The sound of intermittent and gentle applause, villages and the long awaited tramping trip is done

Challenge Wanaka, a long distance race which starts with swimming, then 180 Km of biking and finishes with a marathon seems established as an annual event now, and right outside my front door there is a turn around point and drink station for the hundreds of runners, so every few minutes there is cheering and clapping.

Today I set up a sprinkler for the runners and occasionally adjourn out to the road side to watch - just like hundreds of others do in town. The effect is amazing at it sort of slows down the pace of life with motorists just giving in as they give way, and strangers talk, smile and interact. I think it must be reminiscent of village or tribal life. While many locals get annoyed over this huge event I'm growing to love it's energy, and I'm not even competitive...


Rees >> Dart classic tramp:

As some of you will have noted this has been on the agenda for awhile. Officially a Duke of Edinburgh Silver/Gold trip for my son and peers. Many folk access the Dart valley from Cascade Saddle where I spent sometime a year ago on a big Search and Rescue mission, and other folk do what we did: up the Rees, over Snowy Saddle and down the Dart [note to trampers: both routes need a degree of alpine skill unless conditions are perfect e.g. dry and sunny - summer style. There are hints in the link above].

Not much more to say really except that our four boys conducted themselves very well. They usually led, while three of us parents bought up the rear. It was an awesome four days with great companions.

Rees valley on the left, with a steep aspect which would be risky when snow covered, and Snowy Creek leading to the Dart valley on the right. Note foreground figures...


Looking up the Snowy...


Mt Cook Lily in the Snowy...


Mt Cook Lily in the Snowy with Mt Edward in the background


Bridge and avalanche debris in the Snowy...


The relatively new Dart Hut down stream from the lower bridge over the Snowy...


Wonderful light and bush down the Dart near Sandy Bluff...


A troublesome-to-cross side stream near Chinaman's Bluff, near the end of the tramp...


Ending on a sombre note with a bigger picture Bob McKerrow once again has posted a very useful article on the earthquake in Haiti

Meandering looking at gold mining history and more New Zealand high country

The weather has been so unsettled this summer break, and with this and my son's part time job, we've not done the longer tramping trips I had in mind pre Christmas, however this means we just utilise the camper truck to good advantage and use local weather knowledge to minimise exposure to heavy rain and strong winds.

So a few days ago we travelled an old favourite of mine: the road from Cromwell to Garston, which essentially takes you from Central Otago's dry golden climate, through serious winter snow high country to pastoral Southland province. The route follows the Nevis valley and involves about 24 river crossings - challenging, if not crazy for a car, but not too serious for a judicially driven four wheel drive.

First stop - to catch a fish...


An hour or two later we're deep in gold mining history - this was once a gold dredge pond...




With a weather forecast predicting heavy rain I once again thought it wise to get the river crossing out of the way and camp on the saddle above Garston. This was the landscape we woke up amongst...


Before descending we spent a few hours wandering about exploring the unique New Zealand High Country landscape photography potential before the rain came in again. This first photo below is a Spaniard plant - sadly they proliferate where there has been too much burning off at the expense of snow tussock and soil values. They're unpalatable and the ends of the leaves are like hypodermics...




This lone pine, a noxious weed in this landscape, intrigued me and sensing a photo I hounded it, but did not get the shot I'd hoped for, so interestingly I "let go" of the idea and wandered elsewhere, but coming back the same way I made this "grab shot", and as is often the case when the mind is freed of labeling and preconceived ideas it turned out to be the one capturing the essense I had in mind...


A very youngNew Zealand Pipit, which I think maybe quite rare, but I'm not sure as they frequent the high snow tussock areas which by nature are very "open", and I've never seen one this close ever before despite all the time I've spent in this environment. They can also be mistaken for the Skylark. I did get much closer for more photos, but I like this first one as it shows something of the nature of the bird's environment...


On the descent, and heading post-haste to the tea rooms that I love to have a coffee at in Athol, the track goes past the old and historic Southland Ski Club hut...




I have a thing about the land forms of this part of Southland - maybe it's the contrast to the flat land, or maybe it's because being near The Nokomai there is a genetic link with my ancestors who were born there and frequented the area...


The rain caught up with us so we drove back via Queenstown and got home early to dryer climes. It was the day of the huge and growing annual Challenge Wanaka race, and as Mike a neighbour was one of the helper/organisers he had a drink station opposite the house. The race went on until midnight so we had quite different noises and energy in the neighbourhood for a few hours...