Jake takes a break on the way up Mount Chittenden , Nelson lakes national park.

The usual suspects

Whilst going on our velo mountaineering trip to Mt Princess earlier this year Mike and I had one of our long philosophical rambles as we often do and one particular ramble involved the great walks of New Zealand. Mikes statement was that the "Great walks" represented the best of New Zealand to view - my own counter was the "Great walks" (of which I've only done a couple so actually didn't have grounds to comment) represent commercial touristic interests rather than what is really good out there if you are only willing to put a good effort in. Mikes rather good reply is that part of begin good is being accessible and the great walks are readily accessible - the stuff I'm talking about is not.

Well with my small season starting over the next couple of months of which the beginnings have been further dogged by bad weather I realize much of what I do is on that issue of accessibility. With rarely more than a 24 hour period to head out in accessibility is the key issue and the usual suspects keep turning up, Mt Arthur on weekdays while kids are at school and Angelus on weekends if I get a chance. A longer harder usual suspect is Mt Chittenden and or Point 2142 in the Nelson Lakes National park from Conners creek which in one long 14 to 15 hour day which encapsulates the best of what can be done - great walk accessibility style. Nice bike ride , great walk and a couple of alpine mountain's!!

Conner's creek , early morning on a frosty marsh, the Chittenden looms into view.

Chittenden from Conners col , we failed to get up and although the others were going well I had a most uninspired day - "We had only just started the climb proper up Chittenden and I was leading into a deep drift with a few will o wisps flying aroun… — Chittenden from Conners col , we failed to get up and although the others were going well I had a most uninspired day - "We had only just started the climb proper up Chittenden and I was leading into a deep drift with a few will o wisps flying around and the instant conclusion was "if its this bad here it must be really bad higher up! (on a good day one would conclude , "great all the loose snow has blown down here!") I wasn't keen to go on , Jake was ok but concurred with my decision but its hard turning back - or in this case sideways up the steep couloir and onto snow fields across to what I call Conners creek col".

With Jake and Brent on Conner's creek col. From there our consolation peak Point 2142 was in sight, - the pyramid behind. It was a long but straight forward slog to the top.

I was struggling but felt good to get up anyway

Down the North east face of 2142 we roared down a great snow /scree descent to 1100m on the river which was the highlight of the day.

Iconic New Zealand Mountains scene , river below , than steep forest gullies leading up to the snow.

up on to Mount Angelus October 1, in the mist all day , spring is making a thaw .

Bumped into a certain Brad Tinsley who's spending a couple of years hiking up and down whatever and wherever he can in New Zealand , hes roughly halfway through his trip and was hoping to go fishing soon to enliven his diet!

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looking down the east side of the Arthur range

Eastern aspects of Arthur.

Linna heads up Arthur on the last fine weather day we had in awhile.

The usual suspects , spring beginnings.