The wait is over !
YES MY HOMIES IT’S THE HUGELY ANTICIPATED RETURN OF SUPER CODGER BLOGGER :
THE POWDER GOD
Today saw PG renew his love-hate relationship with all things Turoa. It was in fact a bit like him seeing an ex-girlfriend in the supermarket after a few score years whom both gravity and time have not been particularly kind to…….. Yes it was icy and hard underfoot, yes all the old chokepoints are still all there and yes indeedy RAL took an age to get the Movey spinning yesterday. But with a no bullshit snow depth as advertised at 1.15m at the top of the giant and the weather gods playing their part with clear skies and light winds for the past 3 days, PG was deep deep deep in his happy place.
The up-hilling chair ride was a glorious reminder that this magnificent Maunga is really in charge of the whole damn shooting box and us minions are just along for the ride. Sitting on the chair looking up at the snow caked volcano is something very special. PG shits you not.
Of course even with the best turd polishing in town, the past 3 days on the bottom 2 chairs with every out of control pizza turning weiner and snowroach corralled in a one groomer blade wide track certainly does ‘not a season make’, but after the past 3 years of COVID disruption, rain events and insolvency it’s simply awesome to just be here amongst it.
The big early July storm of last weekend has nicely covered most of those pesky heat soaking scoria rocks with a metre or two of sun reflecting ice and snow. This solid base together with old mate El Nino now in full swing means the SW aspect of Turoa should catch plenty of consistent top ups - starting with this weekend according to the weather boffins. Boom.
Turoa has its mojo back folks and the vibe on the hill is fizzing. Be here or be square.
No AJ is not signalling her intentions of heading back to the car and knitting, she’s actually pointing to the summit of Mt Taranaki way way in the distance.
This was a new sight for PG. A whirly bird with a demolition ball slung to its belly being used to swing against the 2ft thick rime iced towers. Fast, effective and a pilot with larger than average kahunas…..
The quintessential Turoa curse. An out of control geek gapping snow-plower complete with an unzipped jacket, pants not pulled down over his boots, outstretched arms in the ‘you ain’t passing ME’ position and completely incapable of turning when required. But this was PG some forty years ago probably in this same section of Clarries track - so he’ll just leave it there……..
Note to all you snowroaches out there. When PG eventually takes over the world you’ll all need etiquette permits to get through the turnstiles and your portable boom boxes will be shoved where the sun don’t shine because the rest of us prefer the majestic alpine serenity to your shit music……. just saying……