Forums Trip Reports New Zealand Winter 2013 – Thus far Viewing 18 posts - 1 through 18 (of 18 total)Author Posts August 10, 2013 at 9:23 pm #578835 South Island Split 66 PostsBit of a photo TR of the NZ South Island winter so far.Winter arrived with a hiss and roar dumping the biggest snow fall in Canterbury in 25 years. Its pretty rare in NZ to be able to skin from the road, let alone along a road at 800 m elevation (Photo: Yossi Jagger) (Photo: Yossi Jagger) (Photo: Yossi Jagger)Went for Camp trip near Arthurs Pass Early morning above camp Unfortunately the snow line retreated back to its usual elevation… A few lines around Mt Temple, Arthurs Pass Avalanche Peak, Arthurs Pass We are in need of bit more snow as we are already getting spring-like conditions. Fortunately there is still a bit of winter to go so fingers-crossed for some more snow! August 15, 2013 at 6:46 am #669199 shesplits 32 PostsLooks like you’ve been getting some good turns in!Had some pretty nice conditions out the back of remarks this week, on the southern side anyway! Still pretty sticky and spring-like on north facing, thanks to the wind and warm weather.Best keep doing some snow dancing…. August 16, 2013 at 1:08 am #669200 South Island Split 66 PostsThanks Shesplits.Just checked out your blog and looks like you guys scored some good stuff down in the Southern lakes recently. I assume your Draizuhs partner..?? Looking forward to meeting you guys up at splitfest. Looks like TB got a bit of snow over the last few days so hopefully it will be a bit more filled in by the time of splitfest! Corn is fun but I would prefer to ride it a bit later in the year.. August 16, 2013 at 2:40 am #669201 firstlight 721 Posts:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:4 weeks to go :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:Adam Westwww.firstlightsurfboards.com.au www.firstlightsnowboards.com.au www.splitfest.com.au www.snowsafety.com.au www.mrbc.com.au www.backcountryglobal.com www.alpinefirstaid.com.au August 16, 2013 at 6:39 am #669202 Draizuh 61 PostsHaha yep thats the mrs! Def gonna be there this year. Im going to try get to cheeseman or porters for a day before splitfest if you guys can suggest any good zones? Thinking tarn basin at cheeseman if its rideable, never ridden canty besides hutt so hoping to get some lines in! Firstlight, are you gonna be around before the fest?? August 16, 2013 at 7:09 am #669203 shesplits 32 Postscompletely new to this whole thing, so I’m appreciating anything I can get at the moment! except the icy windblown stuff…no crampons yet….fingers and toes crossed for some good conditions at splitfest! gunna be a blast! August 18, 2013 at 11:53 pm #669204 South Island Split 66 PostsAwesome. Looking forward to meeting all of you guys at Splitfest. I think I will be taking a couple of days off just prior to splitfest as well to do a bit of riding so be sure to hit me up.Tarn Basin at Cheeseman is really good and so is Crystal Valley next to Porters. Probably a good chance to experience Crystal Valley before it gets dominated by the Porters expansion… Both Cheeseman and Porters offer oneway lift tickets to access the backcountry as well which makes the access a little easier.Anyway, a couple of quick hints for Splitfest at Temple Basin (not sure if these have been mentioned on the Splitfest facebook page or not). Be sure to bring an ice axe and crampons if your planning on getting into the backcountry or sidecountry. You can access a lot of lines touring around Temple but most require a little bit of booting along ridges and having crampons and ice axe will definitely give you a bit more security when boot packing. Don’t be put off by the fact crampons and ice axe are needed as the lines you can access with them are worth it.. Also make sure you purchase a leather glove protector to stop your gloves getting eaten by the rope tow. These only cost $15 and you can buy them from the Temple ticket office.Was at Temple yesterday and the terrain up high is well filled in and riding well. Lower down it definitely needs a bit more snow so lets keep hoping for more snow in the coming weeks! August 19, 2013 at 12:12 am #669205 firstlight 721 PostsWasn’t going to bring all that stuff as I’m dragging the wife over with me and shes not that confident in the BC. (managed to convince her that the NZ trip was our honeymoon!!!)I might just pack my gear and let here take it easy in the accessible stuff on her level.These over gloves are just rigger gloves yeh?CheersAdam Westwww.firstlightsurfboards.com.au www.firstlightsnowboards.com.au www.splitfest.com.au www.snowsafety.com.au www.mrbc.com.au www.backcountryglobal.com www.alpinefirstaid.com.au August 19, 2013 at 1:53 am #669206 South Island Split 66 PostsThere is definitely terrain for all abilities around Temple, but worth bringing the crampons and axe if you have room in your bag (and have the weight allowance if flying) just in case. Not a biggie if you don’t bring them. With a bit of luck it will be all pow and they can stay in the pack anyway!Not sure what a rigger glove is, but have a look here..http://shop.chillout.co.nz/home/rope-tow/other/glove-protector/A sturdy pair of leather gloves also work fine too. August 19, 2013 at 6:51 am #669207 shesplits 32 PostsFirstlight, if it makes you feel any better I plan on just taking it easy and working on technique rather than getting to caught up about getting into the back country, so your wife will have at least one person to play with! August 19, 2013 at 11:14 am #669208 South Island Split 66 PostsOh man I hope I haven’t put anyone off! There are heaps of zones you can access just from touring without the need for ice and crampons and terrain for all abilities. Sorry if I made it sound like something else. August 23, 2013 at 1:33 am #669209 shesplits 32 Posts@South Island Split wrote:Oh man I hope I haven’t put anyone off! There are heaps of zones you can access just from touring without the need for ice and crampons and terrain for all abilities. Sorry if I made it sound like something else. Nah, all good! I’m just starting out anyway, so going to make the most of having some experienced minds around rather than anything else…maybe next winter though! :thumpsup: August 27, 2013 at 11:28 pm #669210 ozsnowbum 62 Postshey guys, just attended splitfest nsw and had a great time. will be heading over to NZ sept 1st for a 4 day backcountry awareness course. Ill be in wanaka from sept 5th onwards and free so was wondering if there was any chance of finding some touring partners to show me around the area before heading up to NZ splitfest at temple. October 18, 2013 at 1:25 am #669211 snojerk 31 PostsYou guys still riding? Looks like some great lines! October 18, 2013 at 7:34 am #669212 Kyle Miller 510 PostsBeen an unusually warm Spring but there is still some lines left to be rode. October 18, 2013 at 11:38 pm #669213 snojerk 31 PostsHeading to Wanaka for a quick visit with some family. Be there on Friday and would be keen to grab a few lines. October 20, 2013 at 1:09 pm #669214 Draizuh 61 PostsWeather has been terrible around these parts for a while but still some decent snow on south facing aspects. Unfortunately the current long range forecasts is for rain rain and more rain. Hope fully some of that will be white at altitude. October 23, 2013 at 9:45 am #669215 South Island Split 66 PostsA few more shots of the 2013 NZ Winter and Spring…NZ Splitfest – The crew out touring. Firstlight visited and brought some friends NZ Splitfest – Shredding some storm pow Booting the Ridge to Mt Temple Spring camp trip – Snow was starting to disappear. The warm temps made for pleasant camping though. Skin track up and Snowboard track off Cheeseman South Peak A spring storm rolled through and brought a bunch of new snow. Seemed a good time to check out the glaciers. Breaking trail through some NZ pillows Booting through some nasty chalk. Sucked for going up but was pretty rad on the way down. (Photo Chris Rayner)Dropping into Hut Couloir Breaking trail up to Jagged Col Few more spring storms on the way so will hopefully be riding a bit longer yet. Glacier trip season. Viewing 18 posts - 1 through 18 (of 18 total)You must be logged in to reply to this topic.