alpenski

Nice photos. Looks like the Tombstone area. I remember that rock being harsh on the hands. If you get to the north island, you should climb at Whanganui Bay. It's hard to find, but Bryce at the rock climbing shop in Wharepapa can give you directions/guide books. FYI the climbs around Wharepapa are alot like Smith--lots of nubbins.

My wife and I got first tracks on the Crooked on saturday. Looked like a solo skier put in the skin track on friday, then skied straight down the phantom. Sometime saturday before us 3 people skied the slot and exited via the ridge in the Snow Lake direction. The upper part of the Crooked had some wind effect which made the snow seem less deep, but was still nice. I was surprised how moderate the upper 2/3rds of the Crooked is. The last section which connects with the Slot was steeper, deeper, and sweet. We skinned and boot-packed out the normal exit, then skied off towards Source Lake. The lower slopes were classic potatoes.