Ski touring in New Zealand

This year I managed to come back earlier from my adventures in the Artic which meant there was time for some ski tours in New Zealand. To kick it all off and to get back into the swing of ski touring I went with the Queenstown women outdoor network to a ski touring camp at Mt Cook. Pretty dodgy weather meant that we made it to Plateau Hut, but had to stay put for a day while a big storm delivered 50cm of fresh snow. Avalanche risk after that was high and we stayed on flattish ground. That didn't stop me enjoying a fantastic outing on a blue sky day across the Grand Plateau towards Anzac Peaks.

A week later at Labour weekend I was back at Mt Cook, with some friends. This time flying into Kelman Hut for 3 days of ski touring in fantastic weather on Tasman Glacier. The absolute highlight was a trip through the ice formations of Canyon Land, just below Tasman Saddle Hut.

Working in the Arctic

Currently I am working on the ship in the Arctic. I just completed the first of altogether 8 trips around Svalbard and Northeast Greenland. At the most recent trip I saw 6 polar bears in the pack ice North of Svalbard, one mum with 2 cups. Photos were unfortunately spoilt by dense fog. Our ship also made the first circumnavigation of Spitsbergen this season as the Hinlopen Strait is still blocked by thick pack ice. In a few hours I will be leaving for my second trip.

Tramping in Southern Germany

I am currently in Germany on my way to work in the Arctic. Each year I try to build in a mini adventure, an excursion to get to know a new area in my home country. This year I went to Southern Germany, an hours train ride south of Munich . Spitzing See is a little lake in a valley just above the bigger Schliersee. After a course with the German Alpine Club (DAV) I had 2 more days to explore the region. I stayed at Rotwand Haus which is more a luxurious hotel than a hut. Most of my time I spent on top of the mountain with the same name Rotwand (1884m), watching the sunset, moonrise and sunrise. Not much sleep since it is summer in Germany! But it was fantastic and worth the hours on the top. On my last day I climbed a mountain which is called "Schinder" (engl. sweater). And indeed it was, especially the way down through the Schinderkar (engl. corrie). Steep and loose my favourite combination.

Sunsets

There have been some amazing sunsets recently in Wellington. Intensive colours, just the right amount of clouds at the right place. I don't know what it is but the beginning of winter seems to be better than other times for amazing sunrises and sunsets - and best of all they happen during a convenient time of the day.