Labour weekend- Aspiring attempt.

I was going to climb Aspiring by the SW ridge from French ridge hut with Malcom Brown
Aaron was going to try the south face with Rupert and Dave.
We walked into Aspiring hut on Friday night and looking through the hut book saw Mum and dad's entry from earlier in the month as well as Dad & co from their February trip.
Saturday we did the steep walk up to french ridge hut and relaxed.


aaron outside french ridge hut

Sunday we woke at 2 am it was snowing
We woke at 4 am it was snowing.
We would no longer have enough time for an Aspiring attempt.
we woke again at 7 ish it was still snowing but clearing at 8 as Malcom and I set off from the hut it was a blue sky day.
We went up the quarter deck to the bonar glacier, climbed Mt french and then crossed the glacier to look down the immense ( 1km straight down) steep face near the east face of popes nose.


my climbing partner malcom celebrating at the summit of Mt French


South face of Aspiring and Popes nose (right side)
Aaron, Rupert and Dave crossed under South face to popes nose and back.


Aaron and I (10 years together this weekend) with Aspiring SW ridge in Background

October riding

We went for an absolutely amazing ride in perfect weather. We parked at 1 mile rode on the road out to arthur's point, along the moonlight trail, Picniced by Moke lake, rode along Moke lake and Lake Dispute.On the last bit down to 7 Mile /Wilson's bay I fell off a couple of times, we went through the forest at 7 mile then back on the road to 1 mile and the car. i didn't take the camera.

The following weekend we went for another ride We went from Skippers saddle up Mt Dewar, down Devils creek. To the Coronet peak road.


Aaron with his bike at a nice lookout


riding down the track


Crossing Devils creek



Crossing a stile

October- climbing

We went mountain biking and climbing quite a bit. we also largely forgot the camera.
The Canadian's I met up north came to visit a day each weekend and we climbed together.
Again no photo's of Robin as she only came one day and was again the photographer that day


Robins photo of climbing on the proud monkey roof


Adam on Don't be decieved and he wasn't.( I was a bit disappointed as he says he's bad at route finding.)


Adam on Bigger than big

Mummy and daddy come to visit

We had a nice time with my parents, they went hiking a bit ( Aspiring hut), we all drank far too much wine. We went up to Wye creek where we go climbing and dad gave it a go.


Dad on Windy September 15


Mum up Wye

Mid september

I had a work trip up the North Island and went back to my old haunt of Froggat edge for a couple of days climbing. I was really luck to find Partners. Day 1 I climbed with Canadians Robin and Adam and day 2 with an Aucklander. Thanks for the Photo's Robin


Adam belaying. Robin was the photographer so no photo's of her unfortunately


Daddy long legs

I took my first fall of the season on Bring your daughter to the slaughter the following day


Monsterpeice theatre

weekend Aug 30

Simon came to stay as well as Auckland friends Tom, Muz etc all coming down for some skiing.

We went for a tour


Sally, Aaron, Tom and Simon at the bottom


Sally getting set up


Skinning back up
The photo's of touring are from muz

The following day did some climbing at Wye creek with simon.We repeated some climbs he had put up in the past

Simon belaying at Wye creek.

The boys had us over for Dinner and it was really good catching up. Steve, Em, and little Sam came as well.