Kiwi Loose in the Snow

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:17 am

So here it is the hottest summer in many years has now been followed by what we thought was going to be a drought winter for snow! WRONG!!! its been bloody Freezing and the last couple wekks has been snow fornt after snow front the latest has brought snow to parts of the North Island that has not seen snow in over 30 years

We live on the edge of the snow zone and heck even had a few dusters. First time seen the bush line near home covered in snow.

So Sunday morning waking up to Bullet proof ice on any thing solid was no surprise. Ok so out in the car we go, still some traction on the road even though didnt know it but it was closed...lol.

Pretty uninteresting just a sprinkle of snow until I got 10kms up the road
altitude 600m

Deceptive looking Hill rises to 800m in couple of KMs and that is Black Ice.

just as you come around the bend oh oh! It went to crap real quick

The point where the chains got put on! No way forward without and no way in hell was I going back down without them.

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:26 am

Of course its worth it to get here

To Think they opened this road a few hours later after couple grader runs and within 3 hours went went out witht he Fire Brigade twice

sharp contrast hour later on the Big Hill up, it was clear yet still managed to get stuck behind 4 cras who were scare to do more than 30kph once they were clear of the snow zone. They rode their brakes all the way down the hill

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:28 am

To bore you even more check out youtube

toddao · Post by **toddao** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:59 am

That's always funny to see snow on the other side while I'm sat here in my shorts! What is that huge building on the top - I suppose 'Chateau Road' means that it must be 'The Chateau' - in NZ! Is that your house then Kiwi?

mountainmanUK · Post by **mountainmanUK** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:05 am

That pic of the "Chateau" in the snow reminds me of the "Overlook Hotel" in that Jack Nicholson film, "The Shining"!!!

Heeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:22 am

silly me taking for granted you knew the place

Ok the "Chateau" is the impressive Hotel that stands out at the base of the Volcanic Mountain Ruapehu and is on the road up to the ski area. Built 1930s originally as a hospital now a Hotel in the middle of the Tongariro National Park. Where my daughter and the snow man stands is actually the Golf course (yellow balls

)

I must get a photo thats not got the chateau in a blizzard like I always seem to take