Overnight Cruise in the Milford Sound

We were so lucky to have such great weather in the fiord that is the Milford Sound. Well worth it to see the sunset and sunrise from the boat!

The girls – Tina, Nancy, and Mom

Wow, look at that

Mom and Dad enjoying the brisk fresh air

Add comment March 22nd, 2003

Clingman’s Dome Heli-hike

Great idea to do this hike Dad, what a great day we had up there. You don’t get those kind of views from the carpark, eh?

Dad and our guide getting ready for the last stretch

Two more pitches and Im at the top!

Heading down into the clouds

Add comment March 19th, 2003

Avalanche Peak

Hey Paul, how was your ice cream? Mine was great, thanks Tina!

Paul makes it to the top

The views are even better second time around

Add comment March 13th, 2003

Last days of hitching and hiking in NZ

So I’m in Christchurch tonight, thankfully, and I’m meeting up with the folks tomorrow for the start of the Parental Visit. I had a great time unwinding and resting up at Puponga for 5 days, with perfect weather, good people, and nice walks every day. Doesn’t get much better. Finally left and headed down to Nelson Lakes National Park for one last tramp on my own in New Zealand and I could not have had more perfect weather. But first I had some adventures on the way. I hooked up with an American guy to hitch down together and we had a very interesting day of hitches to get to St. Arnaud, the last one being withh a guy named Jimbo who works for DOC as a hunter and he invited us to stay with hime at his place for the night. We got there in the late afternoon and started drinking beer and getting ready for his mates to arrive for the rugby game. What a fun night hanging out with the locals. So many laughs…

Next day Jimbo dropped me off at the trailhead and I made my way up to Angeles Hut via the Robertson Ridge. Amazing scenery. Views all day from the ridge. Such a good decision to go there. Decided to stay at the hut and not carry the tent in for just one night. Following morning I was up and hiking at sunrise to hike down and around the lake back to St. Arnaud. Another perfect day of hiking.

Back in Arnaud at 2:30pm and had to start hitching right away to get to Christchurch to meet my parents. I was eating an ice cream outside the store (the only store in town) and the mailman asked me if I need a ride to the main road. Cool! So I did 24 km of the mail route with him along the way. Good fun. 2 other rides and then I was stuck, waiting over an hour with no luck. It was after 5pm and I was still hours from Christchurch. Then, my luck changed and a guy pulled over and said he was going all the way to Christchurch! I was SO happy! Even better, he invited me to stay the night with him and his family which saved me having to stay in another 38-person dorm! Thanks so much for that!! So tomorrow I am meeting up with my parents and our friends Paul and Nacy to do a whirlwind tour of the South Island…

Nelson Lakes National Park

Sunset from Angeles Hut

Don’t get too many sunsets like this

Add comment March 10th, 2003