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Winter's Grip (Part Two) - Whiskey Trail Camp
Winters grip can scare away people like a shady character in a dark alley. However, just like with the shady character (...
Winter's Grip (Part One) - Whiskey Trail Camp
You would think that walking a track again and again would dull the wilderness senses and the location would lose its ch...
Kaitorete Spit Camp - The Case of the Disappearing Dog
The 25km barren but beautiful stretch of land that runs from Birdlings Flat to the outlet of Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere...
Taylor Knoll Camp - A Small Hill With a Big View
Hiking really is using your valuable time well. The multi beneficial pastime not only is great for you body, but it also...
Sweet White Powder - Balmacaan Saddle Camp (Part Two)
I often get strange looks from my friends and family when I tell them I am going camping during the chilly months of win...
Sweet White Powder - Balmacaan Saddle Camp (Part One)
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...
Right Place, Right Camp - Helena Falls Camp
I was very lucky to have the opportunity to not only work in Fiordland during the chilly winter months of 2018, but also...
The Sad Glacier (Part One) - Falls Creek
We, the lucky few who live in the Te Anau Basin, live in one of the best places to access the wilderness on the planet....
Red Skies Above (Part Two) - Takitimu Tops Camp
There are times when you don’t need a weather forecaster to tell you what the conditions will be like. Certain clouds or...
Red Skies Above (Part One) - Takitimu Tops Camp
Late start. Less than favourable weather forecast. Camping on an exposed mountain side. Factors that might turn some awa...
The Weather Says When (Part Three) - Mt Barber(1364m)
To arrive at a summit is a feeling like no other. Going from tired to elated the moment you top out is a strange sensati...
The Weather Says When (Part Two) - Mt Barber(1364m)
A real benefit of working in the wilds of Fiordland is being in a safe position to watch the weather roll in. The entert...
The Weather Says When (Part One) - Mt Barber(1364m)
When it is all said and done the weather says when it is time to either go on an adventure or in this case, when it is t...
New Year Kea - Starting the Year with Nestor Notabilis
For me nothing is better than starting the day in the mountains. Waking up to see the first rays of light make their way...
One and Done (Part Four) - Leaning Peak(1477m)
The community of humans who happily hike into the untamed wilds of Fiordland are a unique bunch. There is nothing easy a...
One and Done (Part Three) - Leaning Peak(1477m)
I once worked as a possum trapper and it was during this time that I was taught the valuable lesson of ‘don’t fight the...
One and Done (Part Two) - Leaning Peak(1477m)
My hip and back injury have given me a lot of time to think about climbing mountains. When I started to look at my many...
One and Done (Part One) - Leaning Peak(1477m)
Some mountains are not only pleasant to look at, but also very pleasant to climb. Gentle flats roll into steeper ground...
Overly Ambitious (Part Two). Hanging Valley Camp.
Any sort of walking is training, even if you don’t reach your desired destination. Every now and then the destination mi...
Overly Ambitious (Part One). Hanging Valley Camp
When I worked for Real Journeys I did my best to use every chance I had to get to remote places. From Percy Saddle to Pa...
The Familiar Unknown (Part Three). Turret Peak(1346m)
The benefits of travel are helpful for mind, soul and fitness. And if all are combined then having an unenjoyable time i...
The Familiar Unknown (Part Two) - Peak 1346m (Turret Range)
The 1:50 000 scale of topo maps in New Zealand does leave a lot to the imagination. A few simple orange lines grouped to...
The Familiar Unknown (Part One) - Peak 1346m (Turret Range)
After having my first taste of the mountains west of Manapouri I was left with craving more like a hungry dog. But unlik...
A Unique Opportunity (Part Three) - Peak 1293m to Lake Manapouri
The effort needed to carve the roads needed for the Manapouri Power Station and Tiwai Point aluminium smelter was monume...