Back in New Zealand

Back in New Zealand, back to reality. I have started a new job with MWH. It is great to use my brain again. It is stimulating and challenging at the same time. All the people I work with are great and I already feel like I have been there for a long time..two months is coming up soon.

Back in New Zealand, it's not all about work. There are plenty of chances to discover the country, especially living down in Dunners. It is awesome to be able to see the surrounding areas. Many which are too far away to visit over a weekend from Chch.

Silver Peaks

Charlie and I went for a long run in the Silver Peaks area one day. My flatmate Anna gave us a ride about 30 km north and we ran all the way back to my house in North East Valley. Julian and I did a rogaine in this area last year and I must say I think I must have supressed my memories due to severe pain.





Kepler track
Charlie and I did the Kepler track a few weeks ago to get a chance to see what level of pain we are in for when we will do the Kepler Challenge in the beginning of December. This time we did the track over two days, i.e. a very chilled pace with many eating and photo stops. I doubt that I will stop that much during the race.

We had great weather and we were pretty much alone on the track. We shared Irisburn Hut (50 bunk bed) with three others. During peak season it is usually cramped with people.

Stunning views towards Te Anau basin

Avalanche danger according to DOC...yeah right!
Another glorious run with the cast.
Fern heaven

Adventure racing:

Then it was time for some serious competing...the Spring Challange Adventure race in Hamner Springs. Jana, Berit and I had a wicked time: short bike ride, 1.5 hrs rafting, 18km walking/running (minimal level of navigation...we could have done it blind folded even), 25 km biking...all took just over 7 hrs, which gave us a honourous 25th place out of more than 80 teams. Not bad , not bad...but more important. We had pink gorgeous tops on. It was a female only competition after all..300 woman competed in total.

We had to share the raft with another team. It was a pretty hot day for havng a full length wet suit..
Jana getting towed uphill to one of the last controls.
Great work team!!
The support crew took care of us very well that day. It was fun to see so many men doing everything for their woman. I think I need to race more often...

Humpridge Track- South Coastal Track
During Labour weekend, Charlie and I defied the weather and headed for a track which is described as the next great walk. Time to chek out what the fuss is about.

A sunny start..we expected rain all the way through.
Ferns, ferns and ferns...
The weather turned nastier
Looking out over the top hut, Okaka Hut, towards Invercargill
I loved the light

This is an old logging tramway which leads across the massive Percy Burn Viaduct, the highest remaining wooden viaduct in the world to Port Craig Village apparently. We stayed in the hut that you can see in the distance. We were completely alone.

Almost there...after 7.5 hrs of crossing many km of board walks and many many thousands of tonnes of mud. Charlie was too dirty. He had to sleep outside the hut.


In all the tramp is really beutiful I got pretty sick after crossing too many board walks and my knees were whinging as well. The mud felt better, but it was hard work. In total we got almost 2000 m elevation difference over the whole track. We got a bit of everything on this tramp: sea, sub alpine forest, snow, hail blasting us at the tops, sunshine, historic stuff to look at and tourists to pass.

All in all, worth doing, but I wouldn't pay for it. It is a privately operated track. We got away from paying since we never stayed at the top. Cunning...