Grand Traverse
Traversing New Zealand's highest mile across Aoraki Mt Cook on a morning tinged with yellow/ orange haze from the Australian bushfires.
Strong winds aloft
After completing a new route (Kia rapu i tõku māramatanga) on the South Face of Mt Aspiring, Sooji Clarkson organises the rope and we head upwards along the Coxcomb Ridge. But not for long. The South Face was shady and cold and now that we're in the sun we have to contend with strong winds. Blowing snow and winds gusting up to 70kph helped us decide to bail back down the lower Coxcomb Ridge. This complex terrain had us navigating rock steps, down climbs and short rappels late into the evening. We had lunch that day at 11pm!
Aorkai, viewed from the summit of Mt Graham
Alastair McDowell takes in the sunrise views from the summit of Mt Graham
Finishing a new line on Mt Spencer in the Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand. 'First Light' is a five pitch lin on the sunnier west side and complements 'Pitch Black' around the corner on the southern side. It goes at grade MC4. =====================================
Climbing up from Clarke Saddle
Pat Gray enjoying summer alpenglow as he climbs towards Mt Teichelmann en route to Magellan. Malaspina, Vancouver, Dampier and Aoraki Mt Cook are all visible from here.
Happy Skier
Climbing up above Murchison hut affords some great views of the Aida Glacier and leads to some untracked backcountry terrain
Split boarding on Glacier Peak
Surfing the fresh snow from the summit of Glacier Peak, Ben Sanford enjoys this wild environment.
Tasman Saddle Hut
This was part of a bigger journey with Penny Brothers to celebrate 125 years of the New Zealand Alpine Club and its founders Mannering, Harper and Ross.
Mt Haast Summit Ridge
Topping out on the summit ridge of Mt Haast after completing a new route we called 'Hotline', grade IV, 5. Ben Sanford looks to the final 60m summit headwall. We spent most of the day in the sun with spectacular views out to the West Coast rivers, forests and waves.
First Light on the Silberhorn arête
Mt Cook National Park
La Perouse East Face
The Climber
Jane Morris reaching the ridge top at the head of the Hoophorn Valley. The South Face of Mt Sealy is in the background
Engaging with the environment
Ben Sanford negotiates the narrow snow ridge on the West Ridge of Glacier Peak. The Fox Glacier neve spills away to the ocean behind.
Alastair McDowell on 'Los Indignados' M7
During the 2017 Remarkables Ice and Mixed Festival Alastair didn't manage to complete 'Los Indignados', but received an award for the male hardest new route for 'Shoot to Thrill' M6
