K2 SUPER CLUESDAY! Win’em, ski’em – Conquer the Earth.

| September 23, 2008

Our story begins after you have been magically transported to the top of the peak identified (hopefully) in Clue #4

It’s late afternoon and you have no headlamp, compass or topo map, but, pffft – who needs ‘em?  Use the force Luke and just start skiing.

Stepping into your bindings, you cruise along a ridgeline with gobsmacking exposure on all sides.  Glancing to the left and right, you come to what looks like a skiable line and turn off.

Gut-wrenching steep, exposed turns lead down a face.  The sun is setting and there is mot much time.  Sticking to the fall-line, you weave around seracs, icefalls and huck a few fifty-footers with blue ice landings all bathed in brilliant alpenglow.  Where’s the photographer when you need him?

Then, shazaam! Stokage!  You have made it through the crux of a suspected first descent!  Relieved, you make big sweeping turns across a bit of a plateau, and then come to a glacier.

At the glacier, you take a skier’s left.

By now, it is pitch black and you are dodging crevasses by Braille for hours while staying on the glacier.  This is misery…. when will it end?

Exhausted, you eventually see the outlines of some structures in the moonlight.  Ahhhh, praise Allah…

Staggering up to the structures, you  meet a climber geared up for an early alpine start and ask “Where am I?”

Instead of smiling and giving you a Vegamite sandwich like those infernal, AC/DC loving Aussies do, he fixes you with a steely gaze and reveals a BRAND NEW PAIR OF K2 TELE/AT SKIS.

Oh My God…!!  Your knees tremble in eager anticipation of shredding Planet Earth. Tears of joy spring from your eyes.

Within one meter, where are you?

Winning format:
Continent:  (your answer here)
Country: (your answer here)
Mountain Range: (your answer here)
Specific Peak: (your answer here)
Exact location: (your answer here… now!)

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Tags:

Category: Chuting Spree Contest

About the Author ()

Andrew McLean lives in Park City, Utah and is a gear designer, writer, photographer, ski mountaineer, climber, Mountain Unicycle rider and father of two very loud little girls.

Comments (183)

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  1. Nord says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Centennial Hut

  2. Duncan says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Gardiner Hut

  3. Charlie says:

    1. Australasia/Oceania
    2. New Zealand
    3. Southern Alps
    4. Aoraki/Mt. Cook
    5. Front Door of the Plateau Hut (now to really dig out a map!)

  4. climbhoser says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceanea
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mt. Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Sefton Bivy

  5. Nord says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: De la Beche Hut

  6. joshg says:

    Update…i read more carefully and changed my last location.
    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia-New Guinea continent (Oceania)
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mount Cook (Aoraki)
    Clue #5 – Exact location: De la Beche Hut

  7. Nord says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Mueller Hut

  8. SWMT says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceanea
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mt. Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Mullers Hut

  9. Mike says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mount Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Barron Saddle Hut

  10. Continent – Carstenz Pyramid, elev 16,023 feet or 4884 m, is the highest point in Australia/Oceania
    Country – The home country of beekeeper Sir Edmund Hillary is New Zealand
    Mountain Range – The mountain range named by Captain Cook is the Southern Alps
    Peak – The Caroline Face is on Aoraki/Mount Cook
    Specific location – Mueller Hut

  11. burrows says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Hooker Hut

  12. Nord says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Sefton Bivvy

  13. Matt says:

    1. Continent = Australasia, or Oceania
    2. Country = New Zealand
    3. Mountain Range = Southern Alps
    4. Peak = Aoraki – Cook
    5. Specific location = Base Camp, Tasman Glacier, 2400 meters

  14. Ken G says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceania/Australasia
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Front door of Unwin Hut

  15. Nord says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Barron Saddle Hut

  16. 1. Australia/Oceania continent
    2. South Island, New Zealand
    3. Southern Alps
    4. Aoraki/Mt. Cook Caroline Face
    5. pioneer Hut

  17. joshG says:

    Update…i read more carefully and changed my last location.
    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia-New Guinea continent (Oceania)
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mount Cook (Aoraki)
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Mount Cook Village

  18. randosteve says:

    Hi
    Here is my answer for the K2 skis comp
    Clue #1 – Continent: Australasia/Oceana (Australia/NZ)
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Andrew McLean’s Basecamp???

  19. telexis says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mount Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Murchison Hut

  20. SWMT says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Onslow Hut

  21. Ashley says:

    Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Country: New Zealand
    Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Peak: Aokori / Mount Cook
    Specific location: door of the Hooker Hut

  22. Charlie says:

    1. Australasia/Oceania
    2. New Zealand
    3. Southern Alps
    4. Aoraki/Mt. Cook
    5. Ball Shelter – at the picnic tables (thanks Amar!)

  23. Nord says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Hooker Hut

  24. Mitchell Skis says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: (Australia/Oceania)
    Clue #2 – Country: (New Zealand)
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: (The Southern Alps)
    Clue #4 – Peak: (Mt Cook)
    Clue #5 – Exact location: (Kelman hut)

    I posted in the other place

  25. Whether I’m right or wrong, one thing is certain. I am too slow.

  26. Andrew says:

    These skis are getting rust on their edges, although there was one very close guess. It has to be within one meter.

  27. Nord says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Murchison Hut

  28. Ryan Lauck says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mount Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Baron Saddle Hut

  29. Alastair says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Zelandia
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mount Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: The Hermitage

  30. SWMT says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location:Liebig Hut

  31. Matt says:

    1. Continent = Australasia, or Oceania
    2. Country = New Zealand
    3. Mountain Range = Southern Alps
    4. Peak = Aoraki – Cook
    5. Specific location = Ball Shelter 1030 meters

  32. Drinky Crow says:

    Australiea
    New Zealand
    Southern Alps
    Mt. Cook
    Unwin Hut

  33. FiveClueAvenger says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australasia (Australia/NZ/Oceania)
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mt Cook (Aoraki)
    Clue #5 – Exact Location: Pioneer Hut

  34. shZo says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceania/Australasia
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mount Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Mt Cook YHA Hostel

  35. Fenris says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceania
    
Clue #2 – Country: New Zealad
    
Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps

    Clue #4 – Peak: Mount Cook / Aoraki

    Clue #5 – Exact location: The shitter of the Tasman Saddle Hut

  36. Stewart says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Wyn Irwyn Hut

  37. randosteve says:

    Hi
    Here is my answer for the K2 skis comp
    Clue #1 – Continent: Australasia/Oceana (Australia/NZ)
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Copeland Shelter

  38. Continent – Carstenz Pyramid, elev 16,023 feet or 4884 m, is the highest point in Australia/Oceania
    Country – The home country of beekeeper Sir Edmund Hillary is New Zealand
    Mountain Range – The mountain range named by Captain Cook is the Southern Alps
    Peak – The Caroline Face is on Aoraki/Mount Cook
    Specific location – Gardiner Hut

  39. EEd S. Alps says:

    Ed S. AlpsOceania
    New Zealand
    Southern Alps
    Mt Cook/ Aoraki
    Tasman Hut – outhouse crevasse (“you fall you die” outhouse)

  40. jamesp says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceania/Australasia
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Empress Hut outhouse?

  41. FiveClueAvenger says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australasia (Australia/NZ/Oceania)
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mt Cook (Aoraki)
    Clue #5 – Exact Location: front door of Haast Hut

  42. SWMT says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location:De La Beche Hut

  43. burrows says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Copland Shelter

  44. Mitchell Skis says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: (Australia/Oceania)
    Clue #2 – Country: (New Zealand)
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: (The Southern Alps)
    Clue #4 – Peak: (Mt Cook)
    Clue #5 – Exact location: (Hooker hut shitter)

  45. Alastair says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Zelandia
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mount Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: King Memorial

  46. Nord says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Deck of Tasman Saddle Hut

  47. Charlie says:

    1. Australasia/Oceania
    2. New Zealand
    3. Southern Alps
    4. Aoraki/Mt. Cook
    5. Ball Shelter- at the door?

  48. Bert Granberg says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australasia
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Mount Cook
    Clue #5 – I am at my desk, not doing what I am supposed to be doing

  49. Marcin says:

    Clue #1 – Continent: Australia/Oceania (Australia/NZ)
    Clue #2 – Country: New Zealand
    Clue #3 – Mountain Range: Southern Alps
    Clue #4 – Peak: Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Clue #5 – Exact location: Aoraki/Mount Cook visitor centre

    Marcin