weekend wondering around, chopping wood for fire, gazing at the stars, and eating a loaf of bread in the great outdoors of New Zealand.
August 8th-August 10th: Temple Basin Opening
Opening weekend at Temple Basin and it was time to get ready for a crazy weekend with CUUSC (Canterbury University Snow Sports Club)! Temple Basin had just gotten a bunch of snow and was set to open that Saturday. I rode up in the temple truck on Friday evening and my American Friends. This time I got to laugh as I watched them go through initiation. By the time we got to the carpark and started hiking up the mountain it was dark out. The sky was clear and the super moon was so large and bright that we didn't need any flashlights. My phone wasn't able to take a good picture, but it was a tremendous sight.
We woke up in the morning and hit the slopes, scoring deep powder on the first lines in Bill's Basin. After a full day of skiing, we returned to the Uni lodge for dinner and an epic night with the club. Higlights: fitting 46 people in the pantry, forming a slide with oiled tables and riding down it on a wok, and a massive bread fight.
That weekend had been the funnest weekend I had had so far in New Zealand. I made an edit with footage shot by me and my friends highlighting the weekend. However, even the edit cannot fully describe the adventures of the weekend.
Sunset Over the Waimak
Andrew Crossing the Waimak
Ardy, Andrew, & Theo in the Pantry
Fresh POW On Lower Bill's
The Crew
In the Chute
Climbing the Elevator
On Top of the Elevator
Gordy on Top of the Elevator
On Top of the Elevator
Sunset
'Twas a Sick Day Indeed
On Sunday morning, after a massive cleaning, Andrew, Ardy, Gordy and I decided to save money on tow passes and hikes to lower bills to build a jump. Everything had iced over that night so it wasn't too worth buying a ticket for the second day. A kea also preyed on my backpack, putting a nice hole into the side.
Sunday Crew
Kea Ripping Through My Backpack
At the end of the day, we started packing/cleaning up to get ready to hike down. Matresses were left in the day loge during the day, and keas found there way inside and managed to turn the mattresses into fluff. Canning and I went and cleaning up the mess.
Kea Mess
That weekend had been the funnest weekend I had had so far in New Zealand. I made an edit with footage shot by me and my friends highlighting the weekend. However, even the edit cannot fully describe the adventures of the weekend.
August 13th: POW Day At Temple
After a good powder weekend, the snow gods blessed us and dumped about 80 cm of fresh snow on Temple since that Sunday. On Wednesday morning, Joe, Hugo, Khris, Alex and I took the Temple Truck up to score some powder. When we arrived, there was snow all the way down to the bottom of the goods lift. I was also greeted be a kea that landed on a post a few feet away from me.
 Kea |  Kea |  Kea |
|---|---|---|
 Kea |  Kea |  Kea |
The conditions were superb. There was waist deep powder in some parts making it the perfect day for riding on my 125's.
Temple Track
Top of the Goods Lift
My First Tracks
At the end of the day, we skied powder pillows and tumbled down tussock grasses almost all the way down to the car park, walking the last 10 minutes of the track. It was still dumping snow as we were leaving!
Powder Pillows & Tussock Grasses to the Bottom
