Last week we began making our way inland from the west coast to Wanaka, a ski town just south of Mt. Aspiring N.P. With all the fresh snow in the area, Michael was hoping to heli-ski, but missed the season by a couple of weeks. Even the tour opperators wished they were still running, the mountains got a good dump. Instead, we took a beautiful 54km dirt road north to Mt. Aspiring N.P. on route to the Rob Roy glacier trailhead. We passed amazing pastures full of dear, elk, cows, and of course sheep, surrounded by dramatic peaks. The trail was rugged and steep, but the rewards of sitting right under Rob Roy glacier were worth it. Spectacular! We spent a few days in Wanaka, enjoying the small ski town atmosphere.
Queenstown was our next stop. Queenstown is the undisputed mecca for adrenaline junkies in the southern hemisphere! You can sky dive, heli-mountainbike, bungy jump (Queenstown, by the way, is the original home of bungy jumping), river surf, fly on a wire, parasail/ paraglide, and zorb (roll down the hill in a big balloon) just to name a few. We opted to take a gondola up the mountain and luge down! What a ride! We loved it, and did it three times! The next day I surprised Michael with a guided offroad motorcycle ride to help him get his fix! The terrain reminded him a lot of his rides in Colorado. He had a blast! Afterwards, we went into town to enjoy some of the local nightlife. The Jazz Fest was happening, so we got to hear good music while sampling local brews.
We are now in Te Anau, preparing for a four day hut-to-hut hike on the Milford Track. The walking season started yesterday, but the track is closed due to avalanche danger. We will be lifted by helicopter over the trickey parts. We will write more about it when we get back.
Love,
M&C
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4 comments:
Hope all is well and you are warm!
Great news! You have a new cousin!! Michael John Swartz born at 7:00pm on Wednesday the 24th.
Two days before Grandpapa's birthday...he is the 20th great grandchild!
Love, Mom
Wow what the "heli" is Heli-ski?
YOu guys have hit the lottery of excellent adventures!
We will miss you both at the reunion. Now we have to do it again so you can attend... that is after you accumulate more vacation time !!!
Be safe... much love,
Cousin Steph
I see some "sweet-ta!" lines up in those mountains Michael!! Freakin' out!! Awesome posts and pics on your trip, we're loving following your adventures. Alasia wants a baby sheep. I'm betting you two are back from your hut-t-hut trek; how'd you like flying in a heli-bird?!! Pretty sweet eh! I've been following the marine and mountain forecasts in the areas you've been traveling, sounds like it's been going off! Let me know if you want me to send you your boards and gear!
We received the postcards, very nice thank you! We agree, we wouldn't want to leave either, in fact we'll sell everything and move there with you guys! I could be a sheep herder, really, just a really slow one...and Alasia would love all that wool to knit!
Keep trekking, eat lots of food, do everything, see/try it all, eat lots, sleep only when neccessary, soak it all in, point it down the biggest thing you can find and if you go to the "Shire" say hello to all the hobbits for us!
Love, Bobby & Alasia
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