Comments on: Skiing (and tree climbing) The Baker Backcountry — Also, New Zealand? http://www.wildsnow.com/1712/mount-baker-backcountry-skiing-2/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Peter http://www.wildsnow.com/1712/mount-baker-backcountry-skiing-2/comment-page-1/#comment-14344 Peter Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:53:11 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1712#comment-14344 Hey Louie, another kiwi ski resort you could try is Rainbow, in the north of the south island. It's a low key place, bigger than the Canterbury club fields, and a great place to work. The resort has some great hike-to advanced terrain, and superb touring opportunities along the ridge to the north & south and across the lake. They are hiring now. www.skirainbow.co.nz Hey Louie, another kiwi ski resort you could try is Rainbow, in the north of the south island. It’s a low key place, bigger than the Canterbury club fields, and a great place to work. The resort has some great hike-to advanced terrain, and superb touring opportunities along the ridge to the north & south and across the lake. They are hiring now. http://www.skirainbow.co.nz

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/1712/mount-baker-backcountry-skiing-2/comment-page-1/#comment-14333 Lou Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:18:59 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1712#comment-14333 This is sounding like too much fun, Louie, can I hop on a plane and visit for a few weeks? Talk about some great blogging! This is sounding like too much fun, Louie, can I hop on a plane and visit for a few weeks? Talk about some great blogging!

]]> By: Jules http://www.wildsnow.com/1712/mount-baker-backcountry-skiing-2/comment-page-1/#comment-14329 Jules Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:02:36 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1712#comment-14329 Louie - you also asked about pay. NZ is not widely regarded as being a high-paying country, nor is the populace likely to ever get big into giving tips (beyond "be good to your mother"). That said, everyone has to live and so you will get by, but not be flush. There is a solid reason that travelling kiwis have held the international dirtbagging crown for many decades until it's recent challenge by the Israelis and saffas. Learn enough about rugby to get by - maybe even try and see an international game (NZ vs Oz will be a cracker for partisan competition). The All Blacks are as close to a national religion as NZ gets. Louie – you also asked about pay. NZ is not widely regarded as being a high-paying country, nor is the populace likely to ever get big into giving tips (beyond “be good to your mother”). That said, everyone has to live and so you will get by, but not be flush. There is a solid reason that travelling kiwis have held the international dirtbagging crown for many decades until it’s recent challenge by the Israelis and saffas. Learn enough about rugby to get by – maybe even try and see an international game (NZ vs Oz will be a cracker for partisan competition). The All Blacks are as close to a national religion as NZ gets.

]]> By: Jules http://www.wildsnow.com/1712/mount-baker-backcountry-skiing-2/comment-page-1/#comment-14328 Jules Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:50:14 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1712#comment-14328 Louie - NZ has both commercial resorts and club fields. For a skier's perspective on things NZ, look at: http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Category:New_Zealand http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Club_skiing_in_NZ Go, there can be no downside. Wanaka and Queenstown are a bit big and glitzy from a kiwi perspective - YMMV. Christchurch is a lovely city and close to many club fields. There is a pass which covers a variety of club fields - see http://www.chillout.co.nz/ The author of the club skiing wiki pages wrote the book on NZ backcountry skiing - literally: http://alpineclub.org.nz/default/211 James posts as JamesB on the www.ski.com.au forums (backcountry forum section). He would be a great person to discuss gear, work, etc with, as he skis a fair bit, loves the bc, and lives in Christchurch. Work is available at some club resorts. Now is the time to be looking into this. The NZ Alpince Club - http://alpineclub.org.nz/ - is widely regarded as well. Enjoy, Jules Watson Louie – NZ has both commercial resorts and club fields.

For a skier’s perspective on things NZ, look at:

http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Category:New_Zealand

http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Club_skiing_in_NZ

Go, there can be no downside. Wanaka and Queenstown are a bit big and glitzy from a kiwi perspective – YMMV. Christchurch is a lovely city and close to many club fields.

There is a pass which covers a variety of club fields – see http://www.chillout.co.nz/

The author of the club skiing wiki pages wrote the book on NZ backcountry skiing – literally: http://alpineclub.org.nz/default/211 James posts as JamesB on the http://www.ski.com.au forums (backcountry forum section). He would be a great person to discuss gear, work, etc with, as he skis a fair bit, loves the bc, and lives in Christchurch. Work is available at some club resorts. Now is the time to be looking into this.

The NZ Alpince Club – http://alpineclub.org.nz/ – is widely regarded as well.

Enjoy, Jules Watson

]]> By: jc http://www.wildsnow.com/1712/mount-baker-backcountry-skiing-2/comment-page-1/#comment-14326 jc Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:46:51 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1712#comment-14326 i've worked and lived in new zealand for their winters for several of the past years with eric (who responded earlier). we're both american as well. eric worked in christchurch as a boot fitter. sven hit the nail on the head describing the club fields in canterbury- it's the way skiing should be. our favorite club fields are craigieburn & broken river. laps in middle basin next to craigieburn spits you back out on the road and a 10 min walk has you back at the bottom nutcracker. not very many people ski tour in new zealand. there aren't that many access roads so we used the club fields to access the backcountry. you can tour in a bowl right next to the club fields and not see anyone all day. i wouldn't go to queenstown or wanaka if i were you- expensive and more crowded slopes. we always bought a used "backpacker car" for well under $1000 (usually a subaru or toyota hatchback to hold skis and gear) and resold it right before we were leaving. for a cheap, multi-club field pass, check out http://www.chillout.co.nz/home.asp. working in new zealand was one of the best decisions we ever made. it's true you don't get paid a lot but the experience is priceless. you can get a lot of the taxes back that are taken out of your paycheck if you fill out their income tax forms at the end of the year. i wouldn't plan on buying gear or skis over there, all of that stuff is imported and is pretty expensive. if you need any more advice or info- let us know.... i’ve worked and lived in new zealand for their winters for several of the past years with eric (who responded earlier). we’re both american as well. eric worked in christchurch as a boot fitter. sven hit the nail on the head describing the club fields in canterbury- it’s the way skiing should be. our favorite club fields are craigieburn & broken river. laps in middle basin next to craigieburn spits you back out on the road and a 10 min walk has you back at the bottom nutcracker. not very many people ski tour in new zealand. there aren’t that many access roads so we used the club fields to access the backcountry. you can tour in a bowl right next to the club fields and not see anyone all day. i wouldn’t go to queenstown or wanaka if i were you- expensive and more crowded slopes. we always bought a used “backpacker car” for well under $1000 (usually a subaru or toyota hatchback to hold skis and gear) and resold it right before we were leaving. for a cheap, multi-club field pass, check out http://www.chillout.co.nz/home.asp. working in new zealand was one of the best decisions we ever made. it’s true you don’t get paid a lot but the experience is priceless. you can get a lot of the taxes back that are taken out of your paycheck if you fill out their income tax forms at the end of the year. i wouldn’t plan on buying gear or skis over there, all of that stuff is imported and is pretty expensive. if you need any more advice or info- let us know….

]]>