These last few weeks since I booked an impromptu trip to climb in the Southern Alps of New Zealand seemed to have flown by, literally. There has been so much to organise and gear to be updated that I hardly noticed time passing…
I head off early Friday morning, flying across “The Ditch” into Queenstown in the South Island, before making my way by bus to Wanaka, about an hour’s drive away.
On Saturday I will be flying into the back-country by either helicopter or ski-plane with Dean Staples, Adventure Consultants Chief Guide for New Zealand. He has a first class climbing and mountaineering pedigree with 8 trips to the top of Mt Everest under his belt, and numerous other 8,000 metre peaks, including Cho Oyu, which is my goal for 2014.
Anyway, there will be no communication access, other than satellite phone for emergencies, so I’ll let you know how it goes, along with some pictures, when I return.
And, strewth, at the moment there is plenty of snow falling and the wind is so strong it would “blow ya dog off its chain”…
Incidentally, the day after I get back I am participating in Tough Mudder, which is billed as the “Premier Obstacle Course Series in the World”. I will be lining up with my partner in crime and brother-in-law, dare I say, fellow adventurer, Ray Tong.
He’s a bit soft, a typical Kiwi, but I’ll get him through the day…and to the beer queue!
It is fair to say there is an unstated, vigorous, but friendly rivalry between us so it should be interesting. Ray will blow me away in the running, but I’ll have it all over him in the strength department…
Mind you, that is the beauty of these events, it requires teamwork to get you through.
And when I say return, what I really mean is that I will be updating from a near deserted island in the South Pacific. Yasawa Island in the Fijian Island Group.
Janet, TomO, and I fly out the day after Tough Mudder. So we’ll be lazing back on a coconut fringed beach for a week…
Okay, well TomO and I aren’t really known for just “lazing around” so we might find some adventure.
I’m sure we will…
And Janet, well we’ll make sure she is pampered in a manner deserving of such a loving partner, and mother, like royalty!
Xplore 
a belated safe travels and enjoy your adventures…..
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Hope you have a great trip! Can’t wait to see the pictures and hear the stories from your trip! Sounds epic!
I signed up for Tough Mudder last year here in the US but at the last minute was not able to do it 😦 I was disappointed but heard some great stories from my friends that did do it.
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Thanks….!!
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Baz!!!!! What will I do without your funny posts for a week??? Sigh… You be careful and have fun! Try not to freeze your rear off!!! AND we didn’t do the Tough Mudder but we did the Warrior Dash last fall and since I’m not a runner, like at all, it sucked for me! But I was proud of how I did on the obstacles! I’ve heard the Tough Mudder is way harder so I can’t wait to hear about it! And so jealous of the island you all are vacationing to afterward! It looks beautiful!!!! Be safe!
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Be good…it will take me a week to work out how to break the news to Janet that she’s got to swim with a croc so I can get a piccy. Oh, wait, that was me, geez!
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Good luck and God speed! And have a blast! I can’t wait to see the photos… I’m sure I’ll have to add more travels to my list.
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Thanks…I’ll make sure it is a blast!!!
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All the best with it, Baz! Can’t wait to see the update on your return!
PS. Quick question – what cam do you use for your vids? I was looking at a GoPro HD Hero 2 but heard mixed reviews on the GoPro Hero 1.
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howdy, thanks! I use GoPro HD Hero 2. Good unit!!
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safe travels
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Thanks!!!
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