Community post
Snowboarding down a LIVE VOLCANO!
Here I am (on the right) standing on the summit of Mt Ruapehu, the highest peak of the North Island of New Zealand.
In the background can be seen the large crater lake. This volcano's last major eruption was in 1996.
https://s31.postimg.org/swr8k89l7/crater.jpg825D43F
There are three ski-fields on Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa, Turoa and Tukino.
The two major fields are the Whakapapa and Turoa which are commercially run, the Tukino field on the east side of the mountain is club operated, uses rope tow lines and is only 4WD accessible.
Im standing approximately on the south west side of the mountain from the Turoa ski-field, this ascent has the easiest and shortest route by foot after getting off the highest chair lift in the country.
After about a half hour - 3/4 hours walk, you reach the crater, after stopping for a short rest, we strap on our bindings and head down into the basin near the crater.
You can just make out the trails from other skiers and boarders on the left of the photo, that's the general direction we were heading, we had to traverse a little and then we carry on around the peak on the left and then make our way down back to the lifts for a good few extra km of trails in fresh powder above the actual skifield itself.
This was taken in October at the end of the season but we still had plenty of fresh show at the top that made up for the lack of snow at the bottom.
Here is another photo of the crater:
And another photo of me near the top of the lifts looking south
https://scontent.fakl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10356224_559023364206126_1971043140794151295_n.jpg?oh=5d3c8c2cd220c7b61b2084ca00975e6d&oe=58334F06
Another photo looking south:
https://scontent.fakl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10509657_559023617539434_6811745237752450555_n.jpg?oh=c404039224ed51287afa4dae99643784&oe=581E3EFE
The queues on the lifts can be real busy on a weekend, so I recommend weekdays when possible!
You can expect to wait up to half an hour with a line this long (there is at least this many people again behind me here)
https://scontent.fakl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10482590_559025094205953_3605466029892835055_n.jpg?oh=60a32bc213f6cdefcc2c161923baeb6b&oe=5833E4E3
At last we are on our way up for a good run!
https://scontent.fakl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/9883_430119313763199_988014678_n.jpg?oh=1ee31563267b3326af5c91ca42cb4cf0&oe=58355E7B
This is the top lift station of the High noon express (the highest lift) we start our ascent by foot from here on.
Here are some others making the arduous climb to the top, thankfully the foot traffic from other boarders makes it easy as everyone has chipped steps into the snow with their boards or skis, making it much easier, and its real rewarding once you get to the top and get a good run back down!
This is another view looking south from the summit, there were quite a few up here this day, as the conditions were great. (this photo was partially double exposed on the edge by the last exposure on the film)
Here is another view looking down amongst the clouds that come and go throughout the day, you can see the terrain park to the left with good jumps made by the wonderful team at the Turoa ski-field :)
https://scontent.fakl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10500413_559023684206094_8305095653654134965_n.jpg?oh=dda5e9e82a2e69284fafabf33b911812&oe=5829DA41
There is even a snow cave on the mountain where people spend the night!
I believe this is a naturally forming one that is there every year, created by the hot steam coming out of a geothermal vent on the mountain.
https://scontent.fakl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10270804_559024130872716_3599525969261809471_n.jpg?oh=af79cd7182edaf5781e1a5f336ea34d2&oe=58276007
https://scontent.fakl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1522064_559024347539361_4435981454342838582_n.jpg?oh=d53b1862b3057515c4b39d806afd335d&oe=5814D61A
https://scontent.fakl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10417523_559024434206019_4867683839033419523_n.jpg?oh=a691ce0f04f70d34d2750c0a9dde51d9&oe=5817CA68
All in all its a wonderful experience for anyone into snowboarding and skiing alike, if you want to visit New Zealand for a ski trip, then August is the best time to come and have a guaranteed snow base.
https://scontent.fakl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/s960x960/10380655_559024717539324_3694847703973694463_o.jpg
Might see you up here one day! :)
#photography
#hiking
#outdoors
#sports #sport
#snowboarding
#skiing
#NewZealand
P.S. All photos were taken on an Olympus XA3 with either Kodak e100g or AGFA Aviphot Chrome 200
Replies (4)
wow, fantastic relationship also invite you to a fun adventure ...
https://steemit.com/travel/@rkpl/africa-after-the-gambia-our-adventure-of-life
Wow, that sure looks like you have been on an adventure!
This is awesome, I never knew that New Zealand had snow. Me and the misses have been talking about moving there due to it's lack of predator like animals and insects. We live in the southern part of the united states and heat, bugs, and predator animals are what make going out and camping and exploring nature and questionable act. We just saw recently that a town in new zealand was paying people to move their to increase work, but it turned out to be click bait news on facebook. Already realizing why coming to #steemit to treat it as a social network is a better move than giving up on social networking all together. I like being connected to people and see'ing amazing things like this that I would never normally see. Hopefully some day we can get out there and visit your country, every picture I have seen of new zealand screams for me to be there. Cheers and thanks for sharing the photos.
Yes New Zealand sure gets lots of snow, especially in the south island, even more snow.
If you move here, stay away from Auckland. Their property prices are stupid and its growing too big. Tauranga is much nicer and only a 3 hours drive to the snow, and you have the best beach in the country over the summer!
I have to visit the United States sometime myself also, there is so much to see there.