Above the sky

One of my many wish list items is to ski in New Zealand. I forget where and who I heard about it from, but it has been a long desired activity, one that I pursued this past NZ winter. And I have absolutely no regrets.

Most of my trip was overcast to rainy. Until I went to the slopes. Despite the mountains being much smaller in scale than the ones in North America, the view was just as spectacular. Perhaps better in the sense that while I was cold, I wasn't freezing my butt off to the point of chattering teeth. The climate was milder and the slopes proportionally gentler as well. Being above the clouds, though, I couldn't help but pretend that I was flying above the clouds as I swoshed my way downhill.

Skiing alone

Take a look at the Big Sky trail map.

Going back to an earlier post, we all active people know how a buddy system is wise, especially when involved in rather risk sports. I wanted to check out the bowls at the very peak of Lone Mountain Peak. Liberty Bowl was one name that came up. However, when I went up to the Lone Peak tram, there was a sign that said "do not ski alone." Common sense, especially once you get a good look at how steep it gets up there. But as a lone traveller, now my hands are tied.

If you cannot attach yourself to another group, here's what works even better: get ski patrol to accompany you. Explain that you are alone, an expert skiier (if it is true), and visiting. Ask if they could spare someone to accompany you, just as a buddy system, so you could have a chance to explore the bowl.

Brilliant. I wish I had done it earlier.