A recent solo dawdle in the Mueller Valley. This was my first time out climbing solo. Moving through this terrain completely reliant on oneself with no safety net was vitalising. Definitely managed to take a bigger bite than intended but after an overnight rumination I was able to chew it safely.
After a false start in the morning I lost 4hrs, which meant I had to lower my gaze to some closer objectives. I was a little disappointed as I felt there wasn’t much of particular interest around. Cue the good idea fairy with a ridge traverse all the way back. This was far more exposed and risky than my estimate from the top of Mt Annette, which led to an eventual benightment on Mt Kitchener.
My main memories of this trip are first and foremost the perfect weather, perfect bivvy site and insane visuals of Aoraki and the moon. Next is the completely shite rock in the area. And finally the horrendous steep, exposed, loose scree benchs I had to traverse that felt like one more kg would send me off in a rock avy. Probably never going back to this area in summer.
1. Aoraki moon rise with Hooker Lake reflecting the goods.
2. View looking up the valley. Original objective was the salt and peppery peaks on the horizon centre of frame.
3. After recalibrating my objectives due to time I decided to climb nearby Mt Annette. Halfway up a fun scramble.
4. Top of Annette.
5. The route I took up Mt Annette, tried to make it more interesting than a walk.
6/7. Some beautiful sharp ridgelines giving a nice airy feel.
8/9. After far slower progress in much steeper terrain than expected, I reached this bench and felt safe enough to fire off a couple of quick shots as the sun rapidly set. The first looking back at Annette (centre of photo with a couple of licks of sun still on it). The second me having the realisation I was in for a long night.
10. Manning the Mt Kitchener Orbservatory 🔮🔭
11. Rancho Relaxo after finding this epic bivvy.
12. This was my bed and the steep mixed rock/snow couloir I climbed to get to the top. Couple of no fall zones.
The Red Buttress of Mt Abel. Mix of photos from myself, @letsgoinforaboat , @diariesofthewildones , and camo!!
1. Me halfway taken with Blakos fancy pinhole camera
2. Scale is always hard in such big places
3. First Pitch.. follow the rope to find cam getting it done
4. Belay station vibes
5. Aaron having a
6. View north from top
7. View south from top
8. Beginning the descent
A few resonant street art scenes from Teufelsberg, an abandoned American Cold War radar/electronic warfare station on the outskirts of Berlin. It is actually a man made hill. There is a buried Nazi university underneath built so strongly that the Allies gave up trying to destroy it and chose to bury instead with all the rubble during the cleanup of Berlin
Heli in walk out. Got stuck in a three team congo line in the morning. Went up via the ramp. Fortunate enough to get the summit of Mt Aspiring to ourselves!! Beautiful mountain in a beautiful region. 🙏🏔️ much love Aotearoa 💚
