Just when I got to the car park there was a group of like 15 people with backpacks, I asked them where they were going and they said they were all going to Black Hill Hut, exactly where I intended to go. So I cancelled that plan and decided to go to Mt Oxford instead, I’m on it in the photo, it’s quite steep

Getting closer to the summit it flattens a bit

And then becomes steep again, also with my length I really need to crouch under these trees or I will bump into them

Lots of trees here with this stuff on them. I forgot what it’s called. Is it old man’s beard?

Finally I’m out of the forest and get a look at the summit, it’s still quite a while from here

Looking towards Springfield

I continue towards the top, there is a lot of strong wind

Some sun starting to shine

Another 1 km to go to the summit

Someone else on the way back already

Yay, I made it to the summit, sheltering from the wind here

In the far distance is the gliding club. My backpack is taking a rest as well, it has performed extremely well, very glad with it

The view towards and of Lees Valley

A selfie at the very summit of Mt Oxford

Black Hill and behind the Esk Valley where it’s raining

On the far left Mt Hutt in snow, in the middle the Torlesse Range in snow, to the right the Cragieburn Range in snow

I wonder if anyone is flying today, there is thermal activity but the wind might be too strong

There’s still some snow in places, Lees Valley in the background

I walk back a long way the same way I came

Until I reach this junction where I go towards the Wharfedale Hut

The path to the hut was steep, my feet hurt, the hut was almost full, a nice bunch of people, we have some nice talks and an early nap, the sky looks fantastic

Sunday morning, I am the first one already on the trail again to the car park, I am hungry and left some yummy things in the fridge in my car and can’t wait to get there

The Wharfedale Track itself is not very special, in fact it’s a bit boring, especially when it’s not sunny, there aren’t that many interesting views either

The Wharfedale Saddle, it shouldn’t be all that far back to the car now, only 2 hours and 20 minutes according to the sign

Many little stream crossings like this one

The occasional view, in this case we see Chest Peak in the distance on the right, often our gateway to the north when gliding

Lots of ferns and a bit of sun seeping through

Almost back at the car park, I look sooo forward to some cold diet coke and something to eat from the fridge in my car

And I end the trip with pretty much the same view I started with yesterday. The trip was 30km, my legs and feet are sore from the climb yesterday but it was all worth it and the new backpack is fantastic!

Normally this part of the lake isn’t even there

Castle Hill car park, Torlesse Range behind it

I don’t know why but Kiwis seem to make everything worse year by year, they’ve cut down some awesome trees that used to be here and for some insane reason it’s now strictly no drones

At least the rocks are all still there

But today we’re not looking at the first part of Castle Rock, but at the other parts beyond that, most of which I had not visited before

Like this part, where those crazy Kiwis for some reason have put a fence around, I have no idea why, it didn’t use to be there but Kiwis love fences

Like this beautiful part which is now fenced off

Looks like a dog’s head to me

Cragieburns to our left

Prebble Hill, and it’s a good day for gliding!

On our way to Castle Hill summit, slowly getting there

Made it

The Craigies, normally I fly along those tops

I’m glad I finally visited this part of Castle Hill, it’s beautiful

Yep, me

More Craigies

And more rocks

Rocks everywhere

Makes me think about Tibet for some reason

Nice cumulus clouds!

Looks like a stranded submarine, climbers were up there just before, I could never do that

What a landscape

There’s hardly any wind today, it’s dead quiet here

Having a little break

Split Apple Rock, well, sort of, the ‘real’ one is in the Abel Tasman National Park of course (thanks Hugo)

That angled part must have been the sea floor at some stage I think

Just imagine how much water and time it must have taken to carve these shapes

Cirrus clouds, tomorrow might be not so nice as today

Yet another rock photo

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the last photo of this series!