New Zealand 1996
While working on exchange in Australia, I was fortunate enough to take part in the Australian Army Alpine Association's Exercise Southern Ascent, held annually in New Zealand. We spent two weeks on the Grand Plateau at the foot of Mt Cook. The early days were spent honing our mountaineering skills such as glacier travel, steep snow climbing, mixed climbing on snow and rock, etc. We climbed several of the smaller peaks surrounding the Grand Plateau, then made preparations for our ultimate goal of climbing Mt Cook.

Three days of solid rain delayed our plans and gave us experience at another aspect of mountaineering: waiting out the weather for a chance to climb. Our chance came, and at 10pm on the night of 14 Jan we set out up the Linda Glacier. The three days of rain had obliterated the tracks of previous climbers, and made route finding a real challenge. We reach a point on the ridge just below an area called the summit rocks at sunrise, providing us a phenomenal view of the entire Southern Alps. Three of us continue on from this point, and the rest head back to base camp.

I feel great leading the mixed summit rocks pitch, and our group of three heads strongly on to the summit, arriving at 1:30pm. We race back to base camp, dodging the usual afternoon avalanches along the way, and arrive wearily in camp at 10pm - a full 24 hour day! But what a day it was!