Well Lindsay has given control of the blog to me for the first time. Thought I would share a little insight on what I get up to when Linds lets me out to play in the hills.
The weather forecast for this morning called for a southerly front blowing up the country from the Antarctic, with snow down to sea level. What to do in this situation?
1. Head off to the mall with the masses?
B. Head to the local cafe for a hot chocolate and a cheeky caramel slice?
Or thirdly, load up my pack, grab the dog and head up in to the Port Hills for a 3 hour trail run.
I loaded up the pack and away we went.
I was a little disappointed that it hadn't snowed overnight, but ever the optimist I knew it would eventually snow, and I would be there to see it.
Heading up in to the Hills I came across the first lambs of the season.
Newborn lambs getting their feed on
Aynsley is just a young pup, and her training is ongoing. I could see something primeval stir within her when she saw the sheep. An ingrained need to herd them. Better safe than sorry I popped her back on the lead.
Why won't you let me herd them?
As we were getting closer to the top of the hill, the southerly front came rolling in.
Here comes the snow!
The air got colder, the wind windier, and I could smell snow in the air. Once I got to the top I took a trot along the summit road to where it is closed. There are huge concrete barriers across the road blocking access. After the February earthquake there was major damage to the summit road and a number of my favourite trails due to rockfall. Last week a video emerged on youtube of some mountain bikers who cycled the length of the closed section of road and recorded it on helmet cam. The post came down pretty quickly so I can't link to it, but the damage up there was huge. You won't catch me going up there any time soon.
Road Closed!
Maximum $5000 fine and 3 months in jail.
Thankfully there are still trails in the area open. With Aynsley off lead we headed along the ridge line hoping to see some snow.
Eventually some white stuff started to fall from the sky. Bah, it was hail blowing sideways into my face!
Hail settling on the ground.
It did eventually turn to snow, so coming up a few gratuitous snowy hill shots.
This wasn't in the brochure!
My favourite section of trail on the hills.
Going uphill on the new snow got a bit slippery.
Looking down towards Governors Bay.
Sign explaining why the Sign of the Kiwi is closed
The Sign of the Kiwi is a cafe at the top of the hill where the summit road crosses Dyers pass road. It's popular in the summer with tourists, and year round with cyclists who cycle up the hill, have a coffee and head home again. The sign above explains that due to damage caused by the June 13th earthquakes it is closed for the time being. Yet another thing closed in our city. It will reopen soon though, just like everywhere else.
The Sign of the Kiwi was our turn around point for today, so we took a different route home. A less exposed route.
Some cover on the route home.
By now the weather had started to clear up, and the sun even came out a little. We made good time back along the trail.
Snowy feet.
Some snowy pup shots.
Now, you would think that with this rough weather, and being really early on a Sunday morning that the hills would be deserted. Even the snow coated trails would make you think so.
Judging by these prints, only one man and his dog have been this way.
Here's the thing though, we weren't alone out there. On the way up the hill I met a lady coming down. Running along the ridge at the top I met a group of 5 runners ploughing through the snow. When we stopped at the Sign of the Kiwi for Aynsley to get a drink I saw another pair of runners and a lone woman. Heading back I met a middle aged couple walking their dog, a pair of women runners and had another meeting with the group of 5. All along the rest of the way home I saw probably another 10 people out walking and running in the hills in this horrible weather. This is probably more than I see out there on a good day!
Talking with the middle aged couple walking their dog, the man said he expected it to be deserted, but it was like Colombo Street this morning.
I think it says a lot about the people here, that when the weather is as bad as can be (and this is the first snow we have seen since we moved here) they load up their packs, lace up their shoes and head in to the Hills.
Finally, I'm home.
Great post Gareth!
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