In 2017 I found myself back in New Zealand and ready to go on some new adventures. I had gone down on a trip with my wife and after a month of tourist based activities it was time to get back out in the backcountry. My friend Adam came up with a plan to do a heli accessed mission to Hope Lake in the Otago Backcountry. Once dropped off we would set up a tent and ride some lines in the area.
The plan was simple we would use a helicopter for the approach to save hours but it was a one way trip. Soon the heli was packed with gear and we were lifting off above the Remarkables area ski resort. It would give us a unique vantage point to check out snow conditions and what aspects had the best coverage.
A Helicopter Approach
After a 15 minute flight we were deep in the range and looking down on Hope Lake in the Remarkables backcountry. It was hard to tell but it seemed that the snow pack was healthy as we landed.
Quickly our gear was taken out of the heli and as it lifted off things went silent fast. We joked to each other about being in the middle of nowhere. It was only 30 minutes earlier that we were sipping warm coffee and now here we were alone.
Hoping to ride a line to the south of the range we brought all our gear up to a col, but there was no snowpack. The plan had changed as we rode back to the shores of the lake and dropped off our camping gear.
The day was still early so we went for an area that we could access multiple runs with a single bootpack. Once skinning to the base of the line we put our boards on our backs and climbed to the ridge.
Once on the ridge we were looking out among Lake Wakatipu and the greater Otago area. It was a stunning view that we enjoyed in the warm sun.
Riding around Hope Lake
For our first line we dropped into an open slope where the sun had created corn conditions.
The line rode great once we made it past the shaded section and into the open slopes. We made sure not to ride over the bootpack as we planned to utilize it for the next few runs.
Once on the valley floor we used our bootpack for the couloir on the opposite side of our steps. We were curious if the gullies were holding powder but instead it was corn again with a great view of Hope Lake.
With a solid bootpack in place we went for one final run in the area before riding down to camp. Once there we cooked food and set up the tent. After a few hours of resting we decided to go for one final lap of the day on an easterly aspect above Hope Lake.
As we climbed the slope we were surprised to find powder conditions on the upper slopes. Dropping in we were riding powder turns straight down to the lake.
The conditions were stable so we rode next to each other as we made our way down to Hope lake. Conditions were much better than we had expected as we rode to the setting sun.
That night at the tent we got word the a front was coming in much faster than expected. We were hoping the next day was going to be clear weather but that afternoon a nasty wind storm would come in. We chatted back and forth under a beautiful starry night and decided to make a decision the next morning of what we should do.
Exiting Hope Lake
As we woke up both clouds and winds ripped upon the basin. The storm hadn’t arrived yet but we could tell things were changing for the worse. A call had to be made and it was decided that we should get out. What was going to be a 3 day trip turned into an overnight trip as we walked down the valley.
Since we had used a helicopter I had brought way to make food as it weighed down my backpack. We crawled down South Wye Creek enjoying the open space before the next few hours of epic bushwhacking ensued.
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