Was it a gamble going on a winter tramp with three season gear? Kind of, but you have to start somewhere.

Over the years, my ambitions to spend more time on snow gradually faded. I do not mind solo tramping, but I prefer sharing the experience with other humans, and most of those humans seem pretty disinclined to be cold. Add to that the fact that snow in New Zealand is usually found only in areas better suited to mountaineering, and it becomes clear why I only ever accumulated enough winter kit for one person.

A new dawn, a new day. Mount Brown Hut, now insta-famous, still provides little spots of tranquility for those willing to roll out of their sleeping bags early.

Click here for the full photo story. 

Some destinations are elusive. A photo story of dense bush, denser cloud and tarns not quite reached. Click here for the full photo story. 

With summer coming to an end, it was time to head out and catch some sunshine. Click here for the full photo story. 

Sometimes, you really need a timeout in the mountains. After building a house for the last half year, it was finally time for some fresh air. Click here for the full photo story. 

Working for myself comes with benefits that I occasionally need to remind myself of. The other day I had to jog my memory when I noticed a weekend tramping trip wasn’t an option, but that a quick mid-week getaway was available to those of us with a flexible schedule. Yay!

Impressions from my recent one-night tramp to Bald Range. Click here for the full photo story. 

A man on a mission, a quick solo adventure to check out new gear and old bones. You can find the full slideshow here. 

When the Libretto and Ella Ranges beckoned in autumn 2022, we heard the call. Click here for the combined photo story. 

Three years ago my battery ran flat. To be honest, it had been an ongoing process over many years. Every tramping trip felt a little less inspired than the previous. An hour into trips I would be longing for my sofa. With my back hurting and sweat stinging in my eyes, I wondered why I was doing this to myself.

I had come to the end of a years-long trend of diminishing returns. Adventuring around New Zealand had once been a reason to move between continents. A decade after my relocation I felt jaded. Every trip a stale rehash of its predecessors. Been there, done that.