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TimTams at Tukino - Sept 2004

On the weekend of 4th - 5th September Paul McCullagh & Niklas Werner (CNI Section) and Tom Wilson & Mike Peat (Wgtn Section) went in search of untracked snow at Tukino. After our late night rendezvous at the desert base camp, equipment and skiers were wedged into Mike's Jeep for the final haul up to the ski field. Deep drifts of snow on the road may have stopped most Remuera Taxis but were no match for 4 litres of raw power and an aggressive attitude.

The full moon rose over the Kaimanawas, lighting our way as we skinned on up toward Whangaehu Hut. A short but sweet ski down to the hut and the obligatory brew saw us into bed at 2.30am.

Sleep is a word unknown to the hard-core ski-tourer, thus we were up again at 6.30am to beat the blizzard forecast for the afternoon. The steep slope below the hut to the Whangaehu Glacier proved demanding on our rusty technique, and forced a second breakfast of snow into a couple of mouths. Skins were fixed and an hour's labour saw us cruise up the crater outlet stream to the lake edge. It's sad to think that this lovely valley will soon be wiped out by a lahar and will then take ten years to recover its present snow cover.

Conditions were ideal with two inches of powder on wind pack and after a couple of runs down a choice slope above the crater, we skinned around the crater edge and up the east ridge of Paretetaitonga. Here began our primo run of the day from the summit of "Pare" a 700m descent in perfect snow right back down the Whangaehu Glacier.

But wait there's more... Skins were fixed again and we coaxed our tired bodies back up to the Summit Plateau for one last run. Across the plateau we schussed to the top of the Mangatoetoenui Glacier and from here a 500m descent to the hut door completed a fine day's work. We rewarded our efforts with a siesta before rising at dusk for a fish curry accompanied with a selection red and white wines and Timtams to finish!

The Sunday weather was as unpleasant as expected so we decided to ski out to the car. To add an element of adventure to the trip out we decided to head down the Whangaehu and force a route out of the gorge. For a time it appeared that abseils may be required but in the end a route practicable for skiing was found, a short carry followed and then a long traverse brought us right to the door of the vehicle to end a superb trip.

Mike Peat