From the Top of Mountains

We've just returned from our holiday, and it was so good! I hadn't realized how much I needed to get away from it all. Mmm it was lovely.

We went to the South Island, which for me is the 'real' NZ. The soil isn't so rich, so there aren't as many huge dairy farms everywhere, mainly sheep on the poorer soil. It is much nicer in many ways than where we are. You can even go for a walk without being electrocuted by all the fences we have round here!

We ended up spending a lot of time on the ski hills. I was amazed at how quickly the children picked it up!

I don't really enjoy to ski, and I've done a bit of boarding too, but really don't like it very much, so what could I do? I find it all a bit pointless - ok it is excellent exercise, but what I really enjoy is walking. So I donned my boots, and decided I was going up the mountains as well, but differently.

I felt so free and happy as I trudged up first on mud, then ice, then snow right to the top of a mountain called Treble Cone. I even got to see the children skiing past me at ridiculous speed as I went up. I only got one comment from a skier too! The summit is about 300m vertically above the ski area, so those last 300m were so wonderful, really quiet, and peaceful.

I got to the top, 2088m to a fabulous view of the surrounding mountains. I took this video...

But it isn't working now. Anyway, you can see some of the view. As I sat there, I noticed the clouds changing, and coming closer. I though that wasn't going to be so good, so I started down, and just as well, because only a few steps down the wind blew up. It was extremely cold. I was at about -6 at the top, but this wind just froze my earlobes, and made my eyes water terribly. I wiped my tears away, and they instantly froze to my glove.

So down I went, happy.

I'm so glad to have found something I enjoy so much on the mountains, and being a ski area, it is all fairly safe.

I love the peace and stillness that walking allows. I also quite like being on my own some times. 

Its amazing what you can learn at the top of a mountain.