Panoramic Photos:

Above. Temple Basin. This is the lodge and the only sign of civilization.

Lylleton, NZ

Times are Good

fri night I just took it easy and chilled out at my place. Sat. morning my friend from lincon, scotty, picked me and geoff up to go skiing for the weekend. I had made us reservations at temple basin for the weekend. Temple basin is a club field rather then a commercial field. We actually got on the road on time at about 7am. It was a 2 hour drive to the beginning of Arthur’s pass. Once there we put out stuff on the good lift and headed up the mountain. The good lift is a crate type thing that brings your gear up. You have to hike about 50 min up hill to the lodge. Once at the lodge we geared up, rented a nutcrackers for the lifts and got going. The only type of lifts temple basin has is rope tows. However these rope tows are so long there’s a gear every 20 meters or so to keep the rope in line. So to not get your fingeys chopped off you put this device thing on the rope and hold on to that. Its called a nutcracker because it looks like a nut cracker and kind of just squeezes the rope. Anyways, we took one run, then went on a little hike over to the other tow rope. There was tons of fresh snow over there. It was a sat. and still there was probably a totally of 100 people on the mountain. Anyways we skied that section for a bit and were going to hike up to the top of the ridge to do some sweet skiing in the back basin. Well I had a little trouble with the lift and while the other guys waited for me to start the hike, the patrol closed down the back basin because it was getting so warm and of avalanche danger. So we just continued to ski the basin we were in and had a great time. We did do some hiking to get some fresh turns. While we hiked we saw a group of skiers and riders hiking a crazy line. Check the pics and look carefully to see the guys scaling some crazy rocks with no ropes. Anyways the rest of the day was mint. And we saw a snowboarder rip a line that was just crazy. He took maybe 2 turns and dropped about 200 meters, it was crazy. That night we ate like kings at the lodge. The lodge feeds you for a small fee if your staying there. The only things is that you have to help do some chores which we did. At lunch time we had helped the cook prep dinner. It’s a really cool atmosphere.

The next day no one heads out till about 10 or so. We were up for breakfast by 8 but its best to wait around for the snow to soften up from the sun. Well anyways long story short we spent from about 10 till 2 on one run. We had to hike for at least 2 hours to get to the top of the ridge. From there we skied this awesome shoot into a big open powder field. The snow was heavy powder but it was still awesome. It was defiantly the best run of my life. It was fate to because I took that run at the same time I was missing Katrina’s big Luau. I think it was a fair trade. If I hadn't been skiing i would have been way more bummed to miss it. I still am but alreast I was doing some shredding. Anyways check out all the pics and they still don’t do it justice. We where so tired after that run we didn’t think we could take another. We ended up taking one more run and it was super worth it through a really cool trench type thing.

I signed up today to go back to temple basin this weekend with the snow sports club. They are having an 80s party so it should be a really good time. unfortunately I don’t have my 80 gear because mom wouldn’t let me bring it. Guess ill just have to but more here. I am also going to the pool with the kayak club on Thursday to start to learn how to roll. Should be a pretty good time.

Times are Good.

Get Involved

This week has gone pretty well. It started off just okay and classes where getting to me a bit. On tues. was the big club fair day. There are tons of clubs at this school. I joined the snow sports club and the white water kayak club. It cost me 25 bucks to join snow sports but only 10 to join kayak. I wont do any kayak for a while. But they will have some stuff in a pool soon to teach you how to roll and what not. Snow Sports had a pub crawl this Thursday night. I went on it. It was heaps of fun. Only like 10 Americans too which was def sweet. Everyone was super friendly. The pub crawl started at some guys house for a BBQ and then went to 4 different pubs. Then we got dropped of at the foundry which is the pub on campus. It was super sweet.

Joining the clubs definitely put me a in a better mood. I was excited to finally be involved in more. I went to a beach on wed. night. It was really sweet. Tons of rocks to climb around on and what not. Ill put pics up in a bit. Wed night was also the tramping club meeting. I decided to go to that cause all my friends where. I ended up join that club too. I wasnt going to but they will have seminars on outdoor safety that I will want to go to. The tramping club is like 90% Americans, its kind or ridiculous.

My math class was really getting me down. I was super lost. I was going to all the classes but I wasn't getting anything. On Thurs. we just did practice problems in class. I realized I did already know all of it, they just do it differently. It gave me some confidence which is good. Thursday night was the pub crawl like I talked about earlier.

Today is fri. I'm getting plans set for skiing this weekend. The mountains got completely dumped on. 30 cm at the base. Im going to go to one of the club fields this weekend. Stay right there on sat. night. I'm super pumped!

Im in the process of getting a pass. I can get 10 lift tickets for like 380 which is a really sweet deal. I wanted to get it by this weekend but I don't think Ill be able to. Everyone is out skiing prob cause no one returns my calls. Also, next week ill go back to temple basin for more skiing with the club. They're not going this weekend cause everyone is going to the ENSOC ball. Its sappose to be a really good time but I got to go get after the fresh pow pow. When Ill go with the club next weekend it will be even cheaper to stay in the lodge. As long as I get this pass and I dont want food. It will only be like 35 bucks a weekend. Not to bad.

Alright Im going to get going. Im gonna go pick up a head tourch for night skiing at the place. I cant wait to shred!! Check for pics when on Sun. night

T

stay busy

The end of the week went pretty well. Classes aren't to bad. I'm pretty lost in math but hopefully after a tutorial I will have it. I haven't done any homework or bought any book yet. I will handle all that tomorrow since I only have one class. I need to find some eng. people to work on stuff with.

Thursday night we went to the bar on campus. They trucked some snow in and held a rail jam right there. It was quite fun to watch.
Fri. I only had one class in the morning. I went hiking with some folks on fri. afternoon. It was a really nice day. We were in the port hills but eventually got above the clouds so we could see the mountains in the distance poking through. Right when we got back it was getting to dark to see and the bus pulled up. Everything went surprisingly well. Fri. night a friend had some people over. I ended up talking to his kiwi roommates about mnt biking a lot of the night.

Sat. I slept in pretty nicely. I meant to go hiking or something but didn't get around to it. Sat. night we went into the biggest sports bar in Christchurch to watch the all black beat the ausis. It was a good time. As soon as the game was over the bar emptied out in a hurry. We went to a Irish pub after that where there was an Irish band covering awesome songs from jonny cash and the backstreet boys. It was really entertaining.

Sun morning we got up early and went skiing at mnt hutt. My roommate joe drove us along with my another roommate of mine and one other person. Mnt wasn't very crowed which was good. The conditions weren't the best though, not much fresh snow so kind of hard packed icy stuff. I took a pretty good digger of a cliff drop. Didn't expect to land in soft powder, lost my skis and slid a good way down the hard snow. I was fine but i did slip down the slope pretty far. It was still a really good day. I'm getting comfortable on the skis again, ventured into the park a bit for the first time. I didn't take any pics today because it was just a mnt hutt again. I want to get into a different place next weekend for sure.

I need to take care of some school work this week:( hopefully the week goes well.

T

Classes?

After 2 days of school I have been to all my classes once. My Maori classes seems pretty easy. The teacher is young and cool and what not. I only need to get a 50 to get credit so that should be easy. My math class today should go pretty well. As far as I can tell I have already learned what will be the first half of the semester. Still they explain it a lot differently here and its harder so it will prob be a good transition for me. But hopefully it will all be review! Also my materials class seems to have a lot of stuff I already know in it. Well at least I was supposed to have already learned it. Should be a good review for me, plus there plenty of new concepts and what not. The one class I though was history is really a philosophy class. Its pretty interesting though. Just have to listen and talk, should be okay.

I think I am the only American in most of my classes. For the first time in my college career I didn't want to discuss in class cause I talk different. Its not so much the accent but the voacab thats really different. I will try to talk more next time. Especially in that philosophy class.

I think I have to by text books too:( Thats gonna suck! And my one class is gonna have weekly homework. Also, I feel like I could use some of my old notebooks from home, but Ill manage without them. I need to find a ride to go skiing this weekend!

Timmy

pics here

http://picasaweb.google.com/TimmyMorrissey

Go to the mountains and get their good times.

Yesterday was registration here for the uni. It was a 3 hour process that had me running laps around a huge campus I knew nothing about. Apparently all my classes had been approved on may 5th, just no one pressed the button in the computer. And even though registry agreed I was approved, they wouldn't press the button. Luckily someone over in the office for the eng. college knows whats going on. Its strange, any paper work that you need done is only done when your there, in front of you, the office people never sit down and work on paper work on their own. Thus, amazing cues (lines). Still, I am officially a student which is good. I saw the bill from the school which goes to Australearn. Its only like 10K NZD, which just shows how much bank australearn is making of me. I wish Alfred would have let me go without australearn.

Last night was chill. Pretty much every American on campus wanted to rage but I took it kinda easy. Why did I take it easy? I had to get up early to go shredding. I found a ride to a mountain, Porters Height. The guy was willing to pick me up at my place and give me a ride. I was so pumped. He picked me up this morning no problem. 3 other random people rode with us too. It was nice to be around some kiwis for once. Super friendly folks. The whole drive to the mountains is across the canterbury plains which mean the mnts are just staring you in the face the entire drive. I couldn't help but stare back. I would have taken pics leading up the them but I didn't want to seem stupid taking a bunch of pics. Any ways when I got to the mnt I thought it looked nice and steep, but no long runs. Well after taking 3 t bars to the summit I discover what was up. It was sweet as. I took one quick run on a groomer before I jumped into the pow pow. One of the girls that got a ride with us skied with me. She is form UK and study abroad at lincon, then she moved here. It was nice to have someone to ski with. With stuck together all day, she showed me around the mnt a bit. Anyways, after jumping through a bunch of pow pow right of the trail it was hike and huck time. About a 25 min hike got you to the tallest spot in the area. It was a sick traverse across the mnts after the summit t bar. A run from there took like 30 min to the base. Anyways enough about skiing, it was probably the best day of my life and ill post pics in a sec.

On the ride home we were supposed to stop for pies and pints. There was some confusion it didn't happen, big bummer. The boys from australearn are taking a bus to go skiing tomorrow, im pretty tired and the bus is a bit pricey but Im going anyways. Off the mnt hutt tomorrow, im pumped!!

always remember.
Go to the mountains and get there good times

ohh and the parents ski with their toddlers in the backpack things, its wicked.

Timmy

1st try

Hi everyone. Ill try to update regualrly but will probably fail misribly. Its no fun to sit in front of a computer when I could be outside instead. Flight down was a bit stressfull. Lost luagge missed flight and all that good stuff. I sat next to a girl in my program and we chatted a bit She doesn't go to my uni so ill prob never see her again. Got some pretty quality sleep on the flgiht down. Had 3 days on the north island in Rototua. Def. pretty fun. Australearn kept us busy. Went Zorbing, went cave divving, learned a bunch about Maori. Our bus drive Crutchy and Jue or camp guide dude were both really sweet. It was all really fun. Got to bond with a bunch of Americans, meet some pretty sweet people. Its not really great have american friends in NZ, but we are all quite interseting people from crazy different placese, so its like a warm up round for meeting kiwis. Most of the kiwi students will hopefully come around this weekend. Classes start on mon. :( Orernation was yesterday, 4 hours of sitting in a room getting talked to about stuff I already knew, pretty rough, but they feed us after. Today in a bit I need to go register for classes, that should be a pretty big battle, hopefully everything will go smoothly. After that I don't have anything to do till classes on mon. Hopefully get some skiing in on fri and sat too. Ill try to put more up later.