Not that we’re Alpine experts, but we do go to Aspen every year and have experienced our share of chairlifts and ski runs. But never, ever, have we seen a chairlift and a ski run quite like this one. Granted, it’s a bit early in the season, so there’s no snow. Yet. ON THE VOLCANO.
Yes, those zany Kiwis ski ON THE SIDE OF A VOLCANO! Look closely at the photo … the ‘rubble’ seen everywhere in the photo is LAVA ROCK! We tried and tried to imagine how this boulder strewn landscape gets groomed into double black diamonds, but we were assured that it does and that it’s quite the popular North Island ski destination.
And, just like Aspen, Vail, Park City, et al, those that can keep a home close to their favorite runs. Picture, if you will, the lovely mountain lodges nestled in pine trees that dot the slopes of American ski resorts. Then, contrast that image with this one:
These are a hardy people. We couldn’t even find the roads that lead up to these ‘chalets’. One obvious advantage of a mountain home here: no landscape maintenance. A disadvantage: possible annihilation by volcano.
Enjoy these other photos of the wonderfully named Whakapapa Ski Area
I applaud your sense of adventure!
Ouch, you wouldn’t want to fall down on a warmer day with lava rock peeking through the snow…
The place looks like an abandoned mess of jumbled rocks with houses randomly askew instead of a ski resort. I can’t believe what I am seeing!