Scree Hunting in New Zealand - Video

Not everything goes to plan: #TBT to January. It's full swing Summer in New Zealand and Isaac's just arrived at our house in Christchurch and we're already packing the car for an adventure. We've been talking for years about venturing further into the Canterbury backcountry to find new scree lines. We had Google Earth'd, scoured through photos and even gone for the odd scoping mission, but today's the day, when tyres touch dirt!


We rolled out of the garage and headed North for a few hours on the highway before hitting the gravel roads, getting closer to our destination where we started to see landscapes that look very different in real life than 3D renders.

Then the spanner in the works! A single sign: "Annual wild horse muster currently in operation - road closed today", really...? Of all days? Today.... Turn back? or...time for a detour.


For the next hour we drive up and down various roads we had passed on the way in, scoping mountain sides for suitable access and terrain, it's hard work even with an engine and air conditioning. Isaac finally spots the line, a small hike a bike by usual standards, but it's no easy feat given the temperature, he's never one to be phased by hard work, the helmet is on and he's off to the top!


With that location in the bag, the temperature rising and our planned zone off limits, we decided to regroup and head somewhere closer to home.


Although we had ridden scree in the area before and done numerous powder runs in the ski resorts nearby, we hadn't seen or heard about anyone tackling this face... Why not, right? Let's just say boulders look like pebbles from far away.

Moral of the story. Things don't always go to plan, but as long as you survive the journey, there's always next time!

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MENTIONS: @boardnz

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