Back again from Antarctica

Hi All yet again I'm back from the great harsh continent.

I have just got back from another season working for the New Zealand Antarctic program as a field trainer and guide to their science events.

I have put my pictures on Picasa web albums for all to see, check it out. But here is my favourite landscape pic from this trip, of Mt Erebus.

I did this playing with my new Nikon P700 camera which is a great camera which makes me look talented

Enjoy the pics

Grivel Air-Tech Crampon Review 
One Crampon to rule them all.

Another great product from the guys in Courmayeur Italy I would like to recommend: The Air-Tec Crampon by Grivel.


I have had a pair of Air-Tec Crampons for the last 3 years and I love them as an all round mountaineering crampon. 
These guys are some of the lightest full steel crampons available in NZ (790gr w/o Antibotts), and lend them selves so well to some of the following: Mixed climbing routes in Arthur's Pass, The high neves of Mt Cook National park, Antarctic mountaineering and Ski Touring in winter.


The reason I like these sharps are because they have the same aggressive 2 front points that it's bigger brother the Grivel G12's has making them climb moderate ice and steep gully climbs securely but also the lower profile underfoot points that make walking so easy on hard ice and long trips when you are tired and slightly lazier as you don't need to lift your feet as much. Rock or mixed climbing in these guys is also easier due to their lower profile secondary points that don't scratch around as much as the G12's do meaning you can place the side of your foot securely and not feel as though you are on high heels as much as other more specific alpine crampons.


I have adapted them slightly from out of the box to make them as versatile as I rant about.
The adaptations that I have done are to make them as versatile as I can for all the work that I do. I have replaced the hard centre bar with a flex bar and nylon nut and bolt which means that they are lighter, able to work on all my boot types and are slightly safer as they are less likely to loose parts while in transit on my pack than the standard clip (this is only a theoretical problem).


I chose to go with the full strap option as they are then usable on all my boots from light alpine rock boots through to my ski boots, speaking of ski boots, I have added a small double fisherman loop of 3mm cord on the front bail to give me the extension I needed to reach over my high altitude boots and my ski boots without having to adjust the center bar, which I think is a great idea (=


So if you are looking for a great all round mountaineering crampon that can do a little of everything these are the guys for you. They will walk well on hard ice and firm to slushy snow with the help of the 'antibotts' that actively push off snow build up while you walk which makes for a safer crampon. The Air-Tecs' will climb most types of terrain up to NZ Gr3 routes, where the steepness of ice and harder terrain make the secondary points of the G12's  preferred as they make vertical climbing more secure.


If you are too hardcore for these beauties Grivel has a great range available from the high performance ice and  alpine masters the G14's or the Alpine crampons that 'go to 11' the G12's check them out. They are also really good at making Axes especially the Air-Tec Series of axes.


I rate them, you will too.
Have fun...

Julbo Explorer Glasses Review.

As you can see, Julbo NZ were kind enough to give me a pair of glasses both to try and to 'sell' on to clients and others I came a cross this last year, that being said it was not hard to do.


After the initial instinct to page Elton John for his missing glasses, these guys grew on me and seeing that there is not an abundance of mirrors in the great southern continent I was secure in my masculinity.
There are a few other, less challenging colours available including Black and Grey but I liked that challenge of looking like a French mountain guide.


The short of it is that these glasses rock, as a glacier and high altitude glass, with their great coverage, side shields and adjustable arms for fit they worked a treat.
Being able to remove the side shields and or adjust the flow of air with them was great when ski touring uphill on days with no or little wind to cool off. They are great solid design with more than one screw holding them on the arms which seemed to add a great amount of redundancy. With my only concern being the attachment of the flexible arms to the body which seemed to be able to pull off if you tried hard but would be fixed with a bit of super glue.


Check these guys out, they are a great mountaineering glass that will push the boundaries of cafe life but will protect your eyes phenomenally while in the hills. So if you are spending a lot of time in the hills, on glaciers or anywhere that there is large amounts of glare like expeditions or the like I highly recommend them.
Thanks Julbo Julbo Explorer Glasses.

Finally I am back,
I have a few things to review after my season in Antarctica including the following:

• Julbo Explorer Glasses
• Zamberlan Denali 6000 Boots
• GRIVEL Air-Tec Crampons

I have also included a link to the trip so you can see that all whas not just in my head.

Adventure Logistics Picasa: Antarctica Album
Watch this space...