Firstly… Billy Connollys World Tour of New Zealand is apparently being shown on BBC1 on Saturdays at 9:30pm. Next weeks show is of Greymouth, Christchurch, Arthurs Pass etc.. well worth watching (I imagine ;) I can only wonder!)
So the weekend, Saturday headed up Mt. Philistine. Here you can see a map of the area. It’s up in Arthurs Pass.
So yes, my first real mountaineering… I must admit, I’d kinda almost given up on it – don’t partic like the imminent death aspect of it all. This trip was very straightforward though. The only bad thing was we headed up through the bluffs (mini cliffs) by a … more technical (read incorrect) route.. And I did manage to get a black eye from a falling rock (yes mum I was wearing a helmet – it was just unlucky!)
Well, unlucky/good learning experience not to climb too close behind another climber when you’re on loose rock.
This pic is of Claudia, Jana and Mhairi (near to far) – with Mt. Philistine (1967m) in the background.
We didn’t need our crampons in the event, but the ice-axe came in useful. It was great to be hiking with Mhairi again – far too much energy – but it was put to good use as she kicked steps for us in the snow all the way to the top (and was rewarded with summiting first!)
She’s heading off travelling with her parents (arriving from Scotland) and then off to the N.Island, and will certainly be missed down in ChCh. If you can’t get enough of reading about trips in NZ then Mhairi has a blog here
But it was great being up there, I can see myself doing a little more of this sport…. And it was heaps of fun ‘bum sliding’ down the mountain. Much quicker too!.
so thanks (L->R) to Jana,Mhairi,Claudia & Jonno
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After that it was back to ChCh.. heading out to celebrate St. Andrews Day ( 2 days early) in The Celtic Arms. It was *kinda* funny.. I had no spare clothes after the trip, and it was going to be hassle to head home and change, so Jana very kindly lent me a pair of her jeans and a t-shirt.. So I was wearing girls clothes and had eyeshadow (ok, a black eye). It was most liberating ;)
So that pic Mhairi & I, the piper, and Gav (Mhairi’s brother – who’s off to OZ in a week). It was done well though, there was Haggis (which Gavin did the address to) And they even did a reasonable (ish-kinda-will-never-ever-be-as-good-as-home) pint of Guiness.
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