Hurunui Hot Springs MTB.

At Lake Taylor, we were greeted to mostly clear skies with a fresh warm head wind. Initially we rode round the bottom of the lake on a rough 4WD track. Soon the track began to climb gradually away from the lake and force us into a solid head wind. Thankfully, once we reached the very subtle saddle, the wind subsided and the track was all down hill to Loch Katrine.

We had a quick dip in the cool waters before continuing on again, past the locked gate and out toward Lake Sumner. Here the track passed through gently undulating farmland, with Matagouri, sheep and the occasional fence to negotiate. The track was pretty good riding, with few hills and not too many rocky or muddy sections. Our views out to the lake were just wonderful, with backdrops of Beech forest and mountain tops.

Once at the hut, we unloaded gear and chose to walk to the Hot springs instead of ride. Just down the track we regretted our decision, as the track was well ride able for the first 1hr or so of walking. At the hot pools, we savored wine, cheese and crackers as well as hoards of hungry sand flies. A few rain drops had us scurrying on our way, but didn’t really end up turning to proper rain.For dinner we had Butter Chicken (with more wine) before turning in for the night. The trip home was considerably faster, being mostly down hill, despite the wind changing and being head wind again!

At Lake Taylor raring to go

Heading downhill to Loch Katrine

Hurunui Hotsprings

Hurunui Hut

'Portaging' a rough section

Quail Island Paddle

After work on wednesday, Murray and I had arranged for a bit of Sea Kayaking. We put in at Cass bay in very calm conditions then proceeded out towards Quail Island. There was a little bit of wind and chop out in Lyttleton Harbour, but nothing to really get concerned about.

Progress was made well, so we decided on a circumnavigation of the island. However, one end of the island more resembled a penninsula with mudflats at low tide. A muddy but fortunately not too long portage saw us back in the water.

After seeing the ship graveyard, we cruised home, past a Little Blue Penguin and on to Lyttleton for fish and chips.

Its a long portage at low tide..

Portage all done :)

Ship Graveyard

One of the locals coming for a look

Wilson's Ck, Haast Pass

A third visit for me to this amazing canyon. We had a group of 7 today, Jules, Scott, Julie, Pip, Toine, Jethro and Chucky.

The approach was made quickly and without too many route finding errors, getting to the stream after 1h20m.

As we suited up, the rainclouds returned and had us thinking about wether we really should be entering into the deep, narrow and totally committing canyon. But after a few discussions about the forecast and water levels, we chose to go in but move quickly.

And quickly we moved.. only 2hrs through the canyon! It was a shame to rush, but much better than being caught with rising water levels.

With a few fresh faces, we found different routes through the canyon and even made a couple of different jumps. The water was pretty low, but it was still enough to keep those new to hydraulics impressed..

Arriving at Wilson's Ck

R1, 6m

Scott bottom belays

Toine and Tree

Stewart Ck, Haast Pass

I'd heard that Stewart Ck was 'one of the big ones' in the Haast Pass area, so was rather keen to go check it out.

The first descent party had made three trips here, one from halfway (which resulted in a benighting) another from the very top to half way and a third trip from top to bottom. They reckoned that the full trip would involve 10 hrs in the canyon if you were a small, experienced party who knew the route....

Jethro, Julie and I were really only keen for a short day, so we climbed via track and then bush for a little over an hour before jumping into the canyon.

The lower section of Stewart was high gradient, with drop after drop. The canyon would enclose slightly around the drops and into pools then offer chances for escape before narrowing briefly again. Still, there were some very nice canyon sections and gorgeous waterfalls.

We made about 6 absiels to 35m in about 4 hours. Waterlevels were low-moderate, but there were still a couple of eddies to avoid!

Julie wades a shallow gorge section

Another constriction and rappel

From the belay of the top of 'Stewart Falls'.
This is the pitch that can be seen from Davis flat
and is a series of 30-40m waterfalls, not one 90m drop..

Julie gets worked on the last pitch

Jethro enjoys the water

Mt Adams

Went and climbed Mt Adams on the weekend. Its over near Harihari on the west coast. Its non technical (with a little scrambling and a small glacier to climb) but its a really long climb... It was pretty hot on the way up, I wish I'd carried more than the 2.5L of water up the hill!.

We climbed 2340m vertical meters on Saturday (though we made camp after 1800m then climbed with light packs) to the summit and back to camp in 11.5hrs. Then on Sunday we just reversed the access all the way back down to 100m above sea level where the car was... :)

From the top, we could see from Hokitika to Jacksons bay, all the way to Mt Cook and to the Garden of Eden... Best view i've ever had from a summit.. .

Then had gale force winds at our camp on the ridge; all the tents and my bivvy bag were weighed down with the biggest rocks we could lift and we were still woried they were going to be blown off the hill! Got no sleep whatsoever, the noise was deafening and all night it was like some kids were taking turns pushing me from either side..

A real slog, but an amazing weekend...

Sunset from our Friday night campsite at Lake Ianthe

Murray about to re-cross 'Dry Creek'.

(shows the coasters have a sense of humour)

When the guide book says

'You pass through some nice stands of Rata'

they really mean it..

Just peaking above the Bushline, looking out to Okarito Lagoon


Chamois from about 15m...


Climbing up toward camp at 1700m,
the foresummit is visible on the skyline


Our 'sheltered' tiny basecamp (before the other two parties arrived)

Andrew traverses from the shoulder,

Mt Cook and Elie de Beaumont in the distance

On the Adams Icefield, the summit just ahead

Looking over another party on thier way to join us at the summit

Murray, Chucky and Andrew on the summit, 2208m

Andrew wandering home through the lowland flax bushes

Tui Canyon beginners trip

Had 15 people through Tui canyon tonight, 11 who had never been through a canyon before!
A great trip, with lots of fun and plenty of satisfied canyoners.

Thanks to Toine and Julie for helping me to lead the groups through..

Everyone loved the slide!

11 of the 15 Canyoners pose for the photo

(always seem to loose a couple each trip...)

Slyvia Falls, Lewis Pass

I'd heard of this Canyon for a while now, but couldn't seem to put together a trip for one reason or another.

However, today, the weather was good, I had a the time and Toine was keen to come along.

We traipsed for about 15 mins from the car, accross the Lewis River and up the true right of Slyvia stream, following social trails that ended up on the canyon rim. Scrambling down to the canyon by a short fixed rope, we suited up and leapt into the canyon.

There were only two raps, both well equipped with handlines and rap stations. There were a few little jumps and scrambles, but the canyon was really really short. 1hr max if you just go straight through. It was rather beautiful though, especially the amphitheatre of Syliva Falls itself.

After rapping Syliva Falls, we scouted around for quite some time, evaluated the pool geometry and then scrambled around and back up to consider jumping the pitch (17m). Toine was the driving force, but it still took him a while to work up to jumping off!

After he successfully leapt the pitch, we both went up to jump again. As soon as I had my chance, i jumped; no worries at all, except for the landing. I didn't hold my arms in as tightly as I should and the water pulled up my left arm and injured my shoulder a little.. Still sore a week later, but its getting better...

An amazing jump, though not for the faint hearted and definately not without thorough scouting of the pool first.

NZ Giant Bush Dragonfly

Chucky enters the slot

R1, 9m

Making a little leap, mid canyon

R2, 17m, Sylvia Falls

Toine jumps from a few meters up to test the boil

Torlesse Gap, Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park

On a cold summer night, Murray and I left the car on Brooksdale station and began walking to Kowai Hut. We could see the snow accumulating up high, and felt the crunchiness of the rain on the flats.

An hour or so later we were bunking down in the little 4 bunk hut and hoping for a clearance in the morning.

We got our wishes, but it was a clearance with a cold snap behind it. Ascended Kowai stream, then directly to a rocky 'pinnacle feature' enroute to the Gap. The route was steep and a little exposed (from a tramping viewpoint) but not difficult.

From above the pinnacle, we trudged through snowy scree to the Gap in calm clear condition. The view from the gap was pretty neat; out to the Craigeiburn range and Kura Tawhiti Conservation area.

Our return journey was much quicker and enjoyed under a warm sun and still conditions.

Rd to Hut, 1hr
Hut to Gap 2hr40m +950m
Gap to Hut 2hr
Hut to Rd via stream 1hr

Trudging in on Friday night in 'crunchy' rain

Murray admires 'Black Peak' from above the pinnacle

The final slog to the Torlesse Gap

Wandering down the Kowai on the way home, admiring Red Peak

John Hayward Memorial Hut, Kowai River

Avalanche-Crow Trip, Arthurs Pass NP

My buddy Laura was visiting from Aussie and was able to join me for an overnight trip to Athurs pass.

As an 'addition' to the standard Avalanche-Crow route, we started up the Mt Bealey track and traversed the ridgeline north, over Lyell and Avalanche through to the Crow Valley.

The clouds flirted with us and the views, but cleared often enough to provide amazing spectacles.

The section of Ridge between Bealey and a sub peak below Lyell was more of a scramble than tramp, providing focuss and exposure for 2 hours.

Down from Crow hut, the weather was on the turn, but we made it accross the Waimak without too many crossings.

A great round trip! 9.5hrs and 1630m up, 1250m down on day one.. 4 hrs on day two.

"Walk this way!" Laura climbs the Bealey Track

Flitting through clouds enroute to Bealey

B'limit, Aicken and Franklin sneak above the cloud tops

Laura concentrates on the scramble

Enjoying the rock

Contemplating the long (65omH) scree chute into the Crow Valley


Crow Hut, (10 Bunks)

Laura crosses a small braid of the Waimakarirri River