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

Off to Dart Hut on a wee holiday

I'm on holiday this week and I'm off with my son Dougal [now 17] and his mates to do a Rees/Dart tramp tomorrow, and we may just sneak over the pass before the next rain storm, and depending on this it could mean I'd be back early, or late if we come down the Dart, which is quite a long walk.

Dart hut is sort of in the middle of our circular trip, and it's been a few years since I've graced it's doorstep. There'll be no skis this trip though - not antiques like these found in the old hut in the seventies, or when I carried my own out from the Whitbourne and down the Dart. This time I hope to travel with both the lightness of body and of the [summer] day.