Sunday, December 12, 2010

New routes

With Spring we are back on the rock
We have done a few new routes

At Wye Creek

Harold's wall
A link from Chimney sweep 16 to the top of Fata morgana 15, making a 2 pitch adventure. (Chimney sweep is dirty on the bottom half!)

Main Wall
A new route Called Twelve 17 that starts on the first 4 bolts of Almi then another 9 of it's own - GREAT wee route. **

Up South Wye

Gauntlet (Mixed). On the North side
We finally finished the route we backed off last summer . Just as well we did rapping in the Loose rocks that turned us back ground up, fell like a deck of cards with just a wee nudge. Hence the name. We did 2 pitches of 17, there is a possible 3rd pitch But it would be mid 20's, and we're not up to it with Aaron's injury and my lack of ability.





Big mama crack 16. I thought this looked awesome but it was only OK. Run out gear! 1 bolt + trad


We are starting a new line as well which will be the best of the 3 from the quick look we've had so far. It will be mixed too



Check out the new routes book in the Bivvy for more details!

The garden

Everything is flowering!

 ribbon wood

Beech

This year was the first flowering of beech, cabbage tree's, Kowhai, and ribbon wood. Loving it!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Du Faur centennary climb

On Dec the 4th it will be one hundred years since Freda du faur was the first woman to climb Mt cook/Aoraki
To celebrate there was a host of events an I attended a woman's ascent of Du Faur peak in Aoraki national park
Carla,Jane( trip leader),Sam and I, Quet, Elke, katrina and Eveline
Sam has me in a headlock since I got her into this!


 day 1: Along the hooker past the lake and the Glacier headescorted by Lee anne and Alison



 Up through the Morraine( chossy gravel Slide to cliff)
 Up some cool rock scrabling interupted by never ending scree sections.


 we stayed in and around Copeland shelter (Aoraki in Reflection)

 day 2: In the morning we Crossed to the west Coast via Fitzgerald pass


Du Faur: our intended peak.

Ket and Elke My partners in descent. We traversed the Divide and Descended the eugenie Galcier
Lunc at top of Eugenie

At Sefton Bivvy looking up at the Glacier we just crossed
 A fabulous weekend with some really lovely ladies.


Thanks to Jane and Elke for their Patient guidance