A quick visit to Aoraki National Park

We had a few days at Aoraki/ Mt cook area over our easter break.We hiked up to Mueller hut dumped our gear then did some scrambling based around there. The next day aaron hoped to fly his speed wing down but it was not to be so we spent a bit of time waiting Taking photo's  chilling out before walking down. We did some Tourist stuff Including the visitor centre where I saw Lizzie in the rememberance book. And the glacier walks.

The last day we did some easy rock climbing at Sebastapol bluffs, nice rock but alot less trad and not as adventurous as I had imagined.

Aaron at Olivier summit cairn

Alpine Plantage

Aaron hoping the wind comes up

Me and my love. Probably at top of red arete

Aaron rapping off

Fishing on the way home with Aoraki in the background. Aaron releasing my tiddler

We were in for a late night, since we fished until dark

Savouring the sun/ Haslers

Winter storms are forecast for this week so on Monday Alison, Sam, Jess,Estelle, and I went rockclimbing in the last of the sun at Wanaka.

Sam leading 23 at Little Big Wall

Megan and Matthew

Mummy getting in on the mischeif

Also the Hasler/ Davies family came to visit. Riding without trainer wheels, lots of playing in the park, early morning visits in bed....Totally cute!

Mt St Mary

I had a weekend away with my friend Mel. We headed north to the Ahuriri and avioded the rain that hit Queenstown so it was perfect!

We stayed in a hut on the road end Friday night then Walked/ Scrambled to Mt St Mary via an alpine lake, down to snowy Gorge hut in the river valley, over 10-11 hours. The next morning it was only about 3 hours out but had a river crossing waist deep just before the car.

Map of where we went (stolen from Danilo Heggs site, as was the trip idea.)

Setting out. Melanie

At a lake about 1880m Mel is pointingto Mt st Mary( the pointy bit in the middle)

The scree slopes/ gully up to the summit were pretty chossy and loose.

The team at the summit.

Me, Mel, Catherine and Yossi

Pretty stones in the river valley

Our hut!

Massive grubber as a toilet only.

Me being silly

Happy new year!

Happy New Year everyone!

We dropped the olds off at the airport and headed straight for a night in the South Wye Hilton.

 Sally putting a bolt on the new route in progress

Nothing like a nice cool bottle of chapmpagne after a hard days work

 Aaron drillingon lead on the second pitch( hard and scary!)

Back at the top of pitch 1 

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!

Aaron's film Job

In Moustache on location, and below the link to the finished result.

Aaron was the body double for the Actor so it is him falling and climbing

http://www.bigpictures.co.nz/index.php?p=work&l=en
(Click on EOS Canon)

More pics of Aaron's project

Taken by G Charton

aaron's new route

Aaron is bolting and cleaning a new route at Project wall, Wye creek.
It is hardish- maybe 27 -fairly sustained and Steep. He thinks it will be a really good climb.
 G man took a photo of him abseiling down it on the weekend.

The lovely Estelle is watching him

Promised photo's OF NBS boulder comp at Jardines

Sam Mangai. The mens winner in action

The Kiwi spot in action

Stooooo, Buff Dan and Marcel?

Wave Boulder

Barzilian dude from the Shell station on V6 in Virus boulder Cave

Jase says I'm 3rd ranked overall!

Weekend climbing

NBS boulder series came to Queenstown.

I climbed well at the beginning and did 4 V5's but powered down seriously with my lack of fitness and had to have a V3 in my top 8 climbs. I was very lucky and came first in the lasies this year getting a nice Cactus voucher. Aaron tried a few slopey *'s and 7's but it started hurting his wrist so became photographer I'll add a few photo's when he down loads them.

I also had a day at Remarks with Alison and Sam. We did a three pitch climb on Alta slabs called the fat lady sings at the Circus. we got to lead a pitch each and lucky my pitch was easy as there was only protection every 10m or so!

Sam on pitch 2 we are heading for the pale streak up top

Sam and Alison

Remarkables Traverse

For Simon and Pip's wedding in Feb lots of people came back to town
They came through Queenstown on Holiday and a group of us all went out to do the Remarkables Traverse.
Team: Bruce hasler ( guide) Mick heli skier not climber, AD Kayaker not climber, Frog( guide) , Simon, Aaron and I who are all climbers.
The guides teamed up with the non climbers and much to our suprise they were really fast and confident.
There was cloud on the Mountain tops but it was a nice sunny day otherwise

Easy ledges
Telecom tower( or weather station) If you go here you will need to rap off the cliff- most people head to the notch and miss this Peak


Simon on the technical crux( easily avoidable)


Me up in the clouds but still smiling


Lunch on Single cone summit( very different to Winter!)
we meet 2 tasmanians, a german , and Chris Prudden up there- a very popular spot


The normal descent would be the couloir but rather than get wet feet in the snow or get our rope out we scrambled down the North ridge. 95% walking Hands on for the rest.I was wearing 5 10 approach shoes which are nice and gripy though

A fantastic day. We were back at the pub sharing a few drinks in the Sun mid afternoon

Tooleys

our friends Stu and Teresa came to visit.

Riverside. Aaron climbing we also climbed Far side, Alcove,Falcon steep at Cutting
We spent a weekend climbing in Wanaka with them and their darling daughter Kaitlyn( Aaron's special friend)

South Wye again

We have spent alot of this year exploring around South Wye looking for good lines, and started one.

Aaron on Pitch one of our new route...Easy( 16ish) but run out at the top. 40m

We also enjoyed the peace and quiet up there and did a bit of relaxing in the sun

The lovely view over our feet as we lie relaxing just in front of the bivvy

More photo's

wedding

Honeymoon

i've been slack again!

Well there has been way too much to catch you up
I went to Rotorua with john, steph and Vinnie..AWESOME. Did some bikeriding there too


Emily Came to Visit

Had a retro sportswear fancy dress climbing Day


More rescue traning Including a strop flying day and a real life rescue for Aaron at Chinamans bluff( he was the rescuer before you panic)


I have a New Little buddy callled bailey he is 7 and Fun


At christmas we went to nelson
Rode the WakaMarina, and goldfiels rides as well as Climbing at Paynes ford. Richard and Pet fed us up and looked after us

Then they came to visit bringing Holly and Patrick. We rode, fished, swam, golfed and it was good to have some family time



Since then we have been going up south Wye trying to do new Climbs but only with limited sucess and Riding our bkes at coronet Peak and Zoottrack, skippers as well.
Simon and Pip got married and on Honey moon passed by and we did the rearks traverse.

More Darran's

Moirs Mate.. Just over an hours walk in and loaded with classics
On honey moon we did The Cenral line the original line on the wall as it said off width and we got a #5 cam for a wedding present