Jake falling in a Karst crevasse - the largest cave system in the Southern hemisphere lies under our local Arthur/ Marino mountain range's and holes are many and deep. Soft snow can make for rather treacherous trekking at times!!

An early winter maybe?? , certainly some good snow for late autumn and a boon for myself in motivating me to get out into the local mountains. With an upcoming trip in July training this last month has been full on both biking and in the mountains. But the high light and all the pictures are of just a few days in local alpine pastures where fresh snow has completely transformed the landscapes.

A feature or maybe even the feature of New Zealand mountains is their close proximity to the sea. I'm looking back along the ridge of Mount Angelus to Kadin and Jos and far in the distance is Tasman bay gleaming golden. Although it looked as though the sun was setting it was actually mid day.

nice 

Jos looking very much like a character from the Scottish highlands.

still daylight on local Mt Arthur

An hour later the full moon

a lonely cornice

Heading towards a traverse of peak 1926 

Kadin climbing a steep snow gully with Jos behind. These guys give me a run and its not overly often I get top look back down at them.

Not the place to slide , Lake Rotorua far below.

Campsite under a full moon.

and under the sun 

No alpine start here , way to cold for that.

Jos and Kadin

A fine ridge

Lunch with a view

The problems on the way up seem much larger when one doesn't have the form!! , Contemplating various routes up Mt Sibbald with Ashley over Easter.

Getting Back into it.

With the summer season winding down on the Heaphy track it was time to start getting back into some more serious training again , especially in view of a proposed mission in China during July. High time it proved, as strolling through the Heaphy several times apparently left me over weight and out of shape. Going alone on the familiar Mt Chittenden was Ok but heading up the more serious Mount Sibbald with most of last years regulars was certainly a gut busting experience. The effect of gravity trying to go up a mountain with others whilst being out of shape turned it all into a rather daunting day. Pulling up at the rear of the group constantly accentuate's the higher one gets until the summit is out of reach , at least for me as most others in our large party of 8 made it up in not the easiest of conditions.  

 That was a big incentive to start training again now that the guiding is over although not until I had been with family on a quick trip around the South Island during the school holidays this last week of April.

The multi talented Ben and Jos , future partners on the planned China mission in July - going to have to train hard to get up to these guys level!!

Ben and Jos on the summit of peak 2285 with Mount Sibbald behind.

Standing on the same peak trying not to grimace -  but already suffering with the attempt on Sibbald just two days off.

The walk up the valley.

Heading up to the lake campsite

a long way to go up.

At the Tarn as the mountain lakes are called here.

On the lower Glacier

View from the flat Glacier higher up 

View of Mount De Archaic, somewhat of a twin of Sibbald in the distance.

Walking back out the flat glacier

En descent!!

descending  on rubble with Ashley

We biked up to the peak , and had a roaring tailwind out , luckily as Ashleys rear derailleur snapped off but he managed to free wheel out.

Chittenden at dawn

Climbing up , a cloud encapuslated view of the valley below.

Looking at a snowless Chittenden from across the valley  while I was attempting an exploration of a high path across to 2142.

The bike was transport and the Rainbow road in good repair making for an easy entry and exit.

Travelling South on Holiday ,  the Seaward Kaikorasu rise out of the Pacfic. Its many years since I went on this road and it was a really spectacular drive.

In Arrowtown at Sunset 

Lake Ohau at sunset

and same place at dawn

Heading along Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook (centre picture) National park

The ice clad Eastern face of Mount Sefton , one of the most spectacular mountain sights in New Zealand. 

Mount Cook up the Hooker valley

Hanging out with family - Aleksander, Marco, Isabelle, Leo and myself in the Octagon , Dunedin. Leigh on the far right , is one of my oldest friends and a most entertaining companion from cycle racing days. He greeted us just 10 days after a kidney transplant and is recovering well.

Linna and Isabelle

Leo cooking Kumaras (New  Zealand sweet potatoes)  and sausages while camping

the whole gang

Loaded up for another day on the track with Co guide Jacob

Another of our guides - all smiles Richard at the Heaphy beach

The Heaphy track - guiding by default!!

 The Heaphy track runs through some of the oldest terrain geologically in New Zealand and retains much of the the Flora and Fauna that was present (read birds and Native forest which we call Bush) from before breakup of the great continent Gondwanaland over 100 million years ago. A chance meeting with an old friend a couple of years back has led to a job with local company "Bush and Beyond" working as a walking guide on the Heaphy , at 80 kms considered the longest and most diverse of the "Great Walks" in New Zealand. Often , when thinking of guiding, one thinks of load carrying, cooking, health and safety and perhaps a little knowledge about the track and a few off track trips but primarily its a people orientated job and after a couple of trips its mainly the people who keep it interesting. As I have discovered theirs also a "walk bagging" fraternity who travel the World over doing famous walks!!  After a busy last 6 weeks walking thru bush the mind craves the more serene alpine world which at this moment I just get glimpse's of now and again in the distance!!

A stunted flowering Rata Tree hugs the rocks seen during one of our side trips up Mount Perry,

A short run alone thru bush led to this opening revealing the vast Tasman wilderness area.

The Tasman sea at the Heaphy river mouth.

The Drunken sailor and the Dragons teeth. These are viewed from Perry saddle hut , about as close as one gets to mountains on the trip thru.

veiw from Mt Perry

Starting out from Collingwood , Golden Bay early in the morning

Whilst most of the huts are modern lodges , Gouland Downs hut remains a piece of history.

A million year old column

Ancient limetone has been water worn into numerous caves

Dense bush in the Enchanted Forest

The tussock covered Gouland Downs

The Gouland Downs looking back to the mountains. 

Giant ferns

Ancient Forest

Giant Rata trees looming over the Heaphy river

Mount Inaccessible seen thru a cloud break from Mount Perry

Isabelle and Leo make freinds with a Gannet back in Motueka