Milford Sound

Sunset in the Sound. Crisp colours in Winter at Milford Sound, New Zealand.

Star Trails over Alpamayo

Alpamayo star trails

Sunset from Camp 2

Evening light pushing through the clouds viewed from Ama Dablam's Southwest Ridge

Wanaka Tree

Iridescence

Iridescence over Mt Aspiring

Colin Todd Hut under Mt Aspiring

Alpamayo at Sunset

Plateau Hut and Aoraki Mt Cook

Sunrise at the majestic Grand Plateau

Mt Aspiring & Milky Way

A calm clear night for a brilliant view of the Milky Way over Mt Aspiring. Viewed from Colin Todd Hut

The Fitzroy Massif, Patagonia

Sunrise over the Cerro Torre Massif, Patagonia

The Fitzroy massif from Niponino

Mt Haast, Lendenfeld Peak and Mt Tasman

Sunset from Middle Peak on Aoraki Mt Cook

Aoraki Low Peak, Mt Sefton, Mt Beatrice, Strauchon Glacier and La Perouse at sunset

Mt Tutoko

Fiordlands highest peak in pristine condition

Aoraki Aerial

Aerial View of the Western Aspect of Aoraki Mt Cook and surrounds

Windswept

The Caroline Face of Aoraki Mt Cook is almost 2000m of steep ice climbing on New Zealands highest peak

Sunset on Mt Aspiring

Alpine Glow on one of New Zealand's most majestic peaks. From L-R is the NW Ridge, West Face, SW Ridge, South Face, and Coxcomb Ridge. Mt Aspiring National Park, NZ

Brodrick Peak

Sunrise splashes Brodrick Peak and illuminates cloud on the West Coast

Aoraki Mt Cook Western flanks

The entire western aspect of Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak, viewed from the East Face of La Perouse

Sunset from Pioneer Hut

Winter sun sets softly on the peaks dividing the Fox Glacier from the Franz Josef Glacier. From L-R The Bismarck Peaks, Von Bulow, Mt. Halcombe, Mt Christie, West Hoe

Sunset from Pioneer Hut

Looking South towards Humdinger, Haast, Lendenfeld and Tasman

Sunset from Pioneer Hut

Looking Southwest in winter to the setting sun over the Tasman sea.

Douglas Peak and Haidinger battling with cloud

Cloud gathers and accentuates the main divide ridge line between Douglas Peak (R) and Mt Haidinger (L). Viewed from Glacier Peak

The Remarkables

The final moments of sunset in winter over the highest peaks of the Remarkables

Aoraki, Dampier and Vancouver

Aoraki, Mt Dampier and Mt Vancouver shrouded in the easterly mists. This was the mood of the mountains over the last week as we prepared to climb Aoraki/ Mt Cook. It was re-energising to return to the mountains after three friends died and my world view came into question yet again. When a devastating and final end comes to friends dear to us the answers, which are often simple, come steadily to the observer. The mountains bring us so much clarity, wisdom, self knowledge, challenge and make us deeply resourceful and grateful. I was privileged to spend time up high with Conan Carter, Nick Jarvis and Roberto Gomez Sainz and reach the summit on Friday 23rd after some patient planning and preparation. From the summit of Aoraki I looked and wondered about Caleb Jennings, Wolfgang Maier and Martin Hess and where their spirits were. Their presence was strong. Caleb had last stood there in September. I looked across to Mt Hicks, Harper Saddle and the slopes where Martin and Wolfgang drew their final breath. I said goodbye and I shed a tear. Their memories live on in me.