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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...
Round Two (Part Three). Dore Pass(1390m).
If you haven’t been there, looking at Fiordland on a map it seems as though travel would be easy as long as you stick to...
Round Two (Part Two). Dore Pass(1390m)
For many years I sat in the bus heading to the start of the Routeburn Track and we would point out Dore Pass, the other...
Round Two (Part One). Dore Pass(1390m)
It has been said that Fiordland is a place for the waterproof explorer. Many times I have watched my days off approach j...
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...
A Unique Opportunity (Part Two) - The Percy Saddle(1075m)
Getting to a place where there is no one is usually a big part of my outdoor adventures. These places are sometimes acce...
A Unique Opportunity (Part One) - The Percy Saddle(1075m)
I have sometimes compared my love for the wild locations I have worked in to someone working in a fast-food kitchen (lik...
First Dose of Doubtful - Part Two
As much as I love the impressive sight of Piopiotahi / Milford Sound, it is very different than a Patea / Doubtful Sound...
First Dose of Doubtful - Part One
Having done a little bit of adventuring around the country means I’ve seen many different places of natural beauty. From...
Sweet Sunsets (Part Two) - Pyramid(1598m)
The high country of Hakatere is a special place. In lots of places you can gain altitude with relative ease, and the hig...