I am not a skier. I tried once when I was around eleven, and at my first attempt to go downhill I was rolling down the slope like a snowball, skis flying, hat lost, telling myself: “Never again”.
I kept my promise. Which I am planning to break in the next couple of years as I am no longer eleven and have a little bit more courage and control of my core muscles (or so I think).
I enjoy cross-country skiing though (but it’s a whole separate blog post).
Anyway, when in Queenstown in winter one must have an encounter with snow. You kind of don’t blend with the July crowd over there if you do not have a healthy glow and a dreamlike expression on your face, and skis on your shoulders. Since I was not ready to break the spell of my childhood memories of the ski incident but wanted to have that pink glow we opted for snowshoeing. Which was the best fun we had in ages!
Snowshoeing in New Zealand is quite new and is becoming very popular. If you are ever in Queenstown you have to do it, especially if you don’t ski but love snow. Our guide Errol (who is the most friendly, knowledgeable and super-relaxed person) picked us up from the hotel early in the morning and off we went up the gravel road that leads to The Remarkables snow area. The views from that gravel road (and the drive itself) are heart-stopping and hard to describe in words but I managed to snap a few lovely pictures from the car so you can see for yourself. At the base we layered up, put the snowshoes on and started climbing up the mountain to the amusement of the skiers gliding above us in the cozy chairlift seats. BUT they didn’t know that WE can leave the bustle of the slopes behind, go past the “Danger, exit at your own risk” sign and enjoy the wide open winter wonderland at the frozen lake Alta and uninterrupted views of Single Cone and Double Cone all to ourselves with the exception of three snow patrol guys who were having fun on the fresh snow, ahem, working their territory. And silence, that silence…
The rest you can see below.
I can say I did feel like I belonged when we returned back to town, despite not having skis on my shoulders.
And big thanks to my darling for all the pictures of me in this set. You are an amazing photographer.
And here is Errol at work! Don’t you just love his office space and his business attire?
You can book your showshoeing fun at http://www.snowshoeing.co.nz/
(and no, we did not get paid for this promotion
we paid our full fare, and would come back any time and do it again)
