The FEAR comes in many shapes and sizes. This one was in the shape of a nutcracker and had been bothering my dreams for the last couple of weeks. Time to take on the fear, head to head.
Rising up to the Gods
Just getting up to Mt Olympus was the first challenge. The road is amongst the most hardcore of them down here; steep, narrow and the last few kms are one-way (you have to radio from the bottom hut to check it's ok to proceed). In all but the best conditions it's big 4wd territory. Fortunately I found myself a ride on SnowPool from one of the club members. So after picking up the club's food supplies we were on our way. Around 1.5 hours later we got to the snowline and it was time to fit the chains - all 4 of them. Damn that was cold! Watched a couple of idiots have to abandon their attempt at getting up the mountain in 2wd's - no chance! So much snow piled up on the edge of the road - well, this was the first day they'd opened since the 50cm+ dump last week.
Rope Tows - don't try learning them on a powder day
No chairlifts/gondolas/trains here - clubfields in NZ are mostly accessed by rope tows. This means wearing a belt (or climbing harness) with a nutcracker attached on the end of a chain. Basic idea being that you ride up to the rope, grab it and wait until you're moving at the same speed. Then you get your nutcracker, swing it underneath the rope and hold it clamped tightly shut while you slide up the mountain. You also need glove protectors (essentially pieces of leather that fit over your gloves and stop them getting shredded). Pretty much as soon as you've got the 'cracker on, you need to start watching out for the pulleys - definitely don't want to get your spare hand/hair/jacket caught in them!
Sounds difficult, but on my 3rd attempt I was up at the top of the first tow. Dropped my kit off and scored myself a bed in the top hut before moving on to tackle the main tow. Now the first one was on my right (regular) side; this one is on the backside, so that's a case of either avoiding the pulleys smacking me in the back or riding it switch. And that's where it all went wrong. Some 20 attempts later, with a bluebird powder day all around him, this Sloth had still not made it up the lift. [:'(] 
Must've tried every combination possible but it just wasn't happening. Frustrating is not the word. With some 9 years of riding under my belt, feeling like a beginner all over again was not good. Believe me, Jarmarl you would hate this way of getting up the mountain!
Thanks to Tom for getting me up the lift eventually - yes I fell off 3/4 of the way up but was determined to make it so hiked the last bit - Alan Davis was in charge of this one. Luckily there was still plenty pow to farm out. So that was pretty much it for the first day - one and a few half-runs. Gutted, frustrated, knackered, but determined to get this lift nailed. Luckily New Zealand's highest hot tub was waiting to take away some of the pain.Part of the deal with staying at the clubbies is helping out in the lodge - preparing dinner, chopping firewood, cleaning. So after a bit of that and a big feed, I nearly fell asleep in front of the fire. Job done.
Day 2 - Now we're farming!
Now I haven't ached like this since waking up in Fran's flat in Grenoble on the first GnarlyBoarders trip back in 1999. It really didn't help smacking my head on the bunk bed 3 times as I got up either. The word was that it was a whiteout and no new snow - hard to tell from the bunkroom window though:
Well there had been another 10cm or so, but yeh the vis was pas bon. Best get out there then. Now I think I shall use Mr Goodey's expression here - straight in, no kissing! 3 out of 3 attempts and I'm up at the top of the main tow! Get in! Problem now being that I'd only been up there once briefly the day before and had just that very vague recollection of the mountain. Stuck to riding by the lift line first then hiked it over to "Frozen Waves". "Million Dollar Wifeswap" and "Demolition Run". Deep untracked pow and faceshots all morning - seems I was the only one riding this side. Loving it again. 
I imagine it was Demolition that left my board with a beauty of a core-shot.
Sure enough, as soon as the clouds cleared and the vis got near-perfect, Alan Davis' gave me his arms and legs and I couldn't get up that lift again. D'Oh! All that pow and no way of getting to it. Gutted of Poulton, Mrs. After a long wait for my ride back, rode down the mountain in the dark and the icy road back to Christchurch.
Need a fourth?
So, would I do it again? That's a tough one. I've been keen to get to the clubbies for ages now as they have amazing terrain, no crowds and a chilled atmosphere. The only thing that gets in the way is those rope tows (I think somebody called them "punter filters" before - very true!) 3 days later I'm still aching all over, my board is in for a full tune and there's signs of rope burn on clothing. With the way this season is going, I've just got to get out there and ride as much as possible - Hutt really isn't doing it for me any more so it looks likfe I'll just grin and bear the pain of the rope tows...
More photos here.