Category: Tongariro and Ruapehu

The country was finally blasted with a cold southerly that brought snow to both islands after what seemed like weeks of winter weather that was either too warm or too wet. Finally ‘our’ mountain, Ruapehu, was the winter playground we’d been waiting for. So, late Saturday the 11th, after a successful morning hunt, Will and…

Pehi’s Bluff sits south of the Bruce Road, an easy 45-minute walk from the carpark at the start of the Round the Mountain Track (E-1819412, N-5654488). I’d climbed there once before, but this was a first for my climbing partner for the day, Will Young. Pehi is a great stack of cracks and corners, terrific…

Following a couple of beaut Search and Rescue training weekends based at Tukino Alpine Sports Lodge, and with a positive forecast and good snow and ice, it was time to get out and play.     Don French knows the area better than most, with years of climbing and route-setting here he has a crag named in…