Ralph Warburton - photographer, mountaineer and mountain guide

Several years ago or more Ralph Warburton, a well known Wanaka local decided to publish a book of his life's experiences. As an Apple computer techy I got involved quite often assisting with the technology needed for authoring and self publishing.

Ralph sadly passed away subsequently, and so too perhaps in sympathy did his computer! But I'd been backing it up, and with his daughter's permission some years back, I'm posting here the images [colour slides] he had scanned.

Presumably I've posted the eastern [Mt Cook] photos in this first installment. I also presume it's not always Ralph featuring in the images [after all he was a professional photographer, as well as an accomplished mountaineer and mountain guide], but his late wife Joyce.

Ralph and Scott on the Tasman Glacier. Mt Cook in the background...

Mt Cook National Park was formed in 1953, and as such dogs would have then been banned in the area, so using this as a guide I'm guessing the images would have been made just prior. Certainly Ralph's book [link below] would aid this dating, but it's been awhile since I read it.

The old De la Beche Hut, Mt Cook in the background...


I wonder who this is? Probably the Hochstetter Icefall on the right, which may make the rock part of the ANZAC peak. I recall seeing a famous photo of Samuel Turner poised on one leg for the camera on this peak, so there is this association in my brain, but the date range would probably be too disparate for it to be him...


Hooker hut with Mt Cook in the background...


Upper Tasman Glacier with Hochstetter Dome in the background...


If anyone can add information to these photos please contact me via email.

You can purchase Ralph's interesting book here

The next lot of images below seem to be of the West Coast - this is where Ralph lived for quite a few years.

I think this'll be the old hotel at Fox Glacier...


And this perhaps the old hotel at Franz Josef Glacier...


Guided group on one of the glaciers...









Scott was indeed a very good climber...






This looks like the old I Pioneer hut that was destroyed by rockfall...

Probably the head of the Franz Josef Glacier neve...




Okarito I presume...


I can only think these two men are gold mining the black beach sands. Possibly the Shaw Bros. of Gillespies Beach near Fox Glacier?...


Perhaps the same two fellows with Ralph and Scott...

A Plogs anyone?...















This looks suspiciously like it was taken looking down on the Grand Plateau - perhaps from Zurbriggins or the East Ridge of Mt Cook?...

More recently the Ralph I knew at Wanaka, with Joyce...

Thanks Ralph - it was a pleasure knowing you

Cheers

Donald

A celebration of our wild New Zealand landscape and National Parks - and a "heads up"

Quentin Smith of Wanaka has recently formed a FaceBook group: Hands off Mt Aspiring NP and a few days ago membership stood at 5000, and it's now well over 6000!

... which relates to the noises our new, seemingly unenlightened and uninspired, New Zealand Government are making to initiate mining investigations in our National Parks. Not only my local Mt Aspiring National Park I might add!

While they say it's only a stock-take even that is a transgression and impossible to do without major disturbances and destruction of our heritage put aside for all coming generations.

Having got this off my chest [link below] I'm here sharing some of my favourite landscape photos I've made of our wild New Zealand landscape.

This is Mt Brewster - somewhat in the middle of the area of Mt Aspiring National Park our National Government has it's beady eyes on [and in bed with which multi national corporation that historically is always in the background taking profits when it comes to mining resources in any country?]...


Marks Flat under Mt Hooker - a huge tract of land designated at Conservation Estate in South Westland. Should it be part of the World Heritage Site in this area [Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand]?


You can "mine" great powder on the slopes of Mt Cook in Mount Cook National Park...


Alma hut in Westland National Park, with Franz Josef neve behind...


Mt Aspiring from Cascade Saddle


Lake Hankinson in Fiordland National Park [not far from the Milford Track]...


Looking down one of the significant glaciers in Westland National Park


There is a FaceBook generated link here, to view, or I suggest join the group: Hands off Mt Aspiring NP.

Or failing above then click on Groups in your FaceBook account and type in "Hands off Mt Aspiring NP"

And on a related matter this week I found out that New Zealand has 56,000 Kms of public roads that are not public, and our current New Zealand Government, and the preceding one it seems, have apparently been doing their best to sweep these "paper roads" under the carpet by use of cunning legal moves to give the land to those [many of whom have already fenced them off], in exchange for easements. The former offer us, the recreational users and owners unfettered access, the latter, easements, do absolutely nothing for us - only for self serving interests of those who've squatted on our rights.

In the zone

In the last few weeks I've perceived I'm entering a phase concerning decisions to be pondered, and I know lightness will help - sometimes known as being "in the zone". So as writing often helps me [self affirmation!] I thought I'd go over some of the factors - the theories and what I know that works:

There is more than one zone involved here. OK I've changed and so has the universe, but other factors still rule such as gravity and altitude, and neither seem a burden when you're there "in the zone" [Franz Josef Glacier in South Westland]...


Although I've done it often in good conditions, when I'm challenged in the mountains I find I don't talk much as I "go there". Why? Because intuitively I know that focusing on breathing and that alone, will put me in a state of very high awareness, and matching the breath with my movements.

There are other techniques too, and here I draw as well on ideas written by others:

Take your mind to one of the most beautiful places, or times you've experienced, on the "in" breath, by imagining your own personal energy field goes there and further.

On the "out" breathe bring all your energy centers into consciousness and feel them opening.

Be an observer knowing that whatever is happening has a purpose in life

Imagine yourself surrounded by a halo of pure light

Monitor yourself to see if love is a background emotion

Look for beauty everywhere - with vibrant colours glowing

Feel lightness and energy

Recall how it was when you experienced this in the past

If you "loose it" make stopping and regaining it a priority

The goal is to feel alive as in "existence", and jump straight away on any negativity or anxieties as they occur. For myself waking between 2 and 5 am can be a challenging time, but rewarding time also should I succeed, to work on what has to become a lifetime's habit!

I've often found the writings of the DalaI Lama very useful as he's written much about meditation and it's importance. More recently I've subscribed to the RSS feed on his web site, and note, in the throes of an amazing visit to Europe he's just made a very valid point about our moral responsibilities towards China:

World Must Bring China Into Democratic Fold: Dalai Lama

Warsaw, Poland, 11 December 2008 (AFP) - Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama called on the world community to bring China into the democratic mainstream, in a speech to Polish deputies Thursday.

"The free world has moral responsibility to bring China into the mainstream of world democracy. That is very essential, very important," the Dalai Lama told members of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee.... more>>

And to finish on a lighter note: Dougal my son turns 16 in a few days. We all say "where has the time gone - it all happens so fast?", and I'm no exception!

I'm reminded that kids live "in the zone", so we must learn from them! Here is Dougal on the right attending to the barbecuing of a snow chicken with our friend Riley who also has his birthday at this time. They're age 12 in this photo, and yes, that barbe is on and hot - it was a cold night, so "cooking " took awhile...