Stop the press: I wasn’t scared on this one! Read on for a trip report a bit different to my regular!

Being prone to being a scaredy-cat AND given we had some ‘spicy’ ridgeline that we scrambled across, I was super pumped to come off this trip realising that I hadn’t been scared. I felt right at home scrambling and climbing along the ridgeline. I was leading the charge scrambling from one side to the other with a triumphant ‘it’ll go!’

The objective of this trip was to nav to an off-track peak taking in some bush bashing along the way.

We had rain and whiteout conditions to deal with – planned that way to test out gear and skills when conditions weren’t so favourable.

The Route: An out and back to Maungatika off the Dingle Burn Track in the Hawea Conservation Reserve

The People: @cheeky.weka

The Time of Year: Spring

Gear: Osprey 30L, BD Goretex Jacket, BD Gloves, BD Z Poles, Inov-8 Roclite

My Difficulty Rating: Easy hiking (or running if you please!), moderate scrambling with some exposure at the ridgeline approach to Maungatika

Distance/Elevation/Time: 25km, 2200m, 12hrs

Notes: No water beyond the lower tracks, landowner permission is required to drive to the beginning of the Dingle Burn track @discover_dingleburn

– a special thanks to @basecamp.adventures for all the rock climbing training in getting me comfortable in scrambling terrain.🙏