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Help wanted!! Getting started in Mountaineering 15-Aug-2014 At 2:02:04 PM sleake

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On 15/08/2014 mattyj wrote:
>I agree with what Steve said and I'm really only posting to indulge some
>vaguely narcissistic tendencies and relieve boredom, which it seems is
>what Chockstone is for.
>
>Firstly, it's good you're a student, as climbing mountains takes lots
>and lots of TIME.
>
>Secondly, ignore most of what Steve said: sounds like only the first line
>he posted applies to you. If you want to pay a guide to take you on a TMC
>now then go for it, but if you can't wander around confidently in the fog
>in the Aussie Alps and climb long trad routes efficiently then you're going
>about it ass backwards. Bushwhacking and climbing clubs will teach you
>that stuff for free in Australia. Just my two cents...
>
>PS: what did NZ do to you as a child Steve? Also, where were you thinking
>of in N America? I've heard the Cascades and Canadian Rockies have awful
>weather.

Sorry - should have said 'dont bother carting all your ropes and rubbish to blue lake, when you could spend your time getting the basics of Alpine Touring skiing out there which will help heaps more in access in the mountains, be heaps more fun and still alow you to camp and wander around in the fog and snow.

I have spent waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to much of my life in NZ rain.

However I am a sucker for punishment - cause in the next 3 months Ive got 3 trips there - wish me luck.

In a 50 day trip in Canada earlier this year we spent 40 of them climbing. Colorado was equally good to me. Nz just doesnt give you heaps of time to mess around 'learning the ropes' so to speak. small window which pushes you to use it/go in average conditions - which is all part of the fun, but tough to 'learn' in. Equally - yes a flight there is cheap, but a few chopper flights and suddenly the bill adds up - trip to a more distant set of mountains becomes feasible.

Though Matt, facebook has shown me that Cham had a NZ style summer this year- sorry! (you still got some nice stuff done - super jealous!!!!!!!!)