Kepler Track

YIC has just returned from 2 excellent days tramping the Kepler Track in Fiordland. He was blessed with good weather for the Alpine crossing and climb of Mt Luxmore (1478 metres). This was lucky indeed as it had rained or been cloudy for the last week. This was a "Great Walk" and the first that YIC has done in NZ. Great Walk = very popular, have to book in advance, and yes a great walk.

on top of Mt Luxmore


South Fiord (part of Lake Te Anau) from the Kepler Track


Lake Manapouri - it was a still day and the only sound was the gentle lapping of the water


The Kepler Mountains stretch into the distance. Explorer John McCerrow named the hills in this area. He admired scientists. Kepler (a German astronomer) was one of his favourites - hence the Kepler Mountains. McCerrow was also Scottish (so he must have been OK) and many of the streams here are called burns.


A long and winding road - the Kepler Track heads through beech forest

International Readership

It would appear that Birtley News is read around the globe. From Canberra to Gateshead, people are eagerly logging on to read the next gripping installment. Patrick, Tristan and Natalie Miller report that they like the mountain photos, with "the abyss" at Maud Glacier being their favourite. Here are just a few of the other comments YIC has received:

Katrina Pescott - I log on to Birtley News every morning, it brightens my day.
Lois Gordon - great to hear about the penny whistle at French Ridge Hut; I've missed its dulcet tones
Timothy Duff - reference to walking stick not understood. PS Who is Gazza?

Who ate all the pies?

The answer would appear to be: YIC. After the Skyline race, he has moved on to Te Anau in Fiordland. It has an excellent pie shop - "Miles Better Pies". So far YIC has sampled the cornish pasties and steak & kidney pies, and there are lots more to go at. Alf Tupper, the tough of the track, used to train on fish and chips. So YIC would appear to be on to a good thing with pies. He has also added some balance to his diet with beer (naturally). Tomorrow he is off for a 2 day tramp on the Kepler Track to burn off all those pies.

Wanaka Skyline Race - 27k and 1,340 metre climb

Low cloud, wind on the tops, and pouring rain. The conditions for the Wanaka Skyline Race were rather reminiscent of the Lake District on a wet day. YIC ran the race yesterday. Despite the weather, it was a great event. After an initial trot round the lake, there was a steep climb up Mt Roy followed by a ridge run to Mt Alpha. After a quad busting descent there was a final run in to the finish at Wanaka rugby club. YIC finished 7th out of about 50 runners in 3 hours 8 mins. He was also second V 40 in the "masters competition" - he is getting old!

It seems you are never far from another UK fellrunner. The race was won by Stephen Granger-Bevan from Reading. John Osborne from Settle Harriers was also there - YIC recognised him from UK races.

There's a more detailed report at http://www.northumberlandfellrunners.co.uk/ .

pennywhistling at French Ridge Hut

YIC has found room in his rucksack for his pennywhistle - it's usually stored with his tent poles. For readers who are missing the dulcet tones of said whistle, here is a photo that was taken at French Ridge Hut by Rolf, one of the volunteer wardens.

Photos: http://www.rolfandkarina.com/ .

Mt Armstrong

YIC has just returned from climbing Mt Armstrong. At 2,174 metres, this is YIC's highest peak in NZ to date. The tramp involved a 1,700 metre climb straight up from Haast River, then a night at the scenic Brewster Hut. The views from the top were fantastic. Staying at the hut were also Barry & Kay and Brian & Sue from Lake Kanieri (West Coast), and several cheery (and loud!) folk from Auckland. After the tramp, YIC cooled off with a swim in the Haast River - no photos of that, readers will be relieved to hear.

looking along the ridge on Mt Armstrong

Mt Brewster from Mt Armstrong

The Southern Alps stretch into the distance to the east

at Brewster Hut

Kay doing her bit and giving the hut a spring clean

another loo with a view - and in better shape after Kay had given it a clean

Brian - the cheery ex-Liverpudlian bus driver on Atomic Shuttles which YIC has used for transport to the Wilkin Young and Mt Armstrong tramps. "Travel with Atomic," says Brian, "they're the best!" And indeed they must be, judging by the quality of jokes on board. Here's a joke which YIC heard from a young girl on the bus: Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 ate 9. When YIC riposted with the one-eyed dinosaur joke, the girl simply stated: "I'm not laughing."

this stick was made for walking

YIC has invested in a walking stick. As he tramps around New Zealand, he finds that walking with a heavy pack gives his knees gyp. Perhaps he is getting old (surely not! the readers cry). As he walks along, he finds that he is prone to whistle a tune to him, pass a few bon mots to no-one in particular, and chuckle to himself. He even twirls the stick absentmindedly as he walks. Soon he might be putting the stick on a shelf in a pub, commanding the nearest customer to not let him forget it, then promptly walking out of the establishment and leaving the said stick behind. Now who does that remind readers of? (hint - he is a close relative of YIC)

on top of Gillespie Pass with Mt Dreadful in the background