It is always with great anticipation heading down the driveway, waving good-bye to the urban surrounds we are so familiar with, but long to escape, steering “The Landy” towards the bush, the outback and today was no exception.
Janet had finished packing the food into “The Landy” the previous night and now there was nothing left to do but jump in and head-off.
Taking advantage of some additional time off over the easter break we decided to make a quick dash to the outback and a cattle station in western New South Wales, Trilby Station.
Joining us are our good friends Bob and Annette and “the boys”, David and Stephen.
We travel together often and as it would be a long drive ahead, 860 kilometres to be precise, we headed off in the pre-dawn hours, 2:30am on the dot, which is early even by my standards.
The drudgery of the freeway to the north-west, the escape route from suburbia, soon gave way to the foothills of the Blue Mountains and as we settled into the dawning moments of our sojourn we began to reflect on what it must have been like for the early explorers as they made their way westward, journeying on foot, horseback, and bullock dray.
These days the trek over the mountains is done mostly in the relative comfort of a modern vehicle, although Janet was heard to whisper, under hushed breathe, something about there being little difference between a bullock dray, and “The Landy”.
“The Landy” crossing the Darling River into the Australian Outback
They say the journey is just as important as the destination, and we enjoyed the drive, passing many small communities we hadn’t seen for some time, arriving at Trilby Station, which is situated on one of Australia’s important river systems, the Darling River, in the early afternoon.
It didn’t take long to set up camp and the boys had the boat into the billabong and were off to explore.
The Boys out on the Billabong
Explore, isn’t that what life is all about, and fair dinkum, how good is the Australian Outback.
Touring the harsh environment of the Australian Outback is best done in a robust vehicle designed for the job.
Mind you, in days long gone people travelled the Australian Outback in old Model T Fords…
The Landy – Straight from the farmThe Landy – Straight out of the workshop
Our vehicle is a LandroverDefender 130 Twin Cab manufactured in 1995, and completely rebuilt from scratch in 2006. Up until the time we purchased the vehicle it had been used as a farm vehicle in the wine growing region of the Hunter Valley just to the north of Sydney. We reconfigured it for long-range travel and it can cover a distance of around 1,800 kilometres without the need to refuel.
Strewth, that would be 1,100 miles…
We intentionally chose an older vehicle so we didn’t have to deal with a “computer failure” disabling the vehicle in the middle of no-where. A rare occurrence mind you, but it is a long walk from the middle of no-where in the Australian Outback!
The Landy + T-Van
It uses solar panels for power management and has a High-Frequency Radio for long-range communication that enables us to stay in contact even in the most remote parts of Australia.
And it can carry 100 litres of water in a specially designed stainless steel water tank.
Inside the canopy we carry an inflatable boat and outboard motor for touring the creeks and billabongs we come across in our travels, has a 60 litre fridge, and we carry a comprehensive range of spare parts, tools and tyre repair equipment.
The Landy – packed ready for adventureThe Landy – packed ready for adventure
After all, in the event of a break-down help can be hundred’s of kilometres away. We also carry a substantial medical kit.
And to enable it to cope with the harsh environment we travel in, it has specialist suspension.
The Landy and T-Van, no show ponies here!
The camper-trailer, a Track T-Van, is every bit as tough as the vehicle and was designed by a company that makes trailer equipment for the Australian army. It doesn’t come on all our trips, but crikey, we need to find a good reason not to take it, as it makes for a very comfortable night’s sleep.
Our go anywhere T-Van camper trailer
Quite a change to a bivvy bag and sleeping bag on the side of an alpine mountain in the freezing cold!
Anyway, make sure you give us a wave if you see “The Landy” Out and About.
Landrovers, I love ‘em so much that I’ve got two (Janet rolls eyes 😉 )
This week marked the passing of another year in the history of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it turned 81 years old.
It was officially opened on 19 March, 1932.
Southern Approach – Sydney Harbour Bridge
An icon around the world, in more recent times it has become a focal point for New Year celebrations as Sydney-siders herald in another year with the bridge festooned in colourful fireworks.
Of course it is more than that, it is a life-line to those travelling from the north of Sydney to the south and whilst many years ago the Sydney Harbour tunnel was built, taking vehicular traffic under the harbour, it still doesn’t match a trip over the Coat-Hangar.
Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House
And New Yorkers’ might be just left wondering where you had seen our bridge before. The design of the bridge was heavily influenced by the Hell Gate Bridge in New York.
I drive over the bridge each day on my way to work in Sydney’s central business district and I always take in the view it gives of the harbour and marvel at the engineering feat.
Northern Approach, Sydney Harbour Bridge
Of course, for those who are inclined, make sure you take the bridge climb if you ever visit Sydney – the views of Sydney Harbour are spectacular…
Blue Winged Kookaburra, Bowthorne Station, Gulf Savannah Land
There is a lot to like about our island continent, Australia.
Our unique wildlife, kangaroos bounding across wide open plains, koalas sleeping in a lonely gum tree, and even a crocodile here and there…
Beaches that are counted among the best in the world, the brilliant red colour of the Outback set against a rich blue sky.
Mayne Ranges – North of Diamantina NP
But don’t worry, I’m not writing an advertorial for our local tourism authority, besides, I think Australia does a good job of selling itself…
No, what I am writing about is the world’s best alarm clock.
There is no need to set it, it comes in a range of colours and is mostly uniform in shape and size…
No snooze button on this model though…
It doesn’t make the usual mind-numbing BEEP…BEEP…BEEP, or gently awaken you to the sound of your favourite music.
But it will awaken you to the sounds of jovial laughter, perhaps leaving you to wonder whether you are still in that bar you were going to leave before the stroke of midnight…
The Shed
As the first sign of light began to show in the eastern sky, I wiped the sleep from my eyes and headed for the shed, my predawn exercise workout beckoning.
And that alarm was still laughing, mocking me, seemingly taking pleasure that it had dislodged another from the dreamworld that we all try to hold onto for those extra few minutes.
Yep, natures alarm clock, Australia’s own Kookaburra – you’ve gotta love ‘em…
(The one pictured is a Blue-Winged Kookaburra photographed by Janet, my partner, on Bowthorne Station in the Gulf Savannah of Northern Australia.)
The Cooper Creek winds its way through the Australian Outback after the rains from Northern Australia swell the creeks and river systems and move slowly down into the wonderful area they call the “Channel Country” providing a haven for water birds and bringing life to the surrounding country…
TomO, Janet and I travelled in our inflatable boat to this remote spot, sat back and enjoyed the solitude that the Australian Outback brings, and not another soul in sight…!
And lucky for us, Janet rustled up one of those great dampers of hers in the camp oven for us to devour, how good is that…
It doesn’t matter where in the world you travel you will always find someone baking bread. And there is nothing better than eating freshly baked bread…
It could be a baguette in a back street bakery not too far from Avenue des Champs-Élysées, or a Grissini expertly baked in the shadows of the Colosseum, it could even be one of the many Indian flatbreads, a Naan maybe, baking in a tandoori oven, or even an Injera in Ethiopia.
Freshly baked damper
In the Australian Outback where a never-ending blue sky meets the parched red soil it will be the drovers’ staple, a golden brown damper, kneaded and expertly worked before being baked in a camp oven, or maybe just directly over hot glowing coals…
Damper ready to eat
A freshly cooked damper, still warm, is best eaten smothered in golden syrup, the residue running down your hands, waiting to be licked from your fingers…
One of my passions is travelling the Australian Outback, the rich red soil kissing a vast blue sky in the far off distance, in the never-never…
Rest assured the never-never is a real place and the term was often used to describe the vast uninhabited inland region of Australian. But in reality, Australia’s first people, Australian Aboriginals, inhabited much of this vast land, the never-never…
The term never-never has appeared in many poems, writings, there is even a novel, “We of the Never-Never”, authored by Aenas Gunn. The book is really an autobiographical account of her time on Elsey Cattle Station in Australia’s Northern Territory.
I’ve visited Cordillo Downs many times over the years and it is truly big-sky country out there. Standing in its shadows I try and picture in my mind’s eye the people who worked here, how they arrived, where they went.
For you see, Cordillo Downs is in the middle of no-where and there is something very appealing about that.
And you’ll be hard pressed to find a tree in the “gibber country”.
Stores were transported from a town approximately 600 kilometres to the south by Afghan Camel Trains and workers frequently rode bicycles across an arid desert landscape to seek work in the shearing shed.
The Never Never, Outback Australia
Hey TomO, there’s an adventure for us, riding our mountain bikes up the Strezlecki Track to Cordillo Downs…
Outback Australia, truly full of surprises and if you aren’t carried away by the magnificent landscape, you’ll be carried away by the flies, that’s for sure!
Taken as the sun was dawning on a new day in the outback, the woolshed is located within Currawinya National Park, near Hungerford, in far western Queensland.
It is affectionately known as the Ta-Ta Lizard due to its peculiar habit of waving its front leg before running away, oddly enough almost in an upright position. The waving is possibly due to standing on hot surfaces, as they do reside in the northern and hotter parts of Australia.
Its actual name is the Gilbert’s Dragon, Amphibolurus Gilbert.
But that’s a bit like calling Baz – The Landy, Barry Thomas O’Malley, so let’s just stick with Ta-Ta Lizard…
And checkout the size of its tail and back feet!
We took this photograph whilst Out and About in one of our favourite outback places, Lawn Hill Gorge, a spectacular oasis in a barren land…
And okay, I get it, not everyone likes reptiles, and we’ve got plenty of them over here, many that are best avoided, but crikey, he is cute, don’t you think so?
Sunrise, Currawinya National Park, Outback Australia
Hey Baz…what’s with this “Baz, The Landy” thing?
Didn’t your parents like you or something?
It is a question I field every so often…
And yes my parents do like me and in fact my mother, Fay, was only saying the other day…
“Be careful out there Baz, you know I worry”.
Mind you she said that as I was heading to work!
Heaven forbid, if she knew what I got up to when I’m not at work…
Baz – climbing Sweet Dreams, Blue Mountains, AustraliaBaz – Mt Aurora, Southern Alps, New Zealand
But what’s in a name I hear you ask…
Go and grab a cuppa and make yourself comfy on the sofa…
…Crikey, that was quick, you still drinking that instant stuff?
Anyway, you see Australia is a diverse country, the driest continent on the planet in fact, but despite this the colour of the outback is spectacular. An endless blue sky kissing the dry, cracked, red earth of the outback in the far off distance…
Mayne Range, Diamantina NP, Outback Australia
From the Channel Country, a vast expanse of the Queensland Outback, an area that has spawned more yarns and tall stories than a Friday night at the pub.
A place where the country unfolds to the horizon, featureless apart from the Mitchell Grass that stretches as far as the eye can see, swaying in a light afternoon breeze, mesmerising the senses as you squint to see through the heat haze.
Mitchell Grass swaying in the breeze, Outback AustraliaSimpson Desert, Central AustraliaSimpson Desert, disappearing into the horizonSand dunes in the Australian Outback
To the deserts of the central region, theSimpson Desert, where the sand dunes cut their way across the salt pans, never ending until you reach a famous oasis on the desert’s fringe, Birdsville and the Birdsville Pub.
Birdsville Pub, Outback Australia
And what about up north, strewth, it has got to be some of the best country in the world, a place we call the Gulf Savannah, a place that is thick with red bull dust until the summer monsoon floods the land, quenching the parched earth, breathing life into the flora and fauna that inhabits the region.
The FloraAnd Fauna
Did I ever tell you about Lawn Hill Gorge?
If you never visit anywhere else in our neck of the woods then be sure you make your way up there. We visit as often as we can, there is something refreshing about being up in The Gulf, a place thatrejuvenates your soul.
Lawn Hill Gorge, Gulf Savannah, Outback Australia
Take a refreshing swim in the spring-fed gorge and don’t worry about the freshies. You know, the fresh water crocodiles, they’re mostly harmless, not like their saltwater cousins, you’ll be right if you leave ‘em alone.
Australian Freshwater Crocodile, Lawn Hill Gorge
And its worth knowing that just to the south of the gorge is the World Heritage listed Fossil Mammal site, Riversleigh. It is one of the most significant fossil mammal deposits in the world and the richest known in Australia.
Riversleigh World Heritage Site
I must say, there were a few old fossils running around the gorge last time I was up there, and TomO, the cheeky little fella, reckons one of them was his Dad…
Anyway, I was telling you about how I got the name “Baz, The Landy”.
Well you see, travelling around this great country of ours is all good and well, but to get into some of these remote areas you need a vehicle that can take the pounding that the corrugations on the outback roads can dish out.
The Landy and Tvan, Outback Australia
If you can call them roads, sometimes there isn’t one.
A vehicle capable of taking all the gear and toys you need to play in the outback.
Our choice of vehicle is the trusty Landrover Defender. They get called many things, a ‘Fender, the truck, some will even say a box of trouble on wheels.
The Landy, Outback Australia
In fact we’ve got two of them and they go by the names of “The Landy” and “Red Rover”...
We designed “The Landy” with long-range remote area travel in mind when we rebuilt it in 2006. It was a stock standard Landrover Defender 130 until we set to work on it.
The Landy – packed full of toysThe Landy – packed full of toys
Equipped with long-range fuel tanks it can travel up to 1,800 kilometres without being refuelled. That’s a long way I hear you say, but mate, let me tell you, the outback is a long way from nowhere.
(A young) TomO takes control of the inflatable boat on the Cooper Creek, Outback Australia
It carries an inflatable boat and outboard motor for travelling on our inland waterways, and it even has a long-range radio that could put you in contact with someone on the other side of Australia, if you wanted to…
Hey, check out the roof, its got a roof top tent that we can take, if we don’t want to tow our T-Van camper trailer.
The Landy, with Penthouse views, Outback Australia
I always promised Janet a penthouse to live in…
And it’s even got a fridge to keep Janet’s wine cool store perishables.
I could rave on about it for ages, but I think you’ve got the picture by now and it has served us extremely well and will continue to do so whenever we venture west of the Black Stump.
“Red Rover” is my stock standard Defender 110 that I rebuilt a few years back and serves as my commute vehicle. It looks splendid in fire engine red and I proudly park it at work, down amongst all the Mercs and Beamers in the car park.
Red Rover, a class act amongst the “Mercs and Beamers”
Yep, it makes the trip across the Sydney Harbour Bridge each day and I even gave it a bit of a wrap in my blog some time back, Red Rover – Tale of a Landy Make-over.
But don’t go thinking it is some show pony, far from it, it gets Out and About frequently, and I can’t keep Janet out of it…
Red Rover – no show ponyJanet – always happy to take the wheel
Wasn’t I telling you about how the name “Baz, The Landy” came about?
Well, every four-wheel drive vehicle I’ve ever owned has been a Landrover Defender, so it seems inevitable that someone was going to end up calling me Baz, The Landy.
I guess!
Besides, how would it be if I was called “Baz – The Red Rover” – strewth, you might go thinking I was out of some kids fairy tale book, or worse…
But getting back to our island continent, Australia, it isn’t hard to ramble on a bit about how fantastic this country is, you know, the one hidden in the summer for a million years, so why don’t I just leave you with this video that our tourism gurus’ put together to the music of one of our greatest musicians, Iva Davies and Icehouse…
And hey, if you’re ever out here visiting make sure you give “The Landy” a wave if you see it go past, we’re a friendly bunch and I’ll even stop and have a yarn with ya!
Looking back at old photographs is like opening a time capsule, you just never know what you are going to find and usually there are one or two little gems to bring a smile to your face.
I was at Janet’s parents home recently, Clare and Archie who are 83 and 98 years of age, and over a cup of tea we were flicking through books of old photographs.
The themes varied from trips overseas, the children growing up, and of Archie’s childhood in India.
Archie and younger sister Marjorie
You could pick any photograph and Archie would narrate a rich account of when it was taken, and the story behind those who were in it.
And there were photographs of Clare’s childhood days, growing up in far western Queensland on the family’s sheep property and of her days at boarding school in Charters Towers, far North Queensland.
Clare’s Family Home – Charters Towers, North Queensland, Australia
The conversation turned to our upcoming adventures and my journey to climb Cho Oyu, an 8,000 metre peak, which is close to where Archie grew up, and if all goes well, Mt Everest.
Over the years I have listened to the many stories of Archie’s trips to Darjeeling, situated in the foothills of the Himalaya’s and in later years of visits both he and Clare made back to Calcutta.
One story that always brings a good laugh is about a mountaineering expedition group who turned up at the offices of James Wright and Company, General Merchants, the family business in Calcutta. The suave and handsome couple heading the expedition were in a rather irate mood as they stepped out of the taxi, demanding to know why they had not been met at the ship upon their arrival.
Being general merchants, Archie and his father dealt in all kind of goods, and were the agent’s in India for the popular drink Ovaltine.
“These mountaineers were here to climb Mt Everest and they were going to drink Ovaltine all the way to the top, extolling its virtues to the world.”
It had all been arranged in England prior to their departure and there was surprise and indignation that they had not been afforded the courtesies expected upon their arrival. They even had a copy of the telegram from the Head of the company that made Ovaltine in England informing of their visit.
This was a gentlemanly age and young Archie arranged for the expedition to be put up at a first class hotel where they could rest after their long sea voyage and ahead of their attempt to climb Mt Everest.
A Young Archie
And rest and avail themselves they did indeed…
Of course, there was to be no attempt on Mt Everest as the mountaineers were well practiced con people. After spending a number of nights in the luxury of the first class hotel, taking advantage of the young Fawthrop’s generous hospitality, they disappeared into the night, leaving Archie with an expensive hotel bill and the need to provide an account to his father of how he had been done by a slick group of con artists’.
But he could be forgiven, after all Ovaltine accompanied Sir Edmund Hilary on his ascent of Mt Everest with Tenzing Norgay in 1953 and the company went on to sponsor Chris Bonnington’s 1975 Everest expedition.
Archie, Clare and Tenzing
And speaking of Tenzing Norgay, as we continued our journey through the albums one particular photograph caught my attention, a black and white snapshot of Clare and Archie, with Tenzing Norgay standing beside them.
On a visit to Darjeeling, Archie and Clare met and spoke with Tenzing, a remarkable and quietly spoken man they said, whilst dining at the Darjeeling Club.
TomO was very excited at the discovery, a link to where we will travel this year when I attempt to climb three 6,000 metre peaks,Lobuche East, Island Peak, and Pokalde, all situated not too far from Mt Everest.
Baz traversing Mt Aurora
Was the Ovaltine story and the photograph a sign-post on our own journey, I thought.
A connection to the region brought about from Archie’s younger days? In the least, it will enrich the experience for us…
And as I climb in the Himalaya’s Archie’s Ovaltine story will be sure to put a smile on my face, warming me like a hot cup of Ovaltine on a bleak winter’s night…
Phew…“The Shed” hasn’t changed whilst I was away climbing in New Zealand.
It is still that grand old place where tall stories can be told, a few laughs had, a place where you can grab a coldie out of the fridge to share with mates, and importantly, it is my morning training hangout.
These past few days I’ve headed up the driveway in the pre-dawn darkness, a time of the day I actually enjoy immensely, to exercise on my C2 Concept Rower, and to lift a few weights.
Baz on the C2 Rower
Over the coming months my exercise regime in The Shed will revolve around high intensity cardio and building muscular endurance in preparation for my expedition to Nepal at the end of the year. Of course, there will be plenty of hill climbing with a 20 kilogram backpack, and I could never go without getting in a paddle on the lake at least once a week.
Baz – heading up “The Hill”
I’m always happy to be out hiking in the Australian Bush…and kayaking on our magnificent ocean beaches and inland waterways!
Baz, Terrigal Beach, Australia
I will also be focussing on improving muscular flexibility through yoga practice. Bikram is my preferred yoga and I’m looking forward to reacquainting myself with it over the coming weeks.
Another focus of mine will be agility, something we seem to have in younger days and lose over time. Whilst I’m not too bad, my trip to New Zealand highlighted that I would benefit from undertaking some specific training, like balance beam walking with a back-pack…
And of course there’ll be plenty of rock-climbing up in the Blue Mountainsto hone my rope handling skills and efficiency.
Baz – Boar’s Head, Blue Mountains, Australia
Something that I will be revelling in!
And my partner in crime, brother-in-law, Ray Tong, and I are scheduled to line up for another start in Tough Mudder in early April, and he is well advanced in his preparation, so I have some catching up to do!
Ray and Baz line up for Tough Mudder
We are looking to improve our time from last September’s Tough Mudder event.
Mind you, I’m currently suffering from a long term achillies tendon injury which has flared once again.
My sports doctor is treating it with Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP as it is usually referred to. It involves drawing my own blood and extracting the PRP which is then injected back into my achillies tendon to assist recovery. The process can be done in the surgery and takes around 15-30 minutes. To date, I have had one injection and another is scheduled for next week.
I’m also undergoing a very specific stretching regime to assist in the recovery.
Fingers crossed, as failing this it will require some surgery to correct.
Baz – Crossing Swing Bridge on the Six Foot Track
But I’m confident all will be well within the next few weeks and I can’t wait to be back out in the mountains hiking and climbing.
All up, life is pretty good, wouldn’t be dead for quids…
And remember, if all else fails, remain out of control and see what happens, or just take a leap of faith!
January was such a whirlwind of fun, mountaineering in the Southern Alps of one of the best countries in the world, New Zealand.
Of course, it wasn’t all mountaineering and there was plenty of family time doing some crazy things together.
Now I do have this rather audacious plan to climb some of the world’s highest mountains, heaven forbid,Mt Everest does beckon, but of course even contemplating that is some time off just at the moment.
My next major expedition will be to Nepal in November of this year. It sounds so far away doesn’t it?
Baz – Pack-walk up Heaton’s Gap
I have much preparation to do ahead of it and I suspect time will fly past very quickly. I need to increase my fitness with plenty of long-distance pack walking, as well as hone my climbing and rope handling skills; after all as they say practice makes us perfect.
Baz – Boar’s Head, Blue Mountains, Australia
And of course, climbing to altitudes in excess of 6,000 metres will require some new equipment, so plenty of gear reviews and shopping lie in the months ahead.
Shoosh, I might just not let on to Janet about that just yet!
But anyway, I’m starting to rabbit on a bit now, so I’ll get to my point…
Many people have asked about how the trip went and did I get to the summit of Mt Aspiring.
Mt Aspiring viewed from Bevan Col
Unfortunately the answer was no. The weather conspired against us about halfway up and we decided to turn back, to continue on would have been dangerous…
But none-the-less, it was a successful climb.
It would be easy to think of it as a failure…but I had a great smile on my face!
Not hard to smile in this spectacular place!
Failure is a word I’ve never been comfortable with and I’m sure it doesn’t sit well with many others. But for many, not achieving a goal you’ve set out to achieve often leads to despair, feelings of not succeeding – of failure.
It can be deflating…
For me, not getting to the summit of Mt Aspiring was not a failure; in fact I found it a great learning experience. Turning back involved taking account of many factors; of course the most important was weather, which was pretty much a no-brainer as the wind was raging in excess of 100 kilometres per hour over the summit.
Weather closing in
Assessing the situation, making the correct decision at the appropriate time, and of course acting on it was an important lesson in “human factors” especially as we stood on the mountain, exposed to the elements; to the increasing wind and sleet…
All too often it has been found that people have identified that a new course of action needs to be taken and whilst they’ve understood what it was they needed to do they’ve failed to implement the new plan until it was too late.
The experience highlighted the importance of being efficient and proficient whilst remaining safe, especially at a time when external factors were having an adverse affect on the undertaking.
Baz – upwards and onwards
A very important lesson, especially given my rather audacious plan of climbing high mountains!
So should we get rid of “failure” from our vocabulary?
No, I think it has a place.
After all, Janet did highlight to me the other day that I had failed to take out the garbage, and for sure it could count as a learning experience, but failure summed it up perfectly…
The garbage truck had just passed our home and wouldn’t be back for another week and those words “you failed a very simple task” are still ringing in my ears…
So next time you haven’t achieved your goal will you use the“Fword?”
I know you won’t… Just think of it has a learning experience on your way to success…
But mind you, if all else does fail, justfeel free to remain out of control and see what develops…
Whilst we were holidaying and climbing in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, we took time to skim across the Matukituki River with Wanaka River Journeys.
It was a great trip and as well as journeying the river we took a walk through a fantastic Beech Tree Forest and marveled at the many waterfalls and cold mountain streams.
Anyway, grab a life-vest and jump aboard…if you’re game!
It is often said that too much of a good thing, is not such a good thing.
And after three weeks in the spectacular South Island of New Zealand, mountaineering, climbing, jet-boating, taking to the skies in a Tiger Moth, and leaping 100 metres into a canyon screaming at the top of my lungs, seemingly a good thing came to an abrupt end this week.
Baz traversing Mt Aurora
It was back to work…
Yes I do work, although my colleagues have often said, with a wink, that at times there is too much day dreaming going on and not enough work.
But putting that aside…
My usual daily routine starts around 4am each day up in the shed with a row, a weight session, or perhaps even a bit of both. Other days it is a walk with a 25 or 30-kilogram backpack for company.
But I must say it was a little tough getting motivated these past few days, not so much because of the early start, after all, I had a few alpine starts these past three weeks where you rise around 3am in the morning to ready for a day of climbing.
Jet-boating with Janet & TomO, New Zealand
Initially I put it down to a change in routine, let’s face it, it is pretty easy to get out of bed for a day of climbing in the spectacular Southern Alps; the walk to the shed just didn’t cut it.
Maybe it was cabin fever I thought, after all “the shed” is about the size of some of the alpine huts.
Baz over Wanaka
Now let me say the alpine huts dotted throughout the alpine regions are basic, but comfortable and what you would expect of this type of shelter and accommodation.
Mind you, heating is limited to clothing and a warm sleeping bag.
Franz Joseph Glacier – Centennial Hut
And given there is one big refrigerator outside, keeping perishable food is no great problem, just bury it in the snow and hope the Keas’don’t find it before you eat it. So you can actually eat very well, which is great given the mountains tend to give you a solid appetite.
Good food – Colin Todd Hutt
But back to this cabin fever thing, the weather turned particularly bad, and I mean badass bad, during the week I was attempting to climb Mt Aspiring.
We had two quite reasonable days before it all went pear-shaped and the wind howled gusting at up to 180 kilometres an hour at times, sleet, snow and rain, pounded Colin Todd Hutt relentlessly for almost three days and nights.
Practicing rope rescue techniques
The lightening was striking all around the hut, but its flashes struck silently because you couldn’t hear the thunder over the roar of the wind.
We did keep ourselves occupied during the storm with plenty of knot tying, practicing rescue techniques, cups of sweet tea, and book reading tucked up in a warm down sleeping bag.
Relaxing during the storm, Colin Todd Hut
But there was some floor pacing as well…
Actually, it was a great experience, if you had to have it, as it demonstrated what nature will toss at you in the mountains, a good lesson in patience.
I’ve just given myself a bit of a slap…
C’mon Baz, you’re not suffering cabin fever, you love theshed, and after all it isa sanctuary, the font of all knowledge and some tall tales.
The Shed – Font of all knowledge
And besides you have plenty of training ahead of that climbing you are going to do in Nepal later this year.
Best you get reacquainted with theshed sooner, rather than later…
Hey, and remember, if all else fails, remain out of control and see what develops…
Baz climbing Sweet Dreams, Blue Mountains, Australia
A flight in a Tiger Moth from a by-gone era sounded far too good an opportunity to pass up.
On a recent visit to the South Island of New Zealand and in between climbing in the Southern Alps, I did just that, accompanied by my adventurous son, TomO…
And TomO, being a bit of a military buff, relished the opportunity to chase his father around the skies over Wanaka, while Mum, Janet, watched from a vantage point on the lake foreshore below.
TomO and Baz over Wanaka
The Tiger Moths are owned and operated by Peter Hendriks at Classic Flights, Wanaka.
Peter, along with his flying partner, Andy Hailey, who recently left the RAF after trading a seat in the supersonic Euro-fighter for something just a bit slower, expertly piloted the aircraft.
It even had me reminiscing over my own flying days, another time when Janet and I flew the length and breadth of Australia in our own aircraft, a Piper Arrow.
Piper Arrow VH-FTH
TomO and I kitted up in the flight room, donning flying gear of the Tiger Moth era, including a silk scarf, and with the smell of aviation fuel in our nostrils took to the blue skies over Wanaka.
Anyway, why don’t you just jump on board with us and join the flight…don’t forget to strap yourself in, we don’t want you falling out when we do a loop!
New Zealand is often referred to as the land of the “long white cloud” and during my two weeks of climbing I saw many variations of that long white cloud.
At times there was not a cloud in the sky, at other times there was white out conditions in the mountains due to violent storms. During my first week in the mountains we had a storm that raged for three days…
Winds were howling and gusting at up to 180 kilometres per hour.
The aim of my visit to New Zealand was to learn more of the craft of alpine mountaineering, and to attempt an ascent on Mt Aspiring, the Matterhorn of the South.
Mt Aspiring
And whilst disappointed we had to turn back from the summit of Mt Aspiring due to deteriorating weather, the experience gained over the two weeks under the expert guidance of Richard Raynes and Steve Moffat from Adventure Consultants, was invaluable.
The focus now switches to my expedition to Nepal in November this year and whilst it is some months away there is little doubt that time will pass quickly…
So there’ll be plenty of long hikes with my backpack, something I relish, and of course climbing in my own back yard, the wonderful Blue Mountains.
I have just been looking at the climbing photos of the past of couple weeks over a cup of tea and here are some of my favourites…
After the climbing I have been doing in New Zealand, and the travelling that Janet and TomO have done whilst I was in the mountains, we decided today would be a good opportunity to all relax together in the beautiful town of Queenstown.
Well, when I said relax, I mean relax in our own special way…
TomO led the charge with a solo jump; doing a spectacular pin-drop, apparently one of the youngest to do this style. Janet and I followed shortly after, and in case you are wondering, we thought we’d chuck TomO off first just to make sure it all held together…
What chance did TomO ever have – with this pair as parents
And perhaps because we are just a little “insane” TomO and I took another leap together!
A chip off the “old block” ?
Yes – perhaps, I’m just not sure whether I should be proud or just a little bit worried…
Oh, don’t worry, we’re very proud (and just a tad worried!)
Anyway, pictures speak louder than words…Jumpppppppp!
As I stood outside Almer Hut waiting for a helicopter to arrive to take me down from the mountains I looked back up Franz Joseph Glacier and reflected on the two weeks of climbing I have had in New Zealand.
TomO and Baz over Wanaka
Of time spent with loved ones; chasing TomO in a Tiger Moth in the skies over Lake Wanaka, with Janet, moments shared together, and of time spent on the top of mountains with newly made friends…
Janet, TomO and Baz – Wanaka, New Zealand
Take nothing for granted, for truly, there are no ordinary moments; no ordinary people; no ordinary lives…
Climbing the south face of Aurora, Southern Alps, New Zealand
Mountains have a way of drawing you in like a magnet, whether you want to view them, walk up them, or perhaps climb them.
For me it has been about climbing them and the Southern Alps on New Zealand’s South Island has provided me with a great place to do just that over the past two weeks.
Baz on Aurora – Southern Alps, New ZealandBaz on Aurora, Southern Alps, New Zealand
And sure, there has been a day here or there that the weather was not suitable, but that is an opportunity to wrap yourself in a warm down sleeping bag way up high in an alpine hut with a good book…
Talking about Alpine Huts, I spent a week at Centennial Hut, situated on the West Coast, and from its position, perched high on an exposed ridge, you could see all the way down to the Tasman Sea…the sunsets were fantastic from our alpine hideaway!
Sunset over the Tasman Sea – Centennial Hut
I have learned much over the past two weeks under the supervision of the team from Adventure Consultants who are high altitude climbing specialists based at Wanaka and it has prepared me very well for an expedition to climb in Nepal later this year.
In fact, the climbing in Nepal will not be as technical as the climbing I have been doing these past two weeks, but the summits will be in excess of 6,000 metres!
Baz – traversing on Aurora Southern Alps, New Zealand
And whilst I am still surrounded by the magnificent mountains of the Southern Alps I will be putting away the crampons and ice picks for the next few days as Janet, TomO, and I are going to spend some time just relaxing in this wonderful country they call New Zealand…
Tasman Glacier viewed from Graham Saddle, Southern Alps, New Zealand
Crikey…did I say relax – I mean relaxing, as we know how.
All three of us will be stepping off a platform high above a canyon near Queenstown, in what is billed as the world’s largest canyon swing. Once you depart the platform you free-fall 60 metres down into the canyon until the ropes smoothly swings you into a giant 200 metre swing. You then complete a couple of massive swings before you slowly come to rest approximately 100 metres below the departure platform.
Strewth, I’ll let you know how that goes!
And all I can say is – “thumbs up” to climbing in New Zealand…
New Zealand’s Southern Alps – Gets the “Thumbs Up”
If you want to see some fantastic New Zealand scenery, take in a couple of the sights of where Lord of the Rings was filmed, and you’re a bit of an adrenalin junkie, than a jet boat ride up the Matukituki River is the thing for you…
I was supposed to be heading to New Zealand’s west coast for another week of climbing in the Southern Alps, however with weather forecast to be less than favourable we decided to postpone our departure by two days.
Mind you, the weather around Wanaka has been perfect during our stay and we’ve been making the most of it!
After a short drive through grazing lands just outside of Wanaka we arrived at our departure point for the trip up the river.
Janet and TomO
Strewth, what a great ride it was!
Our guide expertly pointed the boat through the various water channels on the braided river, which was still flowing quite fast due to all the recent rain. Yes, the same rain I experienced whilst on the Bonar Glacier trying to climb Mt Aspiring last week.
Beech forest
After about half-an-hour we hopped out of the boat and took a nature walk, marvelling at the giant beech tree forests. These trees are very old and quite spectacular.
And the view of Avalanche Glacier was breathtaking.
Avalanche Glacier
Back on the boat we made our way towards Lake Wanaka, stopping at one of the spots where Lord of the Rings was filmed.
If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you will recall a scene where Frodo Baggins is standing on a hill and is stabbed in the shoulder by one of the Ringwraiths.
This scene was filmed in the Matukituki Valley.
Lord of the Rings
I must confess to being a big fan of the series, and as I walked out of Mt Aspiring a week ago, down the valley and through the forest it truly felt like I was in “middle-earth”.
After bidding our guides farewell, Janet and I relaxed by the shores of Lake Wanaka, while TomO went for a swim…
TomOLife is too short to eat bad ice-cream
Crikey, what a great day in a beautiful part of the world – and how good is that ice-cream!
Climbing mountains is one way to get your head in the clouds and tomorrow I will be travelling to the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island for another week of adventure in the mountains.
I climbed this breath-taking area last September and I am looking forward to being there again…
And I am certainly hoping for better weather than the blizzard conditions I experienced last week whilst climbing Mt Aspiring and neighbouring peaks.
But mind you, there is more than one way to get your head in the clouds and this morning TomO and I took to the skies over Wanaka, chasing each other in two vintage “Tiger Moths”.
Crikey, I could go on about how good it was, and it is fair to say TomO still has a smile as big as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but why don’t I just let the photo’s do the talking…
It is said that summiting a mountain is optional and getting back down is mandatory.
And with this in my mind, with climbing partner, Richard Raynes, I headed off for my climb of Mt Aspiring in the pre-dawn hours of Monday 7 January.
Richard is an exceptionally experienced mountaineer and specializes in mountain rescues, so I was in extremely good hands. For me, this was a great opportunity to learn.
Richard – on Bevan Col
We had planned to climb on Thursday, however the weather was forecast to deteriorate over the week and our climbing window had narrowed significantly.
This was it…
I was feeling rather daunted as we headed off across the Bonar Glacier towards the “Matterhorn of the South” which was standing tall ahead of us.
Baz – Bonar Glacier
The moon was rising over the mountain and as we climbed the steep snow and ice slope towards the rock buttress a thin golden line was appearing on the eastern horizon signalling the dawn of a new day.
I remember thinking this was the dawn of just more than the sun rising on a new day, but of a wonderful new world for me.
The Buttress – Mt Aspiring
There were two other climbing parties of two ahead of us and we could see their headlamps bobbing up and down as they made their way.
The weather had been forecast to be better than we had earlier expected and according to the most up to date report we had received the previous evening. So far the report was proving accurate.
But as we climbed onto the exposed side of the mountain and climbed up through the rock formation, called The Buttress, the weather started to turn. We had made it through the most technical section of the climb, and now had a long slog up the steep snow and ice towards the summit.
The peak shrouded in cloud and high winds
We could see the summit and the winds were roaring over it at least 100 kilometres an hour and the cloud was now starting to obscure the top.
The groups ahead had turned back by now and as we made our way back down through the rock buttress, abseiling our way back to the snow, we were being buffeted by sleet and strong winds.
Baz on the Buttress – Mt Aspiring
It was not to be our day on the summit…
But that is not to say it wasn’t a great experience. Of course our goal was to make it to the top, but above all else, I was here to learn the craft and skills necessary to become a competent mountaineer.
Perhaps the mountain understood this and she gave me an experience that provided a great learning opportunity, so it is hard to be disappointed…
It seems like a long time has passed since I booked my trip to climb in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
But the time has arrived.
I head off early Saturday 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 Sunday I will be flying into the mountains by either helicopter or ski-plane with Richard Raynes, from Adventure Consultants.
Richard has a first class climbing pedigree and has previously worked for the Mt Cook Search and Rescue team. We will spend a couple of hours walking across the Bonar Glacier to Colin Todd Hut, although we may elect to camp out on Bevan Col, depending on the Hut availability and weather conditions at the time.
On or around day five, which should be Thursday 10 January, we will make our summit attempt on Mt Aspiring. The day will be long, starting around 3am in the morning and finishing as late as 7pm.
And there are no guarantees on making it to the summit, but of course that is our goal and we will be giving it our best shot!
After a hike out from Mt Aspiring I will be returning to Wanaka to spend a few days resting with Janet and TomO, by the shores of Lake Wanaka, before heading back into the mountains for another week of climbing, this time with Steve Moffatt, Adventure Consultant’s program co-ordinator.
Steve has climbed all around the world, has summitted Mt Everest, and lead many mountaineering trips, including Lobuche East in Nepal. I will be travelling to Nepal in November this year to climb Lobuche East, Island Peak, and Pokalde. The first two are in excess of 6,000 metres, and Pokalde is just under 6,000 metres.
My second week will be less structured and we will look to climb a variety of peaks focussing on different aspects of mountaineering.
I am in good hands and I have a great opportunity to learn from these two very experienced climbers.
Grey’s Peak, Fox Glacier, New Zealand
And although the peaks in the Southern Alps of New Zealand are only just over 3,000 metres in height, they are similar in ruggedness and valley to summit altitude gains to the higher peaks of the Himalaya’s, and for this reason it is a great training ground for my rather audacious plan to climb Mt Everest…
Mind you, it is also a wonderful place to visit and the people are friendly and welcoming.
And at the end of two weeks of climbing, Janet, TomO, and I will be spending a few days in Wanaka taking in the local sights and resting by the lake, before heading to Queenstown for a few days.
Janet and TomO won’t be sitting around whilst I’m climbing and their activities include a helicopter flight onto Fox Glacier, giving them a first hand view of where I was climbing last September, before heading down to Milford Sound for a couple of days.
They will also be retracing the Coast to Coast Adventure Race route. Janet and TomO assisted me in getting through this event across New Zealand last February…and will no doubt be there to support me in 2014’s race!
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 get back to Wanaka.
Hopefully I will be able to report a successful summit of Mt Aspiring, but even if I don’t there is little doubt in my mind that I will be reporting two weeks of fantastic climbing and fun…
Janet will be updating The Landy on Facebookand hopefully with news on Mt Aspiringso be sure to click on the link and follow our adventures!
And importantly, remember, if all else fails, remain out of control and see what develops…
Can you believe that 2013 has rolled around already? And how good were those fireworks on Sydney Harbour to see in the New Year!
Anyway, I know I’ve been shouting it very loudly at every opportunity of late, but just in case you’ve missed it, 2013 will be a big year for me in terms of mountaineering and climbing, and it starts at the end of this week as I head to New Zealand’s Southern Alps…
Southern Alps, New Zealand
Janet, TomO, and I were just looking at some of the climbing and mountaineering photos from 2012 so I thought I’d put up some favourites (again)…it motivates me to get out there…
Crikey, almost forgot…Happy New Year to all from dowunder!
And remember, if all else fails, remain out of control and see what develops…!
I feel like I’ve eaten far too much over the festive season, although I do need to have a little extra body fat as I head to climb Mt Aspiring in New Zealand’s Southern Alps for a couple of weeks.
Well, it is a great theory and the one I will be running in any case.
Mt Aspiring
However, training is back on in earnest, and I was lucky enough to get out for a couple of paddles on the lake over the past few days, despite the weather being less favourable.
Although, being out on the lake is more than just training or exercise, it is great for the soul watching the pelicans glide over the water, and other people out and about with family and friends, just having fun, the kite-surfers, the wind-surfers, and paddle-boarders…
Narrabeen Lake, Australia
But as time is ticking away I will be doing a full gear check over the next few days, and that will raise the excitement level in our household – it will be reaching fever pitch in another few days!
And of course, Janet and TomO are very excited, as they will be following me to New Zealand a few days after I depart.
Janet and TomO
You just wouldn’t want to be dead for quids…
And of course, if all else fails, remember, just remain out of control and see what develops!
Well 2012 is disappearing very quickly and before we know it the guy in the big red suit will be popping down chimneys, eating the cake, drinking the milk, and enjoying rum that has been left out for him as he makes his annual run from the North Pole.
Crikey, how do you get a job like that? I mean, you work one day a year, get the spoils of the job, and make lots of people happy!
And a nano-second later we’ll all be joining hands and singing old langsyne as we see off 2012 and welcome in 2013.
In our household 2013 signals the start of quite an ambitious travel program, brought about by my desire to climb the world’s highest mountain peaks.
It kicks off early in January when I make my way to New Zealand to climb Mt Aspiring which is situated in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Janet and TomO will be following shortly after and will spend a few days travelling before we meet up in the picturesque town of Wanaka.
Wanaka, New Zealand
Mt Aspiring is called Tititea by the indigenous Maori people and stands at 3,027 metres and it is described as having sheer faces and graceful lines.
We will travel from the headquarters of Adventure Consultants in Wanaka to Bonar Glacierby helicopter as it is usually a 12-14 hour walk otherwise. We then have a 2-3 hour walk on the glacier to reach our destination, Colin Todd hut. And depending on how many people are at the hut we may need to camp out in our bivvy bags on Bevan Col.
A typical New Zealand Alpine Hut
The first couple of days will be spent acclimatising and revising cramponing skills, ascending steep snow and ice, and of course, importantly, crevasse rescue. I have spent a lot of time on rescues in the Blue Mountains in recent times and I have a strong belief that you can’t do enough of it – it may save your own, or someone else’s life and the skill needs to be second nature.
Baz – Blue Mountains, Australia
Prior to an attempt on the summit of Mt Aspiring we will spend a day climbing some smaller peaks in the area, such as Mt Bevan. It stands at 2,030 metres and they say the view from the top is glorious.
There is something like 27 different routes that can be taken to the summit of Mt Aspiring all of varying degrees of difficulty. Many of these routes will not be available to us due to the time of year we are attempting it. We are anticipating our route to the summit will be the classic North West Ridge route, but a final decision will be made at the time.
Mt Aspiring
Ascent day will begin at 3am in the morning and may finish as late as 7pm that evening and we can expect a mixture of snow, ice, and rock as we progress towards the summit.
The second week in the mountains will most likely be spent in the Mt Cook region, where we will concentrate on some ice climbing as well as a number of ascents over the week. The structure of the week will be decided at the time and where we climb will be dictated to by the prevailing conditions.
Cramponing Skills and Crevasse Rescues
There are a number of possibilities, including Mt Aylmer which stands at 2,699 metres, Mt Elie de Beaumont which gives commanding views of the Tasman Sea from its 3,109 metre summit. Other likely climbs include Mt Green and Mt Walter, which both stand just less than 3,000 metres.
After making our way back to Wanaka once again, I will be meeting up with Janet and TomO who will also be full of tales of adventure after their week travelling around in the Southern Alps. They are planning a helicopter trip to Fox Glacier as well as taking in the scenery of the fabulous Southern Alps…
Mid-year, I will be returning to New Zealand to hone in my ice-climbing skills while Janet and TomO spend some time on the ski slopes around Wanaka and Queenstown.
Baz – Ice-climbing, Fox Glacier, New Zealand
And the big trip is at the end of 2013 when I head off to Nepal to experience the Himalayan Mountain range. This is an expedition to climb three peaks, Lobuche East, Island Peak, and Pokalde. The first two are just over 6,000 metres in height, and Pokalde stands at just over 5,800 metres.
High Altitude Climbing
This expedition will provide me with the stepping stone towards an 8,000 metre peak, either Cho Oyu, or Manaslu in 2014. It seems so far away, but time will go very quickly, and there is still much to learn, and 2013 will also be spent taking my fitness to a complete new level.
Janet and TomO will be travelling to Kathmandu where we will spend a week resting together and hopefully visiting some of the Sherpa villages.
We believe this is a great opportunity for TomO to experience different countries and cultures, and he is relishing the opportunity.
Of course, he has already made noises about standing on top of Mt Everest with me, and perhaps that day will come. But it is one step at a time, one foot after another, and hopefully the program over the next 12 to 18 months will set me up for an attempt on Mt Everest in 2015…
But crikey, there is plenty of time between now and then and the three of us will be using every minute of it to have fun, just being Out and About…
I am preparing for another weekend of climbing after what seems to have been a long hiatus since my last foray into the mountains.
In reality, it has only been two weeks since I suffered an acute illness after climbing “Sweet Dreams” a couple of Sunday’s ago.
And with only three weeks to go before heading to climb in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, an attempt on Mt Aspiring and a number of other peaks, I can’t get enough training in…
This weekend we are going to climb Tom Thumb, a relatively easy grade 12 climb of around 180 metres, situated near the small and picturesque village of Leura in the Blue Mountains. We will abseil in, and climb out.
Tom Thumb Climb, Blue Mountains, Australia (photo credit climb.org.au)
We’ll be making it a weekend in the mountains staying at the Palais Royale, and we might even be able to sneak a couple of cocktails in at the old Carrington Hotel after the climbing is done.
Janet is looking forward to visiting some of the boutiques, and TomO will be heading for his favourite bookshop in Leura...
Crikey, this is the life, hey?
And remember, if all else fails, remain out of control and see what develops…
Australia is a country of diverse landscapes, from golden beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, to mountains that touch the ocean, and outback plains where the red soil kisses a deep blue sky…
We have been fortunate to travel extensively around our country, at times piloting an aircraft over this wondrous land, and other times in one of our four-wheel drive vehicles.
The other day we were reminiscing some of the trips we have had, especially to the Outback, our favourite place to visit.
And where is the Outback, I hear you ask…
Well, you know, outback; back of yonder!
Those who have never visited, come on down and explore our country, to marvel at our beautiful fauna and flora…you won’t be disappointed, and those who have come and gone, return soon, we miss you.
Enjoy the photos of our travels, mostly taken by Janet and TomO…
And am I just a little bit biased about this great country, our island continent, The Great Southern Land?
It is now one month from my next mountaineering experience in New Zealand, an ascent of Mt Aspiring in the Southern Alps and the excitement level in our household is reaching fever pitch.
The trip is significant as it kicks-off a big year and hopefully some big steps towards that audaciously big goal I have to climb some of the world’s largest mountains, including Mt Everest.
My last trip to New Zealand was in September this year when I spent time with the team from Adventure Consultants on Pioneer Glacier, in New Zealand’s Southern Alps.
Pioneer Hut, Fox Glacier, New ZealandPioneer Hut, looking west to the Tasman Sea
That trip was a true eye opener as to what lies ahead.
Mt Aspiring is known to the Maori people of New Zealand as Tititea, the glistening one, rising 3,027 metres out of the landscape to tower over anything nearby.
It is described as having sheer faces and graceful lines.
We will travel from the headquarters of Adventure Consultants in Wanaka to Bonar Glacier by helicopter as it is usually a 12-14 hour walk otherwise. We then have a 2-3 hour walk on the glacier to reach our destination, Colin Todd hut. And depending on how many people are at the hut we may need to camp out in our bivvy bags on Bevan Col.
The first couple of days will be spent acclimatising and revising cramponing skills, ascending steep snow and ice, and of course, importantly, crevasse rescue. I have spent a lot of time on rescues in the Blue Mountains in recent times and I have a strong belief that you can’t do enough of it – it may save your own, or someone else’s life and the skill needs to be second nature.
Baz – Fox Glacier, practising crevasse rescues
Prior to an attempt on the summit of Mt Aspiring we will spend a day climbing some smaller peaks in the area, such as Mt Bevan. It stands at 2,030 metres and they say the view from the top is glorious. It was also the scene of a rescue of a number of people trapped on Bevan Col and recounted in the book by Paul Powell, Men Aspiring.
There is something like 27 different routes that can be taken to the summit of Mt Aspiring all of varying degrees of difficulty. Many of these routes will not be available to us due to the time of year we are attempting it.
We are anticipating our route to the summit will be the classic North West Ridge route, but a final decision will be made at the time.
Ascent day will begin at 3am in the morning and may finish as late as 7pm that evening and we can expect a mixture of snow, ice, and rock as we progress towards the summit.
After spending 7-days on the glacier, and hopefully with a successful summit of Mt Aspiring under the belt, we will return to Wanaka where I’ll be joined by Janet and TomO for a few days of rest and relaxation, before once again heading into the mountains.
Grey’s Peak, Fox Glacier, New Zealand
The second week in the mountains will most likely be spent in the Mt Cook region, where we will concentrate on some ice climbing as well as a number of ascents over the course of the week. The structure of the week will be decided at the time and where we climb will be dictated to by the prevailing conditions.
Baz – Chancellor Dome in the background
There are a number of possibilities, including Mt Aylmer which stands at 2,699 metres, Mt Elie de Beaumont which gives commanding views of the Tasman Sea from its 3,109 metre summit. Other likely climbs include Mt Green and Mt Walter, which both stand just under 3,000 metres.
After making our way back to Wanaka once again, I will be meeting up with Janet and TomO who will also be full of tales of adventure after their week travelling around in the Southern Alps. They are planning a helicopter trip to Fox Glacier as well as taking in the fabulous Southern Alps…
Before we leave for home, we will strap ourselves in the world’s largest canyon swinglocated near Queenstown. TomO can’t wait, and he’ll go twice he says, a tandem with both Janet and myself.
I am hoping to achieve as many summits as possible on this trip, especially Mt Aspiring, however there could be many reasons why a summit is not possible. Above all else, what I am looking to achieve is safe mountaineering as that is what will assist me the most as I head to Nepal at the end of 2013 – but that is a story for another time, for now it is simply, one step at a time!
And remember, if all else fails, remain out of control and see what develops…
Baz climbing Sweet Dreams, Blue Mountains, Australia
Dope on a Rope, sweet-dreams, you might just be left wondering what has Baz, The Landy, been getting up to.
Don’t worry, I haven’t taken to peddling anything down a back-alley, but I was climbing today in one of the world’s greatest outdoor playgrounds, theBlue Mountains, which is situated about 100 kilometres to the west of Sydney.
Baz on Belay – Sweet Dreams Climb, Blue Mountains, Australia
And why Dope on a Rope I hear you ask…
Strewth, I must tell you that is how it feels sometimes!
Baz on final pitch – Sweet Dreams, Blue Mountains, AustraliaBaz on final pitch – Sweet Dreams, Blue Mountains, Australia
Baz on final pitch – Sweet Dreams, Blue Mountains, Australia
And the first section today certainly challenged me.
But I’m pleased to say my skill base continues to improve ahead of my attempt to climb Mt Aspiring in New Zealand’s Southern Alps in just over a month’s time.
Today, I climbed with Rachael from the Australian School of Mountaineering, which is based in Katoomba and it was at her suggestion we climb Sweet-Dreams, situated at Sublime Point near the village of Leura.
Rachael – Leading Climbing
I have to say we had a lot of fun and laughs as we scaled the 110-metre wall in 5 phases; a pitch is the technical term. We walked into the start of the climb, which is 100 metres above the valley floor, so by the time we reach the top of the climb you are over 200 metres above the ground!
Throughout out the climb we were rewarded with a spectacular view of the Blue Mountains most spectacular rock formation, The Three Sisters, and I have to say, I never get tired of that view…
The Three Sisters, Blue Mountains, Australia
Geez, you just wouldn’t want to be dead-for-quid’s!
And by crikey, the temperature was quite warm and whilst we try to keep gear to a minimum on these climbs we had plenty of water with us, but let me tell you, by the time I got to the top my throat was as dry as a pommie’s bath towel…
Dope on a Rope?
Sweet-dreams?
You betcha!
Baz – The Landy
And remember, if all else fails, remain out of control and see what develops…
I am heading to the Blue Mountains tomorrow to climb at Sublime Point, not too far from the picturesque village of Leura.
The Blue Mountains is a World Heritage listed area where you can participate in many types of outdoor recreational pursuits, and it is a pleasant 90-minute drive from Sydney.
Baz – Climbing at Boar’s Head, Blue Mountains, Australia
And if you don’t feel like driving, the train trip will have you at the village of Katoomba, the gateway to the area, within two-hours of leaving Sydney.
We are so lucky to have this outdoor playground right on our doorstep where abseiling, canyoning, and climbing are popular recreational activities.
The Three Sisters, Blue Mountains, Australia
Tomorrow, my climbing partner, Rachael, and I will climb, Sweet Dreams, situated at Sublime Point.
Sublime Point is a west-facing cliff standing about 200 metres above the valley floor and is very spectacular looking.
And the weather is forecast to be fairly warm, with bright blue skies, as we nudge closer towards the start of summer…
More Dope on a Rope, strewth, you bet!
Baz – Dope on a Rope?
And remember, if all else fails, justremain out of control and see what develops…
Crikey I have spent a lot of time talking about what I’m doing and that audacious plan I have to climb big mountains. Often I am asked, what about Janet, what is she doing while you’re gallivanting around Out and About.
And let me put this out there right upfront, didn’t TomO and I luck out with such a great mum, and wonderful partner!
Literally, she was the girl next door and that is how we came to meet, and boy, what an angel.
Strewth, you’d have to be to put up with the antics of two boys in one household who spend most of their waking hours egging each on!
Janet and one of her “boys”
Anyway, she isn’t the sort of person that will race across New Zealand in some adventure race, or for that matter, done a backpack and walk some ridiculous distance in 24 hours, just because you can. But she’ll be there to support you…
But she does like the finer things in life and has a wonderful family and circle of friends that she spends time with in between looking after her boys.
Sisters – Janet & LeahGreat Friends
And talk about looking after us, crikey, she has to be the best cook around, even Out and About in the bush.
But let me tell you, when it comes to having fun, Janet is no wall flower. I mean, she’ll have no hesitation abseiling off a skyscraper in Sydney’s Central Business District, or hopping behind the controls of an aircraft.
Janet & Baz abseiling the AMP Building in Sydney
And speaking of aircraft, perhaps she hasn’t flown as much as myself, but strewth she’ll have no hesitation in putting on a parachute and beating you out the door of one!
Talk about if you can’t beat them, just join them, that is her mantra…
Janet – going crazy over PictonJanet – upside down waving – she’s no wallflower
And without a doubt she is one of the most courageous people I have ever met; some of the things I do she worries about, but then she always sends me on my way with her blessing and support – that takes tremendous courage!
Yeah, talk about an angel; she’s one in a million, that’s for sure!
The special people in your life just go give them a big hug and tell them you love them…
And remember, if all else fails, just Like The Landy on Facebook, remain out of control and see what develops…
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