“On a Mish” #413 Inquisitive Nature (Part Two). Erewhon Park Ski Field. Hakatere Conservation Park. 21.7.2014. Having an inquisitive nature can get you to some rather amazing places. The need to know what’s around the next corner can be a driving force pushing you along the track or up the side of a mountain. From reading maps, I had an idea of the epic mountainous country that lay above the vast Rangitata Valley, and from the moment I stepped into the snowy playground I knew this was a place I was going to fall in love with…
The track up the valley seems flat-ish until you look back and realise you have been steadily climbing the whole time. With nearly 1000 vertical metres between the road / car park and the ski area, your legs know they have done some work by the time you reach where the first rope tow used to be. It is a shame the field was left to die; however, the addition of a new hut will bring more life back to the area. A place to stay was the only thing missing and now that problem has been taken care of. Alpine Huts (alpinehuts.co.nz) oversee Erewhon Hut (private), and bookings are essential.
It was now mid-afternoon, and I knew I didn’t have much time to play in the snow. I dropped my pack and hiked up the bulldozed track to a point where I could go for a slide. There is something so special about making tracks in fresh snow. Most of the time you are moving amongst the many tracks of other fellow snow-sport lovers, but on this mish, I was the only one cutting lines into the side of the Mt Potts Range.
There are not too many places around the world where you can have an entire ski field to yourself! I wished I had more time because the upper area is where the real action is. The upper basins are where the heli-skiers get dropped off and the deep powder is found. Getting up to the top of the field would have to wait for now as I didn’t have the time, or a helicopter!
After a couple of downs then back-up-agains, I reluctantly had to leave so I wouldn’t be caught out in the dark. My wander back down the bulldozed track was assisted by gravity, and to speed things up I really wished this part of the track was covered in snow! As the Rangitata Valley slowly came into view I knew my mission to Erewhon Park was nearly over… for now.
The experience not only satisfied my inquisitive nature, but also left me wanting much more mountain action. On the drive back to the crib in Lake Clearwater Village I was already thinking about returning to the Erewhon Park area for more snowy action. The views were incredible, and the hike wasn’t as taxing as I first thought. For adventurers it is the perfect mix of easy trail and epic views. The additions of the new hut might bring more people into the valley, but it will never decrease the beauty seen above the Rangitata. For a mix of ‘Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit’ movie nostalgia, plus a little mountain magic, I suggest you take a walk up into the old Erewhon Park Ski Area. Don’t forget to pack your skis or snowboard!
