Spring around Wellington

In the middle of September we thought we'd have one last weekend skiing before the snow disappeared for the season. We drove up Saturday morning to find typical spring conditions and only managed a few runs on the churned up piste before walking over to the Blythe Hut for the night.

Where's all the snow gone? Alpine vegetation on the way to the hut.

The next day we went for a wonder up towards the summit peak of Girdlestone and managed to find a good pitch of ice to climb on the Gendarme on the north ridge.

Unfortunately Helen was unlucky and a chunk of ice hit her face so we headed back to the ski field medical centre for stitches (Helen enjoying a ride down on a ski patrol skidoo!). They're out now and its healed nicely.

The next weekend we opted to stay in Wellington and on Saturday we went for a moutain bike ride around Wainuiomata in the hills to the east of the Hutt Valley.

Looking across the harbour to Wellington CBD and the snowy tops of the Seaward Kaikoura mountains on the other side of the strait from the top of Wanui hill.

Helen descending a steep rocky section along the firebreak.

On Sunday the wind turned southerly and rain turned to hail (typical unsettled spring weather). But we still managed a stroll along the coast checking out the rocks as we went.

Tim sea stack climbing near Makara Beach on Wellington's west coast.

Looking south to the new 'West Wind' wind farm development.

The following week, the country was hit by a couple of big dumps of snow so as the weather cleared on Saturday we drove back up to the mountain to find some fresh powder at Turoa.

Tim enjoying the fresh powder and empty slopes.