Trip Report: Mount Olympus, NZ

Understatement of the trip: the club members of Mount Olympus have a sense of humor:

Trip Report Olympus, Blister Gear Review,

Trip Report Olympus, Blister Gear review.

Trip Report Olympus, Blister gear Review.

We also happened to be at Mount Olympus on a very special day:

Trip Report Olympus, Blister Gear Review.

And this lovely wedding cake was made in the Mt. O club house kitchen.

Trip Report Olympus, Blister gear Review.

(None of us had ever before seen what is clearly the Wizard of Oz’s Tin Man on skis, atop a wedding cake. Sweet as, Mt. O.)

And just to remind you that it isn’t all about funny signs and wedding cakes, don’t forget this:

Trip Report Olympus, Blister Gear Review,

Mount Olympus is known for its Hike-To terrain, and we took advantage.

Olympus Trip Report, Blister Gear Review.

And when you’re ready to call it a day or the conditions turn sour, you head into the club house and go get rowdy with some of the funniest people you will ever meet, and one supremely friendly (but evil) bartender named Elliot Clark.

Trip Report Olympus, Blister Gear Review.

Even better, before Elliot transforms into the supremely friendly/evil bartender, he works ski patrol at Mt O, and we had the privilege to make some turns with him.

Trip Report Olympus, Blister Gear Review.

But when he’s done patrolling, evil Elliot emerges, where he may try to convince you that you need to try a “Trash Can.”

Trip Report Olympus, Blister gear Review.

And then, that you really need to try a “Grenade.”

Trip Report Olympus,  Blister Gear Review.
Why is everybody behind the bar? No idea.

And then suddenly, photos like this exist:

Trip Report Olympus, Blister Gear Review.

After a few Grenades (or just one, as that’s usually plenty), you can hit up the on-mountain, ski-in, ski-out hot tub. Cocktailing at the hot tub is highly encouraged, and the view is spectacular.

Olympus Trip Report, Blister Gear Review.

In sum, we said in our first trip report that if skiing or riding to you is actually about the skiing and riding, you need to visit the club fields of Canterbury.

Mount Olympus serves as a reminder that “skiing” isn’t only about sliding around on snow, but about having a great time in the mountains with friends—the ones you’ve known forever, and the new ones who are trying to kill you with Grenades.

Trip Report Olympus, Blister Gear Review.
The club house at Mount Olympus

9 comments on “Trip Report: Mount Olympus, NZ”

  1. Hey Jonathan. Again, great pictures and thank’s for also giving some insight on the lifestyle in NZ. So the Austrian “Wunderdrink” continues its success story on the other side of the continent…How much is a can of red bull in USD down there? I rate the expensiveness of ski resorts by their “red bull index”….

  2. Jonathan…been logging in to check our the trip photo’s and see whats on your feet anticipating the latest bibby review. I met you late last season on the lift at Alta when you struck up conversation by commenting on my bibby’s. You were testing that day and probably missing your favorite ski. My favorite as well. I went to backcountry last week to size up the bibbys and am a little bummed with the less aggressive camber and curious what your thoughts are old verses new. I know the full on review will be in the works but wondering on the two minute down low version, ie. still awesome but about what we’d expect…a little more slippery at the price of edge bite…or about the same, still awesome or whatever…. Regardless I’m sure I will be getting another pair because like you I am a bibby addict. Just can’t imagine another ski or quite honestly improving on the old. With the crowds and weather being what they are even being an Alta local…I love the bite of the camber and the beef of the fatty. The width, shape, length, rocker and all that jazz look good on the new ones but curious on the detuned camber and your take on old vs new. Don’t spend more than a few minutes responding as i know your review will be the full-on commentary with your/our favorite ski and probably one of the most read of the season. Just curious on the quick down-low,…awesome, same, about what we expected….

    Enjoy the rest of your trip and safe trip home. I will keep an eye open for you again this season at Alta. Rest assure i will be wearing the bibby’s….again!

    Take care
    Craig

      • Yeah….exited to hear your thoughts. We had a local shop carrying Moments last year with a great demo line but they closed their doors…permanently. We are now down to demo days late in the season or leap of faith via Backcountry.com here in the Alta/SLC vicinity. I will be exited to hear your take on how much bite has been compromised by the decrease in camber. I would guess everything else is great. Knowing myself I will probably end up with both and call last years Bibby my skinny and this years my fattie!! Looking forward to your review and will keep an eye out for you this winter at Alta.

        Take care,
        Craig

        PS – Hoping you demo’d the new Governor as well. Sure would love to test drive that one. Beautiful ski.

  3. NZ looks like a hoot! My wife and I are trying to plan a delayed honeymoon/adventure for next year (directly after our wedding last summer, we packed up our lives and moved to Utah, which was an adventure in itself, we are now based out of Park City). How much time would be enough to see some sights in New Zealand (including, but not limited to, Hobbit Holes) as well as take a crack at some of the ski areas? Which ones would you recommend?

    Cheers!

    Tim

    • Hey, Tim – we’ll be putting out some more specific info re: NZ over the next several weeks. I think your question is impossible to answer without knowing roughly how many days on snow you’d want to get: 3? 8? 15? Personally, if you’re traveling from North America, 4-5 days on snow is the bare minimum I’d consider, and even then I would still recommend that you to lie to your boss or spouse or parole officer so that you could stay for at least 6-8 days on snow. And then I would do everything else in your power to figure out how to get at least 8-10 days on snow, plus 3-4 additional days to “see some sights.” So that’s my answer, except that my real answer is that everyone should come for at least 15-21 days. So that’s a terrible answer I realize, but it’s not exactly a wrong answer!

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