Blog

On Sunday Iheaded off for a climb of Taranaki from the Stratford Plateau via curtis ridge. I've been wanting to make a climb up curtis ridge  for a few years now but have never quite managed to fit it in. Its an enjoyable route best done while there's still a good covering of snow so that you can get off the top of the ridge and traverse across onto the southern side of the mountain to complete the climb up into the crater. I last climbed this route in 1978 with my father though the climb I …

I've been itching to climb Taranaki again for a while but the weather has not been suitable when I've had the time. However this weekend the stars finally aligned delivering perfect conditions for a great snow climb. A recent snow fall and then a fine clear morning with virtually no wind or at least not until I got to the summit. I set out just after 4:00am by torchlight with the milky way standing out boldly stretched across the night sky. It was a beautiful morning with the dawn glow grow …

I've been wanting to do a night climb on a moonlit night to Pouakai tarn for a while but the weather just hasn't been suitable. Last night was cloudy again and I had given it up as a lost cause until I woke at 1:40am and saw the mountain clear and bold under the full moon.  So after hastily stuffin my camera gear into my pack I was off, leaving the end of Mangorie road around 2:20am.It was a beautiful clear cold night and a wonderful tramp under the moonlight. I arrived on top of the Pouaka …

A clear, cold and stunningly beautiful day yesterday. Fresh snow on the mountain and a heavy frost. I was out pre dawn to get shots of the mountain with the southern cross low in the sky. Sunrise from port Taranaki then some bird watching at the Waiwhakaio river mouth.  Later in the day Catherine and I headed up to Taranaki for a short tramp in the fresh snow.  Beautiful views of Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe in the distance and then while we were taking a break, a friendly dunnock (hedge spar …