My tribute to Lyall Campbell RIP

I've travelled with some pretty awesome people on my journeys, and one of the awesomest was Lyall Campbell of Hawea, who recently made the final journey exiting this realm.

At the helm of Elwing in Port Pegasus autumn 2006. She was in her element on this trip... the chance to realise another dream, another expedition. I took this shot just an hour after our return from a traverse of Bald Cone. Not a large mountain by any means but considering the latitude, the route and her age.. well it was a great day out...


Bald Cone...


The day before we'd been on Magog, and that was a long way! Here she is trundling along - the one with the stick...


Gog on the left, Magog on the right...


The view from Magog - our route from Port Pegasus. That's my son Dougal there age about 13 yrs. Lyall in her seventies was an example to us all of what a postitive attitude and a steady pace is all about...


I found her to be the perfect expeditioner: thoughtful, considerate, kind, witty and wise. When she spoke it was always to give us gifts and insights...


Many years ago this was the country, the Olivine Ice Plateau, she chose for her honeymoon with her late husband Bruce...


She squeezed in another expedition in 2008 to Preservation in Fiordland - here she is in the center seat flying out. She was so so delighted to have lived yet another dream - a bonus one I think was how she saw it...


Preservation Inlet - the landing beach that gives access to Puyesgur Point lighthouse. Fiordland National Park...


The view west from the historic Puyesgur Point lighthouse...


I first met her at the Snow Farm, where she was always a real "ski friend" to everyone, adults and children alike. She'd spend hours passing on what she'd learnt about the complex sport of nordic skiing, and being a retired teacher she knew how to do this. Here she is racing in about 2005...

Bye for now Lyall, and thanks not only for the times in the hills, and the inspirational way you grew old, but for the cups of tea, friendship, and home made bread. I for one am going to miss you

See more on Preservation Inlet here

Lengthening shadows and the first winter snows

It seems to me to have been a short autumn. All-the-more-so as after deciding on Sat. afternoon stroll at the nearby Snow Farm on the Pisa Range, I found there was a bit more snow around than I'd anticipated. It was quite a bonus really as along with the long shadows of the day, the presence of the white stuff adds light and contrast to an already stunning landscape.

A rare self portrait...


Meadow Hut in the upper reaches of the Roaring Meg...


I quite liked the two eyes in this rock...


The upper reaches of the Roaring Meg - Snow Farm Lodge water supply pump on the left...

Spring ski touring at the Snow Farm

A few photos below of one of the classic ski tours at the Snow Farm we did on Wed. If the snow is good quality it's one of those trips where you hardly notice the mileage, but in spring it's more of a mission - in fact the snow was icy and trippy initially then slushy, then started freezing again. All quite technical on skis akin to match sticks.

Meadow Hut - it used to be called Meadow Warming Hut, but these days we're either faster, warmer, or the climate really is warmer..


Same hut, and photographed from a different perspective, but in summer...


Well into the tour...


Late lunch with Vicky and Robyn at Bob Lee Hut...


This view is one I really like. The distinctive cloud base started forming at about noon and by 5 pm was pretty much gone. The middle foreground is the Criffel Range - the scene of the highest altitude old gold workings in NZ [lack of water except in spring would have hampered work on this old peneplain]. On the extreme left is Lake Wanaka, and Lake Hawea is just right of mid center...


Looking in the opposite direction toward Mt Pisa...


The trip back alongside the Roaring Meg - an area I so love especially at this time of year...


On closing what amazing stories are coming out of Christchurch. The community spirit makes me proud to be a New Zealander!

Goodness the weather pattern has changed. No more clear skies

From the Snow Farm looking [you guessed it] west...




Apart from my son Dougal, Riley on the right has been the other significant young lad in my life for many years when he lived here. He's visiting from Vancouver for a few weeks once again, just before moving back to Uni. in Montreal in a few weeks. He's extra ordinarily aware and articulate, so once again I've had the privilege of some great chats, which as a parent really paints a picture that is useful, as to where this generation is at. Frankly speaking, I'm very impressed...




Cheers

Donald

Working, eating, sleeping, laughing, keeping warm and skiing, oh, and some more landscape photography

It seems a cliche, but "winter wonderland" really applies this year. It's stunning, interesting and cold!

Hoar frost crystals up the Cardrona Valley...


Clearing hoar frost - Cardrona Valley again...


Pre dawn skiing - Karl finishing off his night's work just before snow started falling. He's been reporting minus 17 degrees below where I made this photo...


A typical view of the persistent inversion sitting over the Cardrona Valley and Wanaka [just beyond patch of sunlight right background]...


My friend and neighbour, professional athlete Merryn out training...


At the Snow Farm I'm always surprised how quiet this mode of transport is compared to skidoos...


Hoar frost on willows in the Cardrona river bed...


Looking across the Cardrona Valley at the big "A", Mt Aspiring...


A few weeks back I posted photos of having coffee with Tiggie. Well he is just back from a roadie with Simone [thanks for photos]...

The same old...

...cross country skiing that is! I've been at the Snow farm most evenings of late tearing it up on the long trails... getting my serious bout of repetitive exercise for the year. And loving it! Probably doing about 12 Kms per night finishing just after dark. Acclimatisation is always interesting - the ability to travel fast with no sweating in minimal clothing. Since less weight is everything it is a significant factor in the enjoyment, and now it's kicking in once again. Our bodies are quite amazing really!

The new camera is all I wished for in this environment too. I wanted low light capability and more control of the technical side and although it's taking awhile to figure it all out, it's nice and fast and light to carry as it delivers the aforementioned.

My knees, boots, skis and poles...


Descent to the River Run...


The last of the sun for the day...


How do little waterfalls like this freeze, as per the centre section? Is it a "snap" process, or do they grow, and if so from the bottom or the top first!? I've never felt inclined to hang about in minus 12 to watch...


My favourite spot to watch the last of the sun from...

A mixed week of different environments

Looking at the choices of photos to post here today it seems I've been about a bit including a trip to Southland that was work and friend related, yet I seem to have made what I've made while walking and not driving.

With less rainfall of late and more precipitation falling as snow the lake is dropping after the highs of a few weeks back...


Last week's south east storm sure drifted things in at the Snow Farm cross country skiing area...




Diamond Lake track is always worth a wander on a dull winter's day. No sign of ice though for skating...


A few of you are aware I've been kitting myself out with a new camera. The top most shot was made with it, and I'm really pleased with how it's shaping up. I always go for compacts figuring that the best camera is always the one I have with me. I'm pleased to say that now the output quality of such cameras has come of age. Learning to drive it fully though, will engage me for sometime!

An early start to skiing

I started cross country [nordic skiing] several years ago and one reason for the switch from downhill was that the only area in NZ where you can indulge in this addictive sport [world wide it's much more popular, with good reason, than downhill], is on my doorstep at the Snow Farm up the Cardrona valley.



Since those early days I've realised through observation that the area, on the lower Pisa range, gets rather unique weather. In fact storm systems that come from east or slightly either side of, demand respect. We've just has such a cycle, and as expected, we're skiing early this year.

Dave and I started climbing and tramping back in about '72, and in '74 we became consummate ski bums, with a nomadic flavour: that year we skied at every Sth. Island ski area, and eventually published a guide book about them all. However the book was minor - it was the contacts we made and the adventures, especially ski touring, that were to mould our perspectives of travel in our wonderful mountains. He lives locally like myself, and it's pretty special to ski with him every winter...


Our ski days are based around this lodge - in bad weather we stick close to it. Other times we can range far and wide if the grooming allows us to use lightweight ski equipment. For me it feels like dancing on a good day, but this aside I really like being able to travel in this wild alpine environment, with no noisy lifts, and especially not needing to carry mountaineering equipment...


Adjoining the ski area is a larger business - the proving grounds for cars and accessories, even snow blowers, where testing can be carried out capitalising on the fact it's winter here right now, yet summer where all the gear is made in the northern hemisphere. So in places there is a lot of gear about just waiting to be used...


The light today was extraordinary - here we see a less common view of the Remarkables...


About 20 of us indulged on the perfect snow...


Meanwhile the next weather system approaches. This one is a classic: warm moist air coming down from the north and heading in a south east direction exactly towards us. Meanwhile the scene is set for cold dry air from the south to drive under this tomorrow. This pushes up the warm moist air, and as per the laws of physics when moisture laden air is forced to rise it can't hold as much water as it cools. It's going to be interesting!

The big "A", Mt Aspiring...