Moss Pass via Blue Lake

The following is a recollection of the trip from two perspectives – Lynsey and Tiffany. With two vans from WTMC heading down for the long weekend, the ferry ride was a social affair, especially with a group of TTC folks also heading down for an attempt of Mt Manakau. We shared a van with James’ … Read more

St Arnaud and The Camel – and the rusty summit tin

The contents of the summit tin on The Camel showing the scraps of paper recording previous ascents

St Arnaud and The Camel –and the rusty summit tin A 4 day hiking loop trip through the spectacular mountain scenery of the St Arnaud Range passing over the summit of a peak called The Camel, and finding the rusty summit tin. Route to The Camel How long have you tramped for? I have tramped for … Read more

Blue Lake Hut

Blue Lake, Nelson Lakes

Our target for the weekend was Blue Lake Hut, nestled in the Nelson Lakes National Park next to reputedly the clearest water in the world – Blue Lake with 80 meters of visibility. Walking in and out on the same track, we conservatively estimated eight hours of tramping each day. Our weekend jaunt to the … Read more

Faerie Queene solo trip

Waterfall near the top of Camera Gully

Over Easter weekend I was on a climbing holiday in Takaka and having a very excellent time; and looking forward to a tramping trip over the ANZAC weekend up to the summit of Faerie Queene (a mountain in the Spenser range, just south of the Nelson Lakes). The plan was simple, head down the St … Read more

Hopelessly head over heels for Hopeless

Who names a mountain “Hopeless”? By all accounts, “an early survey party with a poor attitude”! Three days before our ferry left Wellington, I carried out my standard ritual of emailing all the trip plans to my Dad. He usually replies with “Thanks Son, be safe out there” or encouraging words to that effect. This … Read more

Holy Cupola!

On the summit of Mt Cupola, Nelson Lakes National Park, on a beautiful day

Holy Cupola! A snowcraft graduates ascent of Mt Cupola in Nelson Lakes National Park Spring was marching on, the snow was melting, and enthusiasm for alpine trips appeared to be on the wane. I felt like I hadn’t squeezed enough out of my snowcraft experience yet, so when Tony G offered Angelus trip-goers another bite … Read more