Climbing A fortunate alignment
An early September climb of Mount Rolleston via Rome Ridge
Photo Essays
The tops Trip evolution in the Kahurangi
With some relief we unlinked from our last four man river fording formation. Now safely on the true left of Ellis River, we knew there was only the gravel of Baton Valley Road between us and a warm shower, dry clothes and a good feed in Nelson.
Tararua tops Seven summits
Most have heard of the Seven Summits challenge, where the highest point on each of the world’s seven continents is climbed. But there’s also a seven summits challenge much closer to home.
Climbing Icy encounters above Bush Stream
Camping in the mountains in mid winter is cold. I have a down Macpac bag that’s meant to be cosy at minus seven. It wasn’t.
Ruapehu Climbing Te HeuHeu’s SE Ridge
Just as I thought what lay above wasn’t the prettiest icescape I’d seen, Simon paraphrased for me. “This ice is sh#t.” He was busily hacking away at brittle rime ice on steep volcanic rock. Ice fragments flew everywhere.
Climbing Craters in the snow
The moonless crystal clear sky offered the most vivid view of the Milky Way I’d ever seen.
Family I say Kos-tuze-co, they say Koz-ee-os-co
Climbing Australia's highest peak in winter
Climbing Alpine lessons at Arthurs Pass
Going with the flow, or in this case, snow at Arthurs Pass on Mount Temple and Mount Rolleston
Climbing Overnighting with a Kaitiaki
Since Guy Mannering and A. P. Harper first crossed it in January 1890, Ball Pass has become one of those better known spots than most in our Southern Alps.
Climbing Plan C – Southwest Ridge of Cloudy Peak
An attempt on the southwest ridge of Cloudy Peak, a little beyond Erewhon Station in the Canterbury mountains
Climbing Third time lucky
A round trip in winter from Homer Hut, climbing Mt McPherson via Talbot Ladder, then over Traverse Pass to Gertrude Saddle and down.
Tararua tops Chasing the fifteenth
In pursuit of the Tararuas' fifteen points above 1,500 metres
Living and working in alpine Fiordland
Experiencing the Fiordland story of survival from the intimate details to the grand landscapes
Fiordland Autumn Roam
Roaming over passes and camping beneath the stars from Falls Creek to Hut Creek
Climbing The Cloud Piercer
Just one client and his guide with the Linda Glacier route all to themselves (December 2012)
Club trip A jaunt to Cameron Hut
Tramping solo on a club trip and later on meeting friends from your town, that you normally tramp with on other club trips? Yes, that was one of those trips with surprises.
FMC Photo competition 2017 The story behind the top shot
Kane Hartill shares the story behind his magnficent photo; of mountain adventures across generations and being there just at the right moment.
Climbing Breaching a guardian’s defences
A summer climb of Mount Earnslaw's east peak and adjacent Mount O'Leary (March 2013)
Ruahine tops Curves with teeth
A four day tops circuit across some of the highest peaks of the Ruahine (March 2017).
Kahurangi The Roaring Lion
As four friends from the Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club we were very fortunate to be the first recipients of the Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship.
Climbing Humbled again
A visit to Annette Plateau via Sebastopol Ridge, exiting over Mount Kitchener on a route not initially intended.
Climbing The Darrans in winter
A short account of the winter climbing meet based at Homer Hut in the Darran Mountains (July 2015).
