A winter season just wouldn't be complete without a roadtrip down to Ohau. With Alan Davis at the wheel, we set off after work on Friday, compulsory Maccas stop then into the darkness. So dark actually that we missed the turn for the mountains. Finally rocked up at Ohau lodge just before 10pm. No idea where they get this "it's 3.5 hours from Christchurch" from?!
Saturday
Setting up to be an awesome spring day - barely a cloud in the sky and no wind. Having breakfast sat outside looking over lake Ohau is stunning every time - check out the view:
This was Sarah-Jaye's first day up the mountain this season (plenty wedding stuff to sort out this year!), and she was having a great one - riding well 
Rode together for a couple of hours, letting the mountain soften up a bit. It's changed quite a bit up at Ohau - lots more pisted runs, fair few small park features and snow-making everywhere. Hiked the ridge, which almost went wrong being erm, caught a bit short part way up. Why is it that the further away you get from the facilities, the more you need a merde? 
Anyway, up on the ridge there was quite a strong westerly coming in, but this was blowing snow back down into the back basin - sweet! Seeing as I was up there, thought I might as well get right up to the top - not been up there before. 20 mins later, I up above everything - incredible views over to Mt Cook and the lakes. It had snowed a bit earlier in the week and there were plenty of untracked lines. Got some awesome ones down through a couple of chutes, into the back powder bowl - pretty stoked with the hiking that day! As the sign says "if you can see the lodge/patrol/lift, you're in bounds". Spring snow - love it, just gotta watch out for the evil Ohau rocks.
Back to the lodge for beers, hot tub overlooking the lake, cramp (in the hot tub, kicking people opposite ). Alan Davis got hold of us around dinner but still managed to get some filming done for the King's birthday video.
Sunday
Lots more wind and temp had barely dropped overnight so things were pretty slushy straight away. Love the slush, hit everything you can, try not to land on the nose. Had a great morning farming around, but no hiking in that wind. Just as we were leaving, there it was, le Mono!!! First one I've seen in NZ since 2006. 
Now either someone was taking the piss leaving this next to all the skis and snowboards or there was a very elusive monoboarder somewhere around. I looked everywhere for an 80s one-piece and a moustache but no sign of him.
Anyway, time to get ourselves back home, stopping for a bizarre lunchtime curry in Fairlie. Here's the pano shot I put together looking from the top of Ohau. That's the one! Ohau we'll be back again next year.
