Confession

Forgive me it has been X days, weeks, months since my last blog.

I am determined not to become one of the 300,000,000 inactive blogs.

Last couple of months have been taken up with climbing and paragliding with a little work mixed in.

Here is a couple of photos and track logs from a flight on saturday with amazing veiws and terain in the heart of the Aspiring National Park.

Luna Eclipse

Apparently Luna eclipses only happen once every 7 years and of course they are usually obstructed by cloud.

Last night we lit a fire on the beach cooked sausages and watcht the eclipse on a perfect clear night.

Heliskiing

I fulfilled a long standing wish today by going heliskiing.
Needless to say it was awesome. here are a few photos, sorry that there arent any skiing ones. we were to busy skiing to take any.

NZ Alpine club photo comp

The NZ Alpine club have a photo comp for mountaineering, climbing, and mountain related photos. I have entered a few for a laugh. here are a couple.

How Cold is it??

So what happens to Rock Climbing crags around Wanaka when it has been really cold for a number of weeks. Lakes freeze up and cliffs turn into icicles.

We have had an extented period of very cold tempertures for a number of weeks and it has created a very uncommon oppurtunity. Ice climbing on our local rock climbing crags and skating on Diamond Lake.

Here are a few photos from the weekend.

Frosty South

The last few weeks have been some of the coldest experienced in Central Otago in years and many areas have been covered in hore frost for weeks. Ophir near Alexandra (about 1 hour from wanaka) has been experiencing temps of up to minus 18 in the last week. brrrr.

Kate and i took a drive on sunday to check out the chilly but beautiful area.

A couple of photos from the drive. B & W seemed to be the obvious choice.

Wanaka Mountain Film Festival

The weekend just been we exhibited some photos at the Wanaka Mountain Film Festival. We learnt a few lesson (bigger is better) and got some great feedback.

I look forward to being more organised next time and getting some more stuff printing BIG.

Wanaka Sports Climbing

Last weekend Wanaka held a leg of the NZ sport climbing champs.

A couple of photos of the competitors. Held at the great new BASECAMP facility.

Published

Late last year i pulled the camera out during an awesome lightning storm and caught a great lightning photo that has been on the cover of the Otago Daily Times, the back page of the NZ herald, in the NZ Geographic Magazine and now on a Calendar.

Here is the latest. It is also the June spread but you get the idea.

Snow Day

Forcasts are never right.

Despite every indication that the nasty weather system was going to pass to our north we were dumped on last thursday leaving 20cm of snow at home with more unsettled weather over the weekend. Mail was delayed and cars slid of the road. But ultimately everyone welcomed the white start to the ski season. We look forward to going for a slide this weekend maybe.

Climbing

Anyone who knows me knows rock climbing has been part of my life to some degree since i was about 14. Mostly on a very "recreational" level.

I have recently been inspired by some amazing locations and climbs in NZ to get back to my former glory and here are a few photos.

On the long weekend (June) after an unseasonably (and apparently deceptively so) may we headed to Mt Somers for a climbing trip.

As you can see from the photos about 15cm of snow slowed our progress but we were able to get onto some fun routes in an awesome location. Above is David on Orange Roughy(16) on the Orange wall.

One of the strange things about Mt Somers is the two distinctly different rock types within a short distance (300m). The photo on the right is David and I on Rocky Road (3 pitch, grade 20)

After being confined to the middle grades (read teens) for years as a result of the office worker spread i have recently had a major break through now back in the 20s (if only just) and have been inspired to continue and 'push the grades' so to speak and get on some amazing routes in amazing places. Although many in Wanaka, including and number of good friend are climbing much harder than this, pushing one grade at a time is proving (once again) a great and rewarding personal challenge. I am probably climbing harder than i have in 6-8 years.



John and bruce below on Project Aqua (25) in the Darrans near Milford. The home of some of the best rock and climbing in NZ.

Photography

Recently i have reignited my love of photography.

here are a couple of photos we have taken recently

Is this just another blog??

Hi guys,

I have finally chosen to join the list of gazillion blog sites.

You may ask "but isnt this just another waste of time" and you are probably spot on. but with friends and family spread accross the globe it seems to be a good way to share stories and photos.

Kate and i hope to be able to share with you a little of our lives in Wanaka, NZ and some photos from our mini adventures.

I hope you enjoy.

Q