Lessons out side in Kandi , late autumn.

Back in Kandi

In Kandi the mountain village that features in my video on the Balti’s, life continues on despite the tough year especially in view of the fact that the villager’s main income is derived from the foreign tourist’s that never arrived. What is always admirable about these people like many others throughout the lesser developed parts of the World is they don’t complain but just get on with life and below are some images of the school children who featured in the video studying outside or in homes after hours to prepare for end of year exams. The winters are extremely cold and huddling beside an open fire is the most one can expect for warmth but these people are tough.

In a note of very sad news from Kandi, Akbar who was with us during much of the trip passed away after a motoring accident leaving a young family behind.

Akbar was always smiling and laughing whilst working and during our trip up the Nangma valley he related his near misses of the past including being tossed by a wild bull Yak and attempting to rescue some stranded climbers without any mountaineering gear and then coming to grief himself. I have left some photos below of Akbar and those that knew him will miss his smile sorely.

Pictures below of children studying in Kandi.

How Kandi looks in winter!

Cook Karim (in orange) with Akbar last year at Base Camp.

Relaxing here at BC , with (L to R) Nathan, Diarmuid Kadin , Karim and Akbar.

Akbar on left with us trekking in the Nagma valley.

In the Lee Valley after the ascent of peak 2068m the central tower behind . Having seen this peak, the highpoint of a small subrange in the Raglans from the summit of another peak 2 years ago it was a treat to go up there this year via Hellfire creek and the Lee valley.

Spring and the defiance of "La Nina"

I must admit in taking a perverse delight in watching the the experts get it wrong again and the lovely ordered structure we as humans wish to impose on the world and universe we live in (for our own peace of mind) descend to the chaos and unpredictability which seem much closer to it’s true state.

With a large Pacific La Nina weather cycle supposed to have bought warm dry conditions especially to the West coast of the South Island this spring we have had is the exact opposite - a continual cycle of westerly storms bring a cool wet spring to us here. Credit where credits due though, I give it to the experts through the ages whether they be magicians , philosophers, high priests or indeed the scientist and technocrats of the modern age their propaganda abilities are amazing having been able to convince most that black is white and white is black and we all hang on their every forecast and prediction. Lets hope the La Nina predictions are a bit closer to the mark in summer!!

The perverse delight aside the bad spring weather hasn’t helped me much. I’ve hoped to pull some small personal victories out of the rather dismal year but planned trips to the greater Alps down south just haven’t eventuated and I’ve been confined to doing a few smaller trips to the the local ranges up north. Admittedly the weather hasn’t been the only problem - the same chaos that pervades the universe has it’s own delight at ensuring that our minute lives are just as chaotic and trying to plan accordingly is often just stabbing in the dark.

Below are a few pictures which could be called 2020 , spring reflections.

videos of these trips can now be found on You Tube - search - Tumble Home Visions

On the upper sections of Hellfire creek heading to Peak 2068m

descending into the Lee afterwards

Descending peak 2068m

Lake Sylvester

Lake Sylvester - good camping spot with kids

Carl and Leo look out towards Mount Snowden

Heading into the Seward Kaikoura range from the beach.

Dawn over the Pacific whilst climbing Mount Te Ao Whekere on the Seaward Kaikoura range.

Jack on Te Ao Whekere

On the Summit of Te Ao Whekere , the entire Inland Kaikoura range stretch’s behind me.

campsite , Te Ao Whekere

Te Ao Whekere

Mount Cupola

Summit Cupola

Human Halo shadow on top of Mount Cupola

Jack

Jack on the summit.

Ben on the summit.

Descending.

View down and across whilst climbing Cupola.

Cupola hut view towards Mount Hopeless.

The Travers valley.

Kaikoura with the ranges behind rearing 2600m out of the sea. The earthquake 4 years ago lifted much of the seabed 2 meters or more exposing what lies beneath.

Leo finding a seal.

Isabelle exploring the up lifted seabed.

Seal and Pup.

West Coast scene.

West Coast Flora.

Tapuaenuku is an impressive view from the coast.

Mountains and sea . Te Ao Whekere rises above the Pacific..

As with most times have been rather quiet with my own projects due of course to the ongoing situation both here and around the world.

My major achievement of the winter months down south was finishing my video on the Balti’s. which can be found on my you tube channel -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ruDLzMGfCg

The winter has been long for someone like myself used to getting away for at least a small part of it but the weather has been mild pleasant and dry. This has lead to a lack of heavy snow falls in the local mountains but I have been too busy at work to get out anyway so hasn’t effected me to much although others especially those of the skiing fraternity are not so lucky.

Contrasts between mountains and sea - from the ridgeline of the Seaward Kaikoura’s.

Mountains - The Inland Kaikoura’s - Mitre, Alarm. Tapuaenuku

Sea - the Kaikoura peninsular juts out into the Pacific ocean with Christchurch far in the distance.

Jack and Forrest with Mountains and sea stretching to the horizon..

Camping

Carl - below Mount Dorothy in the Nelson lakes.

Jack and Forrest set up camp at 1900m on the Seward Kaikoura’s.

Winter beach camp with the kids and a fire.

Local scenes.

Clouds in the mountains.

Driftwood and gaunt tress on the beach.

Looking to Mount Campbell from the beach at Motueka.

A perch for sea birds!

Mountains.

2076m - in the Raglan ranges provided a nice day out.

Looking up to Mount Magdalene.

on Mount Dorothy

Fast descent of Dorothy.

Ben looking up to the others on the snow fields below 2076m in the Raglans.

Valleys

In the Wiarau River valley.

Looking up the Matakitaki vally , Nelson lakes.

Looking into the Rainbow valley from the Raglan ranges.

Looking out to Golden bay and the Taka river valley at sunset from the Arthur range,

Same scene as above with Riley and Caleb at dusk.