This article was written before the start of winter 2013. It details my start in snowboarding, and will eventually be followed by more posts, describing my progression. The trip described hereafter took place between 2007 and 2012. Through some universal coincidence, Australian Winter Uni Games was somehow the same week as Sam’s and my now fairly annual pilgrimage … More ‘Falling Leaf’ – Learning to snowboard
Note for James: Since writing this, Sam has been climbing more, and seems to be enjoying it again. It will stay here until he decides to take it down or comment further. I never thought I’d say that, but last weekend it was true. The magic is gone. I have to confess. I didn’t have … More I Don’t Enjoy Rock Climbing Anymore
Part 1 Here Karamatsu-dake Good weather was back! I got up early, and had a minor epic at the Happo ticket office trying to “recharge” my points pass. Hot tip, this isn’t actually possible. After being a dumbass gaijin for a while, they let me use the last 4 points and then pay cash to … More Spring in Hakuba, Part 2
Soon after I arrived in Japan on a Wednesday morning, I was barging through a barrier and sprinting up a large set of stairs in Tokyo central station carrying a douchebag. A douchebag, of course, is actually a rollable ski bag. Though it felt really heavy it only weighed 17kg, far less than my baggage … More Spring In Hakuba, Part 1
The line may have gone free without any bolts. I tried the insecure start moves again. If I blew the delicate mantle I’d slam into the ledge below, grate over the slab and factor two straight on to the belay. My belayer grumbled quietly as my legs shook. Out came the drill and holding it … More Modern Masculinity
I don’t think I ever really believed I would paddle the Franklin in the summer of 2014/2015. Sure, we talked about it, after our successful Snowy River trip. Sure, I bought the guidebook. But I just thought it was something nice I should have on the shelf. The logistics…the cost…the difficulty…the weather. Too much to … More Kayaking The Franklin Part 1: Prelude
So we set off on the boisterous and bankfull Franklin, on the afternoon of day 2. The front had passed, leaving glorious sunny weather. I knew this would continue for several days as a high pressure ridge now lay over the island. Anasthesia Ravine Right from the start it was clear this water was definitely … More Kayaking The Franklin Part 2: The Upper Franklin
With the knowledge that the major difficulties were over, and that we were now well ahead of the schedule set by Jiri’s 2012 party, we set out to make for Rock Island Bend. The gorge opened out for the first time in days at Rafters Basin, and we paddled by the flat banks on wide … More Kayaking The Franklin Part 3: The Lower Franklin
The Gordon River The Gordon River is also extremely beautiful, and different in character again from the lower Franklin. Large and gentle, it moves slowly between hills overflowing in astonishing green forest. Despite being the official “end” of the trip, St John’s Falls is still a very, very long way from the nearest flushing toilet, … More Kayaking The Franklin Part 4: The Return
Aaaaah Bell Creek, the old nemesis, the canyon trip that just never seemed to happen. Just mentioning the name seemed to conjure bad weather forecasts and obstacles. I remember at least two planned trips which were cancelled before they left Sydney, and a third attempt with Steve Hare that actually departed, but ended up with … More For Whom The Bell Tolls: traversing Bell Creek complete in a day
Huck & Dyno 