Tramping! Pic heavy!

[NKlamerus]

B-Bam there she is.

One of these days I'm gonna make an EDC Water thread or explode on an old one.

[Syncop8r]

[Syncop8r]

Most of the time I don't use the bite valve, although I did on this trip and there were less drips.
You can get a special tube to fit on the bottle so you can drink on the go like a bladder but they're pretty expensive.
Yes my pack is internal framed - it's pretty hard to find an external one here these days (not sure why you would want to).

[NKlamerus]

Most of the time I don't use the bite valve, although I did on this trip and there were less drips.
You can get a special tube to fit on the bottle so you can drink on the go like a bladder but they're pretty expensive.
Yes my pack is internal framed - it's pretty hard to find an external one here these days (not sure why you would want to).

I've just always been a fan of the ability to always add to. You can always tie a rope to a metal frame, not always to a cloth sleeve.

I have used a internal and hybrid frames before and they are extremely comfortable. But I've never wore one that put enough weight on my hips and took weight off my shoulders.

I'm also 6'4" though. And I have modded  my exterior frame and raised the shoulder straps 4"

[Syncop8r]

Beautiful pics!

I watched a series called "I shouldnt be alive" and your pics look exactly like one episode where a guy is hiking in the New Zealand mountains and has a fall.  His dog basically saves his life keeping him going and warm at night.  He makes it to one of those sleep cabins and someone gets help for him finally. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2008892/

Here is his own account, quite a long read: http://tramper.co.nz/?3643
A lot more rugged and remote than where I was.

[HarleyXJGuy]

Gorgeous hike. Reminds me of a book in highschool, they called backpacking; Humping.

We still call it that in the Army.

Water thread would blow up here I bet.

Yes my pack is internal framed - it's pretty hard to find an external one here these days (not sure why you would want to).

Could you please explain that to the US Army. 

[Syncop8r]

Yes my pack is internal framed - it's pretty hard to find an external one here these days (not sure why you would want to).

Could you please explain that to the US Army. 

If it is anything like the NZ Army one I had (a lot of their gear was US surplus) you have my deepest sympathies.

[ColoSwiss]

Great scenery! Thanks for the shots. 

[ducttapetech]

Great stuff man. Those pics are just wow!

Nate

[HarleyXJGuy]

Yes my pack is internal framed - it's pretty hard to find an external one here these days (not sure why you would want to).

Could you please explain that to the US Army. 

If it is anything like the NZ Army one I had (a lot of their gear was US surplus) you have my deepest sympathies.

NZ has an Army? What is there function herding sheep and the like? 

[Syncop8r]

NZ has an Army? What is there function herding sheep and the like? 

Nah, mostly fixing up everything the Yanks destroy in the Middle East. 

[HarleyXJGuy]

NZ has an Army? What is there function herding sheep and the like? 

Nah, mostly fixing up everything the Yanks destroy in the Middle East. 

Oh you got me on that one. Well played Sir.

[Syncop8r]

However, if you come across this clown... http://time.com/3651559/new-zealand-isis-twitter/ make all the mess you want.

[Aloha]

Just catching up with this and so jealous of the scenery you have there.  I'm curious about what "heavy" foods you carried in?  Also what means of cooking did you use?

[Syncop8r]

It was a last minute decsision to do this so I brought two large portions of a leftover curry I had made. It was much appreciated at dinner but I tipped out the other portion so I wouldn't have to carry it any further, and so I wouldn't have to stop and cook at lunch the next day (I had plenty of bread to have for lunch - too much in fact).

I should have brought dehydrated meals or something else light, but I figured hey, I want something nicer and I can hack it.

I have a generic little gas cooker that works well (a local brand), I'll post a pic sometime.

[toolguy]

Magnificent scenery.

Thanks for sharing.

[Rux]

Great pictures, thanks for sharing, but with the title "Tramping!" am I the only one that had something completely different in mind?

For some reason I pictured photos of you dressed like, well a tramp, and going around on the town. 

[Syncop8r]

Great pictures, thanks for sharing, but with the title "Tramping!" am I the only one that had something completely different in mind?

I think Harley had similar hopes.

For some reason I pictured photos of you dressed like, well a tramp, and going around on the town. 

That's in another thread.

[Syncop8r]

Bealey Spur (Day Walk)

It's a long weekend so my friend and I did a day walk up Bealey Spur on Waitangi Day, our national holiday. It is in the same general area as my last tramp (Arthurs Pass National Park) but on the other side of the Waimakariri River, the main river through here.

Track start:

Walking up through Mountain Beech forest:

A glimpse of the Bealey River:

Bruce Stream:

Bealey River again - this is the way to Arthur's Pass which is one of the few routes joining the East and West of the South Island/Te Wai Pounamu:

Bealey Spur goes up to the right:

The headwaters of the Waimakariri River:

The Bealey River joining the Waimakariri, with the road to Arthurs Pass:

The Waimakariri River flowing toward the gorge.

The back of the Craigieburn Range.

A boardwalk across a swamp:

Snow! (at 1030 metres):

Looking back across the swamp and tarn:

Back into the forest:

Bealey Spur Hut (full of mice):

Blind Spur to our left:

Lunch with a view:

A stoat or weasel (both introduced pests) could smell our lunch. They are surprisingly quick and agile (left middle):

Just chillin':

Continuing the climb beyond the hut:

Bealey Spur Hut shining in the clearing below. Beyond that the tarn and swamp and the spur continues down to the Waimakariri River:



We climbed as far as a peak 1545m high:

The spur continues up as Hut Spur (middle and left):

Looking up Power Stream:

The upper Waimakariri:



My little day pack:

Heading back down:

Lagoon Saddle in the distance - perhaps the next tramp I do (Cass-Lagoon):



Spot the Rifleman! A cute little bird, a little ball of fluff not much bigger than a golf ball:

[ducttapetech]

Oh wow! Just beautiful!

Nate

[Syncop8r]

I'll see if I can show off the view even better.
I'm not sure how well this will work...


(Click for video)

[enki_ck]

Excellent looking pictures.

Must have been a great trip.

[Syncop8r]

Cass-Lagoon: A two-day trip over Cass Saddle at one end and Lagoon Saddle at the other, with a stay in Hamilton Hut in the middle.

Cass-Lagoon Day 1 03-04-2015: Cass - Cass Saddle - Hamilton Hut

Walking up Cass River (Cass Saddle on the right):

Multiple river crossings required but luckily not very deep:

The track was generally very well-formed:

After three and a half hours walking we stopped at Cass Hut for lunch. It was crawling with rats - I'm surprised you can't see any in the photo:[URL=http://s529.photobucket.com/user/syncop8r/media/Cass-Lagoon%2004-2015/Cass-Lagoon%20April%202015%20049.jpg.html]

Near it this stream came out of the ground beneath where I am standing:

After the hut we were out of the forest and heading up to the saddle:

Looking back from whence we came:

The saddle is subject to avalanche risk in Winter. particularly off this slope in the first photo:

The view over the other side. Hamilton Hut is just visible at the upper edge of the clearing in the centre of the photo:

A "Spaniard". DO NOT sit on one:

Descending steeply through the forest:

I'm a-lichen these trees:

Time to replenish my water:

Down into Hamilton Creek:

Onto the flat:

Looking back up at the saddle:

Finally we reach Hamilton Hut after seven hours:

It was pretty full (about 16 people, 20 bunks) so I slept out in my tent so I could snore in peace. ;-)

[Syncop8r]

Cass-Lagoon Day 2 04-04-2015: Hamilton Hut - Lagoon Saddle - Cora Lynn

Next morning: rain:

A couple of bridges to cross:

The swingbridge was rather slippery:

It might not look it but it was raining a fair bit:

At last the sun came out as I walked up the Harper River:

Things got tricky when the route was marked by cairns which weren't always visible (or there at all):

Back up into the forset and a quick stop for lunch:

Passing Lagoon Shelter:

Finally I came out of the forest above Lagoon Saddle:

A couple enjoying the view:

The view showing Bealey Spur - my previous trip:

Looking down the upper Wamaikariri River basin:

After sidling along the face of Mt Bruce I can see the track end. It's not very far horizontally but it's a long way down:

Zig-zagging steeply through the forest, some mushrooms in a patch of exotic pine:

One of my walking poles snapped under my weight:

But I was cheered up by a Fantail (piwakwaka) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_fantail who came to say hello (or more likely eat the flying insects disturbed by my movement):

At last, after another seven hour tramp the track widens as I reach the end:

Sorry, Photobucket is being A COMPLETE SMURF about the orientation of some of the portrait photos. 

[ducttapetech]

Wow! Looks like a sweet trip!

That's us mobile
Nate

[Gareth]

Great shots mate, it's almost like I was there (without getting wet or having sore feet ).

[Zed]

That scenery is mind  blowing 

[ToolJoe]

Now I must add New Zealand to future travel list. Also, that white van is awesome  . Shame there are none around in the states..

[SAK Guy]

Great shots mate, it's almost like I was there (without getting wet or having sore feet ).

Perfectly said!!! 

[Syncop8r]

Thanks guys! You know I do it all just to take photos for you. 

Now I must add New Zealand to future travel list. Also, that white van is awesome  . Shame there are none around in the states..

The trusty Toyota Hiace is one of the most common vehicles here, especially in a city inundated with tradesmen for the rebuild. Mine is currently at 311000kms.
I love those old broad vans you have in the US - GMCs I think? The closest we have in shape is the CF Bedford (I always wanted one) but they are pretty much all worn out.