Mount Ruapehu

Mount Ruapehu
Originally uploaded by douglasnz.

So at long last, after all the talk about 'when we're in New Zealand we'll be able to ski at the weekends' it finally happens.

If you've watched The Return of the King, you may recognise this mountain. Ok, it's a bit hard at the moment given the lack of fire and lava, exhausted hobbits and ring obsessed Smeagols - but this is in fact MOUNT DOOM.

Fortunately our day was wonderfully sunny, with some good snow and no interuptions from Orcs or the evil Lord Sauron.

It is quite early on in the season here, so not all the slopes are open until there has been a bit more snow. But it was great, an early start to leave the house at 05.30 to get to the slopes for 09.00.