Charleston

The biggest anitcyclone in the world at the moment is sitting just off the east coast so to escape the Noreaster and the east coast clag, we drove over to Charleston on the West Coast for some proper trad climbing.

The drive is beautiful, through Castle Hill Basin, Arthurs Pass and up the stunning West Coast road north of Greymouth, past the limestone formations at Punakaki, dense rainforest and endless beaches.

Charleston impressed us even more than the last time we were here almost a year and a half ago whilst we were still travelling. The best and biggest climbing is concentrated in a small area but every route has fantastic climbing, great rock and with a proper trad feel that is rare for NZ, it was almost like being back in Cornwall!

Some of the south facing crags weren't quite dry enough, so we'll have to head back later in the summer. Definately lots of skope for DWS, coasteering and crag hunting.

Visit from a Haggis

We've had a visit from Haggis, another past BUMCer for the past few days. So off course (while Helen was working) we got a trip up to Castle Hill and a few crags in the Port Hills and had a great day on the Banks Peninsular on Saturday. Now he's off to explore the north of the South Island for a few days. We'll have some more past BUMCers visiting in February so anyone else keen to head down here better get their booking in soon :) the more visitors the better!

Spittle Hill

Akaroa Habour on the Banks Penninsular

Helen climbing at Otepatatou.

Topping out high above the bush.

Ski Touring on the Frans Josef and Fox Glaciers

Arriving at Almer Hut


Looking out over the Franz Josef Glacier


Helen skiing down between Newton Rocks


Skinning up the Geike Snowfield with the Minarets behind


Approaching Centennial Hut



View from the summit of the Minarets of Mount Cook, Tasman and the lower Tasman valley


Helen and Claire descending the west face of the Minarets

Mount Haast, Lendenfeld, Tasman and Torres from Pioneer Hut

Skiing down the Fox Glacier

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Fox

There's not much to do in Fox whilst waiting to fly into the hills, but two visits to Lake Matherson isn't bad

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Post card view of Lake Matherson with Mount Cook and Tasman early in the morning we flew in

Pisa Range

Hoping to escape the westerly weather that was battering the main divide, we headed into the Pisa range just south of Wanaka for a few days ski touring.




View over the Clutha Valley and Tarras towards the Dunstan Mountains from the summit of Mount Pisa.