157 reports
So many of my missions have been by myself, which hasn’t dulled the adventure one bit. However, one thing that has enhanced my wilderness exploits has been the addition of…
Read the reportThe start to 2024 was bittersweet. I had dragged myself and my tent to an epic place like I had done many times during 2...
The year 2024 didn’t quite go as I thought it would, but over the last couple of years that is something I have gotten u...
The wilderness provides so much more to humans than just fitness. To sit surrounded by sweet serenity soothes the soul i...
I had grown used to going on a mission with a partner. Having another soul enjoying the adventure was something I didn’t...
I have always wanted to spend my post life in the hills. To have my ashes spread where I was happiest would be the ultim...
I’m sure that many legends have had their ashes spread in the epic places they loved to visit. I know one day I want my...
Having a dog of my own was one of the best feelings of my life. Since I don’t have kids, my dog was my child and I direc...
Merry Christmas to all of the legends out there. It has been a year of ups and downs, with many highs and a couple of ve...
During the last couple of years I have been told by many different people that I might not get back to my days climbing...
Some of my fondest memories as a child were going to stay with Nanny and Fossil (my Grandmother and Grandfather). Every...
During my time as a guide I have learnt that age is just a number. Memories of guiding the more senior members of the po...
Over the last decade plus I have reinforced three loves in my life: Mountains, Skateboarding and telling people how epic...
When it is all said and done I have had a love / hate relationship with my time in Christchurch. On one hand it is a pla...
The taste of alpine life will satisfy and leave you craving more. It was probably after my first hike to the top of Coni...
The want to get up high in the mountains will become a need after spending enough time up high. Simply looking up at the...
Apart from Te Pataka o Rakaihautū / Banks Peninsula and the Port Hills Christchurch and its surroundings are mostly flat...
Whatever the plan was I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the one I was following. Not only have my long days in the mountains bee...
Looking back at all of the adventures I have been on with my cousin, it is amazing we have never been stuck in a very re...
As a guide the goal is to first show how much you love a place, and second to attempt to get others just as fascinated....
Once a guide, always a guide. It is hard to shake off your guiding ways after you leave the industry, especially if you...
I was once camping in the magnificent Rees Valley in Otago when a helicopter first flew over my little campsite and then...
A couple of times when exploring with my cousin in his truck we have asked for permission when we don’t really need to....
My rocky road to recovery has been made a lot easier with the addition of an excellent sidekick (or am I the sidekick?)....
People who love the outdoors usually have at least a couple of times when they have to pinch themselves to reassure them...
When you are out in the wilderness exploring you sometimes need to push aside feelings of nervousness. You might be at a...
My cousin Adam’s determination is evident in everything he does. He took up running and now runs marathons. He also brou...
A mission is an chance to enjoy the sweet satisfaction of achievement. This feeling can become very addictive and before...
For all his faults my cousin Adam is an ok dude… Just kidding, he is a bloody good bloke who somehow keeps on upping our...
A big ball of bright burning bliss blazing in the sky can provide beautiful views to behold. You don’t have to pay to lo...
Of many thousands of photos the ones I love the most are either early morning shots or pictures taken at dusk. A mountai...
With all the uncertainty in today's world it is good to know that everyday the sun will rise and then fall. For me these...
If you go out hiking often, eventually you will run into a situation where you might have to cross a river. To some ‘hik...
To be alone in an area the physical size of a major city is an experience I have become very fond of. I am very lucky to...
This time last year I would have never thought that I would have four little legs follow me on adventures into the mount...
I never planned on owning a dog. The idea has always been in my head, however the timing and my life situation has preve...
Before I injured my hip I knew that getting out into nature was very important for my headspace and now during my recove...
During my spare time I love to read Hiking, trekking, tramping and climbing guidebooks. It is a great way of getting to...
There aren’t too many places left in the world where you can go and know you’re the only one to get there in quite some...
With blind determination you can block out the bad and get yourself to some amazing locations. This was how I would guid...
The definition of Grandeur is - Splendour and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style: "the austere grandeur o...
Nature offers the brain a reassuring calm like no other. While medication is appropriate at times, nothing sooths the so...
On a few occasions I have been fortunate enough to be happily trapped in a wild location due to the weather. Every time...
Pushing through powder snow before sunrise might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The thought alone of getting up early whe...
Too many times the cold has been labelled a ‘bad thing’ when really it can be the cause of a remarkable sight. It might...
Snow is a rare treat for most who live in Aotearoa New Zealand. Much of our low-lying land will remain snow free even du...
Mother Nature has interesting ways of showing us her beauty. While a clear blue sky can be an absolute dream to witness,...
The weather is something you have no control over, therefore sometimes you just have to sit back and marvel at its magni...
Age is something that everybody attempts to avoid but can’t. And age can sometimes be an excuse used to get someone out...
Going from swift strides to sitting stationary can be pretty shitty. And having to do it twice within two years has been...
The ability to move around should always be appreciated. Because you really do miss it when it gets taken away. Going fr...
To say the last couple of years have been interesting for human beings is a rather large understatement. There isn’t a p...
The simple pastime of being outdoors all night long in a tent was something I used to do as often as possible. Heading t...
As time since my hip injury has rolled on, I have been slowly recovering and rebuilding my fitness. My days of 8 to 10 h...
I’ll take a night in a tent over any fancy hotel. There is nothing like having a thin layer of material as your shelter,...
The sheer satisfaction you get when completing a big mountain mission is unmatched in my eyes. All your efforts are rewa...
Having a fridge door fracture your hip, tear muscles, slip discs, leaving you with pinched nerves might make for an inte...
When it comes to travelling through the mountains I’ll take my own two feet over a vehicle almost every time. However, d...
I will never stop being impressed with the many places my cousin's incredible Suzuki Jimny can go. And the little beast...
It is sometimes hard to explain the feeling you get when you are mid mish, and all is going exactly how you planned it....
Having something taken away is a good way to find out if you really love that very thing. Initially I lost my mobility w...
Many aspects of fitness involve some sort of pain at some stage. Whether it be the last couple of reps or the last hundr...
Back in 2020 the world was plunged into chaos thanks to Covid, and for weeks we were all confined to the four walls of o...
Hiking really is using your valuable time well. The multi beneficial pastime not only is great for you body, but it also...
Snow is a very strange substance that falls from the sky. Unlike rain, snow is something that has created its very own s...
When you break down snow sports they don’t sound like much fun. Thanks to New Zealand's low altitudes the snow (normally...
I often get strange looks from my friends and family when I tell them I am going camping during the chilly months of win...
Finding snow away from a ski field to play in is getting more and more difficult these days. A lot of effort needs to be...
The high country of Hakatere is a special place. In lots of places you can gain altitude with relative ease, and the hig...
With all of the advancements in technology we (humans) seem to spend more and more time looking at our devices. People a...
As you round a small corner on the Hakatere / Mount Potts Road and get your first view of the Rangitata Valley you can u...
The specially selected sites for the filming of Lord of the Rings have become drawcards for fans of the films. Aotearoa...
Many look to the west over the Canterbury Plains at the pyramid that is Mt Somers(1688m), but few reverse the view and v...
When flying into Christchurch from the west it is always fascinating seeing the abrupt stoppage of mountains at the west...
Being wet is temporary, memories last forever. So many people look at rain as being “Bad Weather” but for me the weather...
Getting lost isn’t on most people's list of things to do, however it still happens. Returning to the location and gettin...
If you stare at a mountain long enough you’ll find yourself wanting to stand on top of it, well that’s my theory. Many t...
Mt Potts is a must do for folks who enjoy a good uphill grunt. Although the climb isn’t too difficult, there is a lot of...
The unmistakable twin peaks of Mt Potts always seem to find their way into pictures of the Lake Clearwater Area. As if o...
In some locations around New Zealand there will be certain mountains that stand out much more than others. In the Lake C...
Working in the most epic ski-shop in Christchurch for six years introduced me to some truly awesome dudes/workmates...Mc...
Now out of the storm in our make-shift shelter, we could finally relax and get some rest. Cameron had the more sheltered...
My Canadian friend Cameron Rodimus was visiting Aotearoa and keen for a mission during the winter of 2016. I questioned...
I have always been keen on adventures outside the box. Doing something that very few people have done can be very reward...
I’m sure many climbers have found themselves returning to the same area time and time again, and each time they have tic...
I have been very fortunate to have been able to spend so much time in the Hakatere area. Many memories of marching up an...
In the home of the Kiwi you have the opportunity to have a vast area of land to yourself. And even better is the fact th...
It is difficult to explain to someone about how I find enjoyment in isolation and solitude. I have never had any issues...
Freedom is found in the more than 60,000 hectares of stunning Canterbury hill country west of Christchurch city. Golden...
One of the very few downsides of a camping mish is the need to go, and I don’t mean leave. For some reason as the need t...
The visually stunning area encompassing the Ashburton Lakes is always well worth a visit. From easy day walks, to demand...
For some reason, lying on a small camping mattress, in temperatures cold enough to freeze the water in your bottle, is a...
The good parts of Aotearoa get multiple visits, and there are quite a few good parts! It is funny to think that a place...
Mt Taylor is a mountain that should be on most people’s list of things to climb. Although it is the biggest in the Cante...
It is reassuring to know that some of the world's best climbers have fine-tuned their skills in Aotearoa. Sir Edmund Hil...
Mt Taylor(2333m) is a Canterbury Mountain that should be on most adventure seekers' lists. Standing over two thousand me...
I am very lucky that I had the opportunity to work out what makes me really happy. Finding the thing that you love can m...
An excellent day out sometimes missed in the massive Hakatere Conservation Park is a climb of Mt Barrosa(1364m). If appr...
Mid mish bliss is a feeling that is only matched on the next adventure, therefore the pastime of going on a mish can get...
Rain brings water and water creates life. So why do we call a rainy-day bad weather when it is so important to us as res...
No one seems to complain when they get wet in the shower. And no one seems to complain when their clothes get wet in the...
The large lumps that surround Lake Clearwater Village have watched over the tiny mountain town for a very long time. For...
When everything starts to fall into place on a mish it is impossible to control the smile on your face and the joy in yo...
Sometimes the world's beauty goes unnoticed. Many outstanding sunrises / sunsets aren't appreciated and knowing this inc...
Dogs are a very cool additional enhancement to life. Always keen and caring, and of course they are always down for a mi...
The owner of the ski shop I worked at thought I was mad going to the places I would go without a gun or bow. Being not f...
During my many years roaming the hills I have only been out hunting a couple of times. On many occasions I have bumped i...
To many the thought of clambering up a snowy mountainside seems like a strange pastime. Struggling against gravity in or...
The blast of a blizzard on your face is an experience to say the least. A wild winter wander in the wonder of wild weath...
Nothing makes you feel alive like facing a southerly blast head on. A wild wilderness wander can be an epic adventure -...
From a very young age both my mother and grandmother have taught me to share. This has led to many adventures with my wh...
Not many outside of Aotearoa can say they have had an entire mountain to themselves. With more than 8 billion people on...
Getting ‘bluffed out’ is when you hike / climb / scramble to a point where you can’t go up or down. You have got yoursel...
The is always two parts to climbing a mountain. While many focus on getting to the summit, it must be remembered that th...
Having an inquisitive nature can get you to some rather amazing places. The need to know what’s around the next corner c...
Inquisitive nature has led to some of the most epic adventures. If no one wondered what lay amongst the hills, then noth...
Hard work and long days were the norm for the musterers who used to roam the hills of Hakatere. Fences made their way ov...
The scattering of huts throughout the mountains of Aotearoa make for some of the best hiking in the world and some of th...
When the glaciers retreated towards the main divide in New Zealand’s mountainous South Island around 10,000 years ago th...
Mt Taylor(2333m), and the rest of the Taylor Range are the largest mountains east of Ka Tiritiri o Te Moana/Southern Alp...
In hindsight it seems strange that someone would wander off into the wilderness on the wrong trail / track / path to end...
I wasn’t lost, I just didn’t know where I was?! This is what I thought as I broke a trail in the fresh deep snow alongsi...
It is amazing what you will put up with to get to a summit and claim your prize. Summit fever is a condition that you so...
Whether you like it or not, weather will always happen, and it is best to see the positives of what Mother Nature is up...
To look at a storm face to face is a truly humbling experience and one that reminds us that Mother Nature is boss in the...
The first time I really felt what frozen feet could feel like was in the Cameron Valley. A mish hadn’t quite gone to pla...
A description of a winter camping trip can easily turn someone away from the outdoors forever. Depending on your take on...
Not many would go through hell and then return for more. I guess that is why we wilderness folk don’t see all that many...
It is interesting how a bare and barren mountain landscape can be as visually appealing as a mountain covered in classic...
The sanctuary of a remote hut can seem so much better when you have had a real fight to get to it. The small hut at the...
Hiking, climbing, and exploring puts me into a mediative like state where time is much different that when in the ‘real...
Most pastimes are less committing than going on a good mish. For instance, if you like playing chess it doesn’t mean you...
Many times on my missions I have leant outdoor lessons in a very lifelike situation. Most of the time it has been little...
We really are spoiled for choice when it comes to mountain landscapes in New Zealand, especially in the South Island. In...
Hiking to a hut is a passtime enjoyed by many people around the world. Sometimes I almost feel guilty about how many hut...
During the winter of 2012 I went for a hike with the intention of staying in Boundary Creek Hut. Unfortunately, on that...
Nothing like waking up wrapped up in your sleeping bag and seeing your breath in the cold air. It is like a battle betwe...
For all the negative press that it gets, cold weather is pretty cool! Those who haven’t seen what snow and ice can do to...
A lot of my missions are by myself, attacking a track, hill or just camping area solo. I have no problem with heading ou...
I always feel the added difficulty of snow when hiking is rewarded with the views. Thrashing your way through deep drift...
To step into a world covered in snow is one of many steps during a real winter adventure. Walking in a winter wonderland...
While the added difficulty of snow might deter most, I find it worth the effort to get the shot. The sights and sounds o...
Sometimes things don’t go exactly to plan when going on adventures in the mountains, and that’s ok if everybody stays in...
Snow is a burden or a pleasure depending on who you ask. Something that can stop a working city, can also start business...
Hiking across the open plains of the Lake Heron Basin is a way I have spent many days, and each time has been excellent....
I’m sure that most trampers, trekkers, hikers, people who walk to epic places, have a hut that is very special to them....
Snow creates an atmosphere like no other. When it is trickling down from above without wind there is a silence created o...
One of my favourite ways to fill in time is to look at a topography map of some wild part of Aotearoa. Looking at the st...
After a few years of adventures, I was feeling reasonably confident in my abilities. I felt like I could reach any targe...
Over time I have clocked up many hours under the stars during the times I have foregone a tent and opted for a night out...
Watching the world go by at a comfortable hiking speed has always been my cup of tea, not shaking about with the next af...
Christchurch was still on the move every couple of hours during the earthquakes of 2010 / 2011. Each day was started wit...
The weather is something that is constantly happening and as humans we must adapt or escape. Some people dread a day of...
To many the thought of hiking while rain pounds down is not pleasant. You’re wet, it’s cold, and you have many steps to...
Good clothing will often be the difference between a happy hike in the rain, and an experience you’ll want to forget. Lu...
During fine spells of weather, the adventurous types trek themselves into some rather remote spots. An aspect of hiking...
Once the fire of adventure is lit it needs regular fuel. Ever since landing a job at Ultimate Hikes guiding on the Route...
