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The Forbidden Kingdom (Part Four) - Winter at Lake MacKenzie
Chhogori / K2 was recently climbed in winter for the first time by a team of exceptional superhuman Sherpa. The prize of...
The Forbidden Kingdom (Part Three) - Winter at Lake MacKenzie
Unfortunately, there have been outdoors folk who have got themselves into situations outside of their capabilities. In t...
The Forbidden Kingdom (Part Two) - Winter at Lake MacKenzie
It is a shame when you hear of fatalities in locations where you know there are many warnings advising you to not ventur...
The Forbidden Kingdom (Part One) - Winter at Lake MacKenzie
Aotearoa has many tramping tracks that are two different worlds. One is the summer playground that many happy folks see...
Back to Double Hut - Double Hut
Hiking across the open plains of the Lake Heron Basin is a way I have spent many days, and each time has been excellent....
Mt Isobel(1319m) - Hanmer Spring's Mountain
Surrounded by mountains, with an abundance of hiking, biking and sightseeing, Hanmer Springs is Queenstown’s more mature...
The Sound of Snow Falling (Part Two) - Double Hut
I’m sure that most trampers, trekkers, hikers, people who walk to epic places, have a hut that is very special to them....
The Sound of Snow Falling (Part One) - Double Hut
Snow creates an atmosphere like no other. When it is trickling down from above without wind there is a silence created o...
The Wonders of Winter (Part Three) - Mueller Hut / Aoraki / Mt Cook Village
The silence of snow is music to my ears. To be in a totally frozen environment will take your breath away, or make it mo...
The Wonders of Winter (Part Two) - Mueller Hut / Mt Ollivier(1933m)
I do get surprised how quickly people shut down the idea of a mish during the months of winter. Yes it might be a bit ch...
The Wonders of Winter (Part One) - Mueller Hut / Mt Ollivier(1933m)
By the winter of 2012 I was fully into the swing of going out into the snow on a mish. The wonders of a frozen environme...
The Lock In (Part Two) - Black Hill Hut
My love of winter has led me to some awesome spots. A snowy sanctuary can make some magic memories that will stay with y...
The Lock in (Part One) - Black Hill Hut
I have heard many people say how amazing New Zealand’s backcountry hut network is. There are about 950 shacks, sheds, pl...
Walking Off the Map (Part Three) - Lost in Hakatere
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...
Walking off the Map (Part 2) - Lost in Hakatere
After a few years of adventures, I was feeling reasonably confident in my abilities. I felt like I could reach any targe...
Hiking off the Map (Part 1) - Lost in Hakatere
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...
Last Light of the Day (Part Two) - Peak 1494m(Ailsa Range)
We humans are lucky to witness beauty like no other. A sunset painting the sky red or orange (sometimes both) is a maste...
Last Light of the Day (Part One) - Peak 1494m
Human beings climb mountains for all sorts of different reasons, and usually for me it’s purely to take in the view from...
Another Day in a Snowy Paradise (Part Two) - Ocean Peak(1848m) from Lake MacKenzie
The level that people go to to see the place that I called my workplace took me by surprise at first. I had gone from ca...
Another Day in a Snowy Paradise (Part One) - Ocean Peak from Lake MacKenzie
There is something very special about working in a remote place, definitely when that place becomes a different world du...
Circling the Serenity - Around Lake MacKenzie
I always remember as a kid we did a test to see what type of learners we were. The test also revealed who has trouble si...
Working on the Routeburn Track
“Working in Paradise” 2008-2012. The Routeburn Track. Fiordland/Mt Aspiring National Park. When I get asked “what is you...
Working on the Greenstone Track
“Working in Paradise” 2008-2012. The Greenstone Track. Lake Wakatipu/Greenstone Conservation Area. The Greenstone Valley...
Lake Wilson - Great Lake, Great Name (Part Two)
To visit your workplace on your day off is saying something about where you work! I was extremely lucky to wake up and r...