15 April 2009

Gorilla stream

Gorilla stream, Aoraki/Mt Cook NPDon't ask me how it got its name (but if you know for sure, please let me know). Photographed in February 2006 from the NZ Alpine Club's Unwin lodge as a Nor'west storm brewed.
All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

9 comments:

PurestGreen said...

It could be the shards of life found under a telescope. Almost grotesquely beautiful.

Ruahines said...

Kia ora Pete,
Stunning, a rather intimidating presence. Looks like tough country to travel in from any direction.
Cheers,
Robb

Anonymous said...

Perhaps it got its name for that great silver back.

As always Pete, your photo is magnificent, and inspires me to try harder.

butuki said...

I keep being amazed by how similar the mountains in NZ are to those in Japan. The forms, textures, silhouettes, even the greenery going all to many of the summits... very similar. I guess that's why the movie "The Last Samurai" (which I hated, it was so culturally inaccurate) was filmed in Aotearoa. Though it was quite weird constantly seeing giant ferns loom over the samurai as they made their way through the forests... Plus, the Mt. Fuji in the movie was all off...I used to live right at its foot and it was nothing like the movie.

Ah, mountains... I've missed them so much. As soon as I settle in my new place I have to start training for the climbs again and get ready for long walks this summer...

Gustav said...

The stillness, the colours, the sun partially breaking through the clouds only to hit the rugged cliffs, it feel like the hand of eternity, yet one day these mountains will be gone.

It seems impossible.

Anne-Marie said...

Crumbs. What a view. Those are mountains I wouldn't want to argue with.

pohanginapete said...

Purest Green, I hadn't thought of it like that, but I see what you mean. Amazing how something so large can resemble things so small.

Kia ora Robb. Actually, as I look at the photo I find myself picking out routes, trying to choose the easiest way up the stream or ridge. It looks spectacular, but I suspect it's not as difficult as it looks — at least once you know the way.

Clare, you might be right, although I suspect it was more likely based on someone's encounters with the subalpine scrub. It'd certainly be interesting to know.

Miguel, I didn't see the film and have no burning desire to do so. However, it provided a lot of work for the locals, so at least it had some merit ;^) Best of luck with the training; hope you get to enjoy those mountains again soon.

Gustav, true. We're so insignificant on a geological time scale. How is it, therefore, that we can do so much damage...?

Anne-Marie, a wise attitude. They get a lot more impressive than that, not far away, too.

D.V.A. said...

looks great, were you in a helicopter? very large capture! incredible sight. I like the shadows of the clouds, makes it all the more gritty.

pohanginapete said...

Thanks D.V.A. No, no helicopter; just a telephoto shot from outside Unwin. I cropped the photo so the base of the mountains isn't visible; ironically, it seems to help convey the size of the mountains.