The goal is simple...to ski, climb, and hitchhike my way around some of New Zealands prime alpine venues of the south island with as little money as possible. I quit my job, liquidated any assest i did not need and started saving...what will come of this adventure. Who knows? Good times for sure!







Gear...freakin.

Right so turns out getting gear is not A) Cheap or B) Cheap. Have been working on a number of items. Need to get my mountaineering kit sorted, and sleeping arrangements. Sleeping
  • Currently i am using a -10C bag (MD Standarhart) and reckon i will be right with a bivy bag and a warm liner. Will take a WE overhang tarp (6x4 aka massive) for living under while hitch hiking about the place. Teamed up with an old school 3/4 thermarest and a short bit of CC foam and i reckon i will be onto a winner for alpine bivys and roadside luxury ;)
  • Bivy Bag - Just bought 2nd hand Paddy Pallin goretex bivy bag for $75 AUD (RRP $550) ping ping ping!

Mountaineering Gear - Is expensive!

Well as a rank ameture mountaineer this i one hell of a steep learning curve. Have worked out some of my basic kit, still researching everything i can. Will give a final gear list and weight before i fly out!

  • Ice axes - Either Black Diamond Raven Pro or Venom, or a similar axe by Petzl, Camp, Grivel etc. One adze, One Hammer.
  • Crampons - Hard to decide whether steel or alloy is the go. Leaning towards a steel setup such as BD Sabretooth as the are dirct cheap on MEC 2nd hand gear swap ($35 CAD...PING). Aluminium considering BD Neve Pro. Nice and light.
  • Draws, biners etc - Just got 8 DMM Truclip Straight Gate and 8 DMM Truclip Bent Gate biners and One BD Twist loc for $75 AUD 2nd hand barely used (PING). Will get some slings and draws to make up prob 7 sets of Draws.
  • Slings - Backcountry.com i suspect....
  • Belays device - Black Diamond Guide.
  • Harness - My climbing harness Petzl Adjama.
  • Prussiks and tape - Just out of whatever i can get cheap at MD's
  • Protection - Still thinking about this. Ice screws, snow stakes, some cams (that i can afford) and nuts....all expensive stuff would be better to team up with someone else for this season...
  • Rope - Rope is expensive....

Anyways, will update at a later date...

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