Volcano of ice Conquering Sweary Pants Gully (not its real name)
My ski club mates call it Sweary Pants Gully. There's a good reason for that.
Trip Reports
Will it go? Steep and loose on Ruapehu’s Ringatoto
A big day out on the east side of Ruapehu, with plenty of moments of 'will it go?' and 'holy smokes, it does'.
FMC Exec trip to Kime Hut
Right before an FMC Exec meeting on Matiu / Somes Island at the end of June 2018, some of our staff and Exec got together for a two-day tramp to Kime Hut in the Tararuas.
Tour with respect Make room
Sometimes the back country terrain behind the ski field can get a few groups at once. Local Craigieburn Ski Guide Anna Keeling offers some thoughts and advice on how to avoid putting each other at risk as you enjoy your foray from the safety of the ski field.
On the divide Skiing Mt Cross
Here we were, about to ski off a named summit on the main divide; where else in NZ can you do that without a helicopter, in a day trip?
Unfinished business: South Island Mega Trip
When a six month visit to New Zealand is just not enough....
Canyoning The history and mystery of Holts Creek
For 110 years an ancient tunnel lay hidden in the Otira wilderness... Nola, James and Grant did their homework, put in the time for preparation and were rewarded with the first descent of an excellent canyon.
The Marion Plateau What could possibly go wrong?
“Cyclone Fehi devastates West Coast” and “Dart Track Closed” don’t sound good two days before the planned alpine trip to the Marion Plateau, plus the combination with a super blue blood moon seemed to promise an inauspicious start.
Safety first The importance of training
Anne Taylor from the Southland Tramping Club explains why you should get some proper training before heading out on your own packrafting adventures.
Risk vs Reward Coping with failure on Malte Brun
Failure is inevitable in the mountains, yet the only time we truly fail is when we do not grow from such experiences. Failure teaches us resilience in the face of future hardship.
Lessons learned: when rivers rise…
Good judgement usually comes from experience, and experience usually comes from bad judgement...
Aquanauting: Taking a boat for a walk
Penzy Dinsdale offers us a few thoughts about Aquanauting in the Otago Uni Tramping Club (OUTC)
On a dream
Alpine tops, grade 2 rapids, southern ocean and two perfectly calm crossings of Hauroko, the "Lake of the sounding wind". Jamie McAuly had a dream trip by all accounts...
The excitement of the unknown Exploring the Paringa
A remote West Coast river, packrafting, rain, a lack of information about paddling descents; for Chris Abel, it was hard to think of more exciting ingredients for an adventure.
Manapouri to Foveaux Strait The quintessential Fiordland journey
On Christmas Eve we set off from the West Arm of Lake Manapouri with around a weeks’ worth of food, packrafting and tramping gear, a bunch of TOPO maps and loose plans to make it to Foveaux Strait. We had a small box of food delivered to Lake Roe Hut on the Dusky Track to pick on the way. For two weeks we linked together rivers, Fiords, lakes, some trails and a few different mountain ranges to make it to the Southern Ocean.
Good ol' Kiwi understatement When the whitewater is the easy part
Two hard days to get over Emily Pass, and then a long day down the Okuru River to the ocean
Time to step up Cruising down the Clutha
Aimee Smith steps up from passenger to trip leader on a glorious paddle down the Clutha.
Canyoning Exploring the Wilberforce
Sometimes inspiration comes at you from a strange angle.
Hike and Fly Para-waiting: It’s not a sport…
How often is the forecast wrong? Sometimes it could be worth taking a bit of a punt on the prediction...
Back in the day The origins of a packrafter
Hugh Canard reflects on a few past (mis)adventures which make him grateful for the modern packrafts we have these days.
The Moeraki: an unexpected adventure
Some adventures are planned, others present themselves unexpectedly. Otherwise known as (mini) epics, or type 2 (or three) fun, these adventures are often the memorable ones.
First descents: The General
Joe Bugden and Greg Tilden commit to the exploration of a world class technical canyon in the Dart valley.
Upper Otaki Gorgeous gorges
Traditionally, the Otaki gorge below Waitewaewae Hut was the domain of trampers with tyre tubes in low summer flows, and the occasional heli-kayaker when it been raining. Now, like many of the Tararua gorges, this is set to become a classic packrafting trip.
Great Kiwi clubs Three days in the Coromandel
Katikati Tramping Club members make the most of the long weekends weather to explore and tramp through a delightful part of the Coromandel peninsula.
