From the high glaciated peaks of Aoraki Mt Cook to the steep granite faces of Fjordland, New Zealand is a destination for climbers seeking adventure and variety. There is something for everyone, whether you're into fun ridgeline scrambles or technical alpine faces. I'm going to share a few of my favorite areas and sought-after climbs below.
Read MoreEven in the Mont Blanc massif, home to some of the most impressive mountains in the world, Les Dru stands out as a peak of immense beauty and allure. Before my flight back to New Zealand, Andrew and I set our sights on the American Direct route up the west face. This climb was an accumulation of my time here and Europe and pushed me to the limit!
Read MoreIn search of long, adventurous routes, Monse and I set out on a tour through the European Alps. From the Swiss Alps to the French Riviera. Here are my favourite four stops along that tour.
Read MoreThis winter I went on a month-long ski tour across Switzerland. Here I share exactly what I packed and why. I also provide a free downloadable checklist for your next trip!
Read MoreI found the entire collection well thought out. You can tell the team at Norrona spent a lot of time balancing weight, with durability and practicality. Whether in arctic winds or under the baking sun, this collection is designed to ski up and over mountains, all season long.
Read MoreWhile scouring the Caucasus on Fatmap, a valley underneath the highest peaks of Georgia caught my eye. There was no information about Khalde Valley online, but it looked like a skier's paradise! Curiosity eventually got the better of me. With nothing more than a summer map, Pirmin, Franz, Martina, and I were in Georgia to check it out for ourselves.
Read MoreSalbitchejin granite is about as good'a rock as you'll get anywhere. The South Ridge is 20+ pitches of about 5a climbing with a crux of 6a. It was a beautiful looking line that I had my eye on for a while. However, I didn't expect to use it as a debut at rope soloing!
Read MoreAfter a good nights rest in the Guggi hut, we climbed the Nollen route to Monch, traversed over the glacier, went up the SE ridge of Jungfrau, and down climbed the Rotgrat; clocking 3000m of descent to the Lauteraan Valley.
Read MoreThe Arete du Diable is a classic Chamonix traverse over the five towers that make up the South-East ridge of Mont Blanc du Tacul.
Read MoreThree days ago, I sat alone beneath the most famous piece of rock and ice in European climbing history, the Eiger. A deep history, rich with tales of death and glory, has shrouded the peak in mystery amongst the public; and allure among climbers. I climbed the Mittelegi Integral. A fine, long ridge and an established classic of the Alps.
Read MoreThese are the all-terrain tool of alpine climbing. Similar to the Petzel Quarks, the North Machines cover a wide range of terrain and can comfortably take you most places in the mountains.
Read MoreTom Livingstone climbed the Hornili Ridge on the Matterhorn during spring 2019. He had the mountain to himself, remarking on an enjoyable solo in beautiful, wintery conditions. Was pre-season the best time to climb the Matterhorn? This post covers my climb with Jasper and explores the idea of pre-season ascents becoming the norm in the future.
Read MoreChamonix is a small village nestled at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif in the European Alps. Often called "the birthplace of alpinism" it is home to some of the most impressive and accessible alpine climbing in the world.
Read MoreI hadn’t been in France for long but when my good friend Marlin reached out and said he was coming to Chamonix for a few days I knew what was on the cards. We spent the following three days living out of my small tent on the Blanche glacier climbing some classic and totally baddass routes.
Read MoreAfter a week or two of bad weather I wasn’t feeling too keen on heading up top with all of the new snow. I had taken up sport climbing as a way get strong and keep active over the unsettled period. So, me and my new climbing partner Monse packed some food and made a plan to go check out the bolted Chesery slabs for a couple of days.
Read MoreJune had just begun and I was heading up the Midi with a new friend and climber partner. Dave Luke and I had been out on a smaller trip a week or so before but this would be our first real trip together.
Read MoreAn exhilarating endeavor. The traverse takes you over three three thousand meter peaks, one being the countries second highest - Mt Tasman (3497m). Although it is a technical climb, the real crux of the route lies in its distance and so it is no surprise that the six kilometers of steep, exposed ground is usually done over two days. Remote and offering no easy escape down, once you start, you are committed to finishing the route.
Read MoreHighlights include: an open bivvy perched high on the ridge, overlooking the western end of the main divide, and climbing a 3000m peak in approach shoes.
Not even a week had passed after getting back from a trip in the Fox Neve and I found myself once again packing for another multi-day trip into the alpine.
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Recently, I took to the Old Ghosty with a mountain bike for a project with Luxury Magazine. My buddy Chris Brinlee Jr had organised the trip and bought me along as the talent for the shoot. Little did he know I had next to no experience on a mountain bike and had never been on a trail before! I got through all it in one piece and loved every moment of it but it was definitely a dive into the deep end. I have put together a few things that I learnt along the way. It is aimed at beginners but if its your first time on this track i’m sure you’ll pick up something too.
Read MoreMt Aspiring (Tititea) is New Zealand's largest mountain outside of the Mt Cook region. A real gem of the Southern Alps, it is sometimes called "the Matterhorn of the South." due to its pyramid shape. At 3033m, Aspiring sits above other nearby peaks and welcomes those daring enough to a range of routes.
The Southwest ridge of Aspiring is like a rite of passage for Kiwi mountaineers wanting to progress onto more challenging alpine routes. You start at 400m above sea level, so it is a massive effort to get to the top. The climb follows a long, exposed snow arete, which leads to a steep ice crux and the final snow slope to the summit. And this is New Zealand; of course, it involves a big old approach!
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