The long road up (part 1)

Claire preparing her avalanche tracking device

The boys getting set with their avalanche safety gear

Stripping off our jackets at the beginning of the hike

Following John (our guide) up the mountain

Mitchell's Space (part 2)

Another gorgeous day on Mount Ruapehu. More lovely fresh snow has fallen overnight and it’s still coming down even now. Almost everyone has moved up the mountain from the beginner area and we’ve all been tearing down the hill, endangering innocent tourists. Our resident chief (Diego) cooked up another wonderful dinner (complete with chocolate mousse dessert) with the assistance of our Kitchen Crew (Nathan, Julian, Daniel & Nick H). Since dinner several card games have sprung up. Cheat, Speed & Fish feature prominently but by far the most popular is Doppelkopf, a German favourite introduced to the class by Stefan.

And Jess W. worked through the difficulties of her first shower with her plaster cast, which should be off soon after we return.

Hope you’re all enjoying the peace and quiet,

Mitch

P.S. Jess W says "ouch!"

More pics from Ruapehu (part 2)

Hands up for Ruapehu

David, Mitch, Adriana & Emma - The other snowboard gang

Cool Runnings - Nick W & Jacob (who joined the class the day before the trip)

Mystery student rescued by the Ski patrol

Mystery Student revealed...

More pics from Ruapehu (part 1)

View from the top

The view from our cabin at 6:30 this morning. Volcano wreathed in clouds

Looking way up there

Meg, Taylor & Claire - Our Ski Squad

The Snowboard Gang

Ruapehu in pictures (part 2)

Some of us braved the windy slopes

Others hurled snowballs from their fortified snow caves

And some went out to make some new friends

Meg's Space (part 2)

Today we again woke to Stefan’s delightful "wakey wakey" at the nice hour of 7am. We started the morning just like any other in our cute snow hut. A beautiful snowy morning, with beautiful smiley faces and a beautiful warm breakfast, maybe the smiley part was a bit exaggerated we were tired cold hungry and lazy. After breakfast and cleaning duties we all put our ski gear on, went down stairs into the drying room and put our boots, goggles, beanies and gloves on. There was 16cm’s of fresh fluffy snow. The snow was snowing. We skied and snowboarded down to where we meet for lessons only for Stefan to tell us that the chair lifts were closed. So we woke up to a cold morning, early and tired to ski 15 meters to find out we couldn’t ski today. A few of us stayed outside and made snow angels, snow men, snow balls and slide around on our bums. Others went back to the cute snow hut, and others boarded down the mountain to pay $5.80 for coffee instead of $00.00 in the hut, they had to walk all the way back up the mountain. We had scones for lunch and sat by the fire playing cards. 

Meg

Ruapehu in pictures

Windows iced, flag frozen. Had a bit of snow fall through the night

Happy campers preparing a nice, warm breakfast

For some reason, they wouldn't run the lifts today...