No access to Porters Pass without chains meant a change of plans: Kowai Valley instead of Foggy Peak!
We carried the skis only for about 100m before starting on skins
Off we go, our original goal - Foggy Peak - in the background
Hilary quite ex-Hilarated
It's getting warm quickly
Entering the shooting zone, our tentative objective - Mt. Torlesse - in the background
The first of far too many river-crossings (we are in New Zealand, after all!)
Other unusual activities involving skis...
Another scramble, another section of the river to cross
We certainly did learn how to carry skis
What do you call this sport?
... and this one?
Gloom and doom in the Kowai Valley
Walking or skinning, which is faster?
Pretty equal, really.
The originally planned ridge leading to the summit towering in the centre of the photo
Again?
No wonder we had wet feet!
Tom showing Kiwi-stripes
It's a winter wonderland
And Hilary thought we were going skiing
Time for lunch below Castle Hill Peak (after my skis almost decapitated Hilary when falling over - sorry Hil)
It's down to Tom and me to push on to Kowai Forks Hut with about 1 hour to spare for exploring the ridge leading towards Mt. Torlesse (top left)
Tom has had it with taking the skis off to cross a river. He redefines the meaning of 'water ski'
Close up of Tom's immaculate technique (BTW, pay attention to his stylish 80s-Cindy-Crawford-style ski boots! Yeah, baby)
Finally on the ridge!
Longingly looking up the ridge leading towards Mt. Torlesse. The upper large bowl to the right of the centre ridge is definitely in condition (4/7/09).
Looking down into the upper Kowai Valley
Tom flying!
He loves a challenge (plenty of shrubs in this case)
The best (i.e. only) skiing we got to do today
Another one of Tom's famous jump turns
Plenty of bushes with a little snow in between
Tom's technique is perfect for this terrain
After all this excitement of skiing (all 5 minutes of it), it's time to head back to the car
To water ski or not to water ski?
On the way back, we found the real track on the high terrace on the true right of the river. Here, we got away with about 2 river crossings (instead of 10 on the way in!)
Look at this technique. I'm gliding, man!
