Whistler Instead of Work

Wendy, Christina, and I did this same trip (Whistler, snowboard/ski camp, spa) four years ago, and had a great time so when Wendy suggested we go again this year, Christina and I were in. We couldn't find a hotel room in the Village under... well, more than we wanted to pay, so Wendy booked us into the Whistler Lodge Hostel - bunks in dorm-style rooms, shared bathrooms... but also people from all over the world (South Africa, Mauritius, Denmark, as well as from all over the U.S. and Canada), a great hot-tub (which we got to by walking down a path in the snow in bare feet), a big kitchen, a very comfortable common room with a pool table and comfy chairs, and an over-all awesome vibe. And the price was definitely right.

cabin built in 1965 by UBC students turned 42-bunk hostel

strict no shoes policy in the hostel

Wendy and Christina are both skiing at a very high level these days, so we left ridiculously early last Friday so they could get an extra day in on the slopes. I on the other hand, wasn't even sure I wanted to snowboard for two days, so I declined the extra day going downhill, and instead booked a snowmobile tour through the woods. Officially, I don't really love the idea of snowmobiles, they are loud (although the ones we rode were quieter than I expected), and pollution-generating (although the ones we rode-weren't as smelly as I expected), but unofficially, that attitude is overlooked if I actually have the opportunity to ride one, which I did, and it was pretty fun. Harder than it looks as there's no 'power steering' so it take a bit of strength to maneuver the things, and it was a fun and easy way to explore some backcountry.

the lovely Bea, and her two student (reflected in her goggles)

And snowboard camp was good this year too. I had an instructor who was just lovely - a slip of a girl from Montreal whose teaching ability was far beyond her years. There was only one other woman in my group, so we both got a lot of individual instruction, and Beatrice, our instructor, had a lot of good drills, tips, feedback, and encouragement, but jeez, I was tired after half a day. Conditions on the mountain weren't ideal (wet and foggy) and even though my class lasted all day, I was done by lunch time, so after eating, I found a comfy hotel lobby in which to hang out and read. Then back to the hostel each night with the girls, hot tub, shower, change, go back to the Village for dinner, hang out a bit in the common room, and done. Scandinave Spa on the way out for massages and a last soak on Monday, and home. Great long-weekend; great friends.

Last Day: Mt. Cook and New Friends

On the hike through the Hooker Valley, we didn't have great weather so Mt. Cook was lost in the clouds. But just like most days on this trip, bad weather one day transformed to clear skies the next, and our last day of the trip (yesterday) was no exception. Before heading to Christchurch for my flight out, we had lovely weather and stunning views of New Zealand's highest peak.

Mt Cook

And then it was time to say good-bye to the exceptional people I met on the tour...

Dale

Peter

Jack and Lisa (4th and 5th from left)

Mike

Terry and Emily

Claudia and Jennifer

our awesome leaders: Merisha and Bas

  
It was a fabulous trip with great scenery, great hikes, fun activities, and a really great company.  

Lake Pukaki

After hiking out of the Hooker Valley, we drove along Lake Pukaki for a while, which is a beautiful blue lake fed by the Tasman River, and one of several lakes in the area which has been dammed for hydroelectricity. 

Mt. Cook / Hooker Valley Hike

This was a very long hike, 8 miles round-trip, but it wasn't particularly difficult although there were several swinging bridges high above gushing glacial rivers to cross. Terry, a structural engineer in the group, declared the bridges quite sound, although I'm not sure how comforted Jennifer, who isn't super-thrilled with heights, was by this assessment. 

photo by Terry L. 

The hike ended with the Hooker Glacier in the background, icebergs floating in front of us, and a picnic lunch with a view. 

Tasman Valley Hike

 

Another Possible Activity in Queenstown

No one in our group was inclined to participate but we stood near the bridge and watched the other brave/crazy souls jump.

Ben Lomond Hike - Queenstown

This was one of the best hikes of the trip. We took the gondola up above Queenstown and then walked through a pine forest (pine forests are in the process of being eradicated in NZ as they are not native, along with possums and stoats), then through some scrub-brush, over some rocks, and along a knife-edged path, up and over the hill, and back down to the gondola. It was a beautiful day and even though there was a short-cut back that didn't involve a sheer drop off over one side, all of us opted for the longer, difficult route, although in all honesty, Bas didn't really offer the shortcut while we were on the trail (he mentioned it before we started), and I think no one (including me) wanted to wuss out and ask.

View of Lake Wakatipu