Spring skiing on a volcano

Although it has been a mild winter, the arrival of spring was still eagerly anticipated.

With youngest daughter home from uni we hatched a plan to get a day's skiing in before she had to go back. Luckily the weather played it's part and the cover came off the Admach, the batteries were charged and the cupboards stocked.

We stayed at the Department of Conservation's Whakapapa Holiday Park where we have visited before. We were lucky to get one of the last sites overlooking the Whakapapaiti Stream. A delightful spot.

Whakapapa Holiday Park

 There are not many days in a season like this one. Fine, not a breath of wind and unlimited visibility. There was never a queue at the lifts and we managed to get more than enough skiing in, perhaps a bit too much for me.

Mt Ruapehu

Molly is a way better skier than me and her only fall for the day was caused by my ineptness at getting off a chairlift with her.
The last time we skied here the day ended badly with Molly damaging her knee in a collision. Back at the cabin that night the lahar warning siren went off. This means you have three to five minutes to get to safety before being washed away by mud, slush and stuff. Whilst deciding how to carry an incapacitated Molly to safety the siren stopped. It would appear to have been a test. Good for the heart that.

Molly

A magic day.