Return to the Summer Alps

Alpine summer. Above - during a rainy day I made this compilation of video I took over summer in the mountains of the South Island.

Return to the Summer Alps.

Well , its the 11th of May and we are getting our first taste of winter here with a blanket of white on all the higher regions of the Nelson bays. With winter approaching it was time for the mind to reflect on the previous few months of warmer weather as the body attempts to adjust with the temperature drop. After several years of not much in the way of summer trips if any at all I finally made it back into the hills of the Southern Alps and had some memorable experiences there with my friends as well - long may it continue. Long days and warmer weather make for light packs and relative ease of travel although mountain conditions here are second rate in summer at best. The real excitement though is finally to look forward to getting back to the high country of Asia later this year - it will be 4 years since my last time there which is altogether too long for my piece of mind. More on that in a predeparture blog. next month.

Looking over to Aoraki /Mt Cook and La Perouse from our campsite on the flanks of Mount Sefton

Mount Brewster - climbing in stormy weather.

Picnic time on top of Mount Dun Fiunary

Wandering in crevasse country - a failed attempt on Mount Sefton.

Mt Hopeless in summer conditions.

Glacial cirque below our campsite on Mount Sefton.

Lake Angelus in the Nelson lakes

Start of the day , heading up to a high campsite with Carl.

Several hours later the strain begins to tell.

Damo approaching the top of split gully on Mt Arthur.

Carl Approaching the top of Mount Dun Fiunary.

Jake approaching the top of the South Twin.