I spent a week preparing for the trip, coordinating countless moving parts and planning for all scenarios. Before the main adventure, Derek, the station manager, and I set out on a reconnaissance trip to explore the possibilities of the terrain.

No slouch on his days off, Derek had done an outstanding job prior preparing the horses and equipment for the journey. With hardly any sleep, we launched at 4 am. The first ride atop the horses was a simultaneously scary and breathtaking experience as we weaved through picturesque valleys and sparkling lakes. We descended down a braided river, venturing deeper into the untamed wilderness. We would leave our equine companions at the mounds of misery.

With the dawn of a new day, we ventured forth, exploring the uncharted territory that lay before us. The allure of pristine snow beckoned, and we aimed to climb Mt Turnbull, despite the scarcity of ideal conditions. Accepting that we had to skip the steep wind stripped lines that towered above camp, we skied a handful of other unique lines, and our spirits soared.

Days melded together into a whirlwind of climbing, skiing, and exhaustion. From the first rays of sunrise until the vivid hues of sunset, we relentlessly climbed and skied to our hearts content. Each day brought new challenges and triumphs. The nights were brutally cold, crystals formed around our snuggled sleeping bags. The morning routine involved three people wrestling under torchlight to get into each ski boot, flex pattern cranked to 200.

New Zealand has notoriously unpredictable weather - being an island in between the Pacific and Southern Oceans. This makes every decision critical.

Skiing big mountain lines in this rugged terrain was a daunting task. Conditions could change in the blink of an eye. Our film crew, with its complex logistics, couldn't afford to take chances. So, we took to the skies. The pilot, Tim, explained the intricacies of New Zealand's weather patterns, which could change rapidly, affecting not only our flight plans but also our skiing objectives.

As the short New Zealand winter gave way to spring, we found ourselves facing another twist in plans. The big mountain lines were still out of reach due to the lack of winter conditions. So we embraced the opportunity for a snow camping trip in the pristine Lake Wānaka backcountry.

Rather than dwelling on what we couldn't do, we focused on what we could. We built a couple big jumps and spent our days sessioning them, launching into the clear sky as the colors changed from blue to purple. These shared sessions ended up being some of the most memorable of the project. 

The challenges kept coming, though. Our booked helicopter broke down. It was a reminder that in the world of adventure, things rarely go as expected. Finding another helicopter option, we drove through the night to lift at first light. Upon arriving we dug some pits and found a bad layer on the snow, we had to abandon our main zone and look elsewhere. After a change in slope, aspect, elevation and a couple of runs with no results, we took false confidence in the snowpack and that’s when a slide happened, marking the end of a scary morning and the project as a whole.

Terra Incognita had become more than just a film project; it was a journey of resilience and determination. We had experienced the full spectrum of emotions, from the thrill of adventure to the camaraderie and strength within our crew.
 

Photographer: Matt Cherubino

Filmed by Finlay Woods

Featuring: Craig Murray, Derek Deans, Fiona Murray, Kenji Boekholt, Ben Richards, Carlos Garcia Knight, Tom Fisher, Mitchy Davern