Attempting to go skiing...

Attempt 1: Mid afternoon one Sunday we hoped to get out for a quick ski. The plan was to drive up to Porter's Pass, whack on the skis with skins, head up one of the hills and ski back down.

The issue: The snow wasn't as low down here as in the Two Thumbs range a week ago so we would have had to hike a long way up before we even got to the snow and we only had a couple of hours of daylight left.

The alternative: A bimble around Lake Lyndon and up the hill to get a view across the plains.

Lake Lyndon

The hill we'd hoped to ski in the cloud

Such a tranquil spot

The view back down to the plains with the Banks Peninsula covered in snow in the distance

Attempt 2: Ski into the Two Thumbs range and the Royal Hut from the east side.

The issues: Again the snow here wasn't as low as we expected, the gate for the 4WD track was locked resulting in being about 12km short of the snowy mountains and I was full of cold and not keen on the idea of carrying skis all that way in and out again.

The alternative: Off-roading up the Rangitata River!

Locked gate with beautiful touring snowy mountains in the distance

Tantalisingly close but annoyingly far

Fun bouncing along the braided river bed.

Our first river crossing in the beast know as Caddie

Learning how much lean will go

Checking the depth of the icy water - next time we're taking wellies!

Defeated by a full blown fast following water

Eyeing up climbing routes for later in winter

A short walk to a big tree on the way home through Peel Forest