Zac on the Lean-to Rock

Not the most flattering of expressions (apologies, Zac), but it conveys the intensity that saw Zac win the expert category at Baring Head last month. This is one of the harder problems, on the Lean-to Boulder. Although not obvious from the photo, this problem's significantly overhanging (most of us would find it extremely difficult even if it was straight up and down). The north end of the Long Wall rises up only a metre or two behind this face, so a fall can be nasty (note the spotter's hand, ready to guide Zac to a safe landing if necessary).



[26 February 2011, Canon 20D, 10–22 mm F4 at 22 mm, ISO 200, 1/1000s at f8] 

 All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Bouldering by the sea — Baring Head

Baring Head can get interesting when the tide's high and a southerly's blowing in from Cook Strait. This is the aptly named Seaward Boulder, and for reasons probably obvious, this was the only climber I saw attempting any of the problems on it during the competition.



[26 February 2011; Canon 20D, 10–22 mm f4 at 10 mm, ISO 200, 1/1250 at f8]


All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Baring Head — the 2011 bouldering competition

Seems hard to believe it's over three weeks since I drove to Baring Head to photograph the annual bouldering competition. A cold, blustery southerly wasn't ideal, but cloud for the first couple of hours made the photographing a little easier. Later the cloud dispersed (to a degree) and the hard, contrasty, early afternoon light tested the limits of the camera — and photographer.

Here, Dan Pringle makes a high, scary problem look like a stroll along the beach.



[26 February 2011; Canon 20D, 10–22 mm f4 at 21 mm, ISO 200, 1/640 at f8]


All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Zac in action

Zac Orme won the men's expert section of the National Bouldering Series event at Baring Head a couple of weekends ago. I think the intense concentration apparent here explains why.


[26 February 2011, Canon 20D, 10–22 mm F4 at 15 mm, ISO 200, 1/200s at f8] 

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Ivan in action, bouldering at Baring Head

Ace climber Ivan Vostinar in action on one of the harder climbs at the Baring Head Rock Hop. This particular wall is called the Only the Good Die Young wall — a tribute to young New Zealand climber Phil Herron who died many years ago in Patagonia. Perhaps the southerly wind howling along the wall on the day of this year's competition added an additional reminder of Patagonia.


[26 February 2011, Canon 20D, 10–22 mm F4 at 10 mm, ISO 200, 1/30s at f8]


All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Low traverse at Baring Head

This low traverse proved popular, partly because it was more sheltered from the cold southerly than many other climbs, but also, I suspect, because falling off never hurt ;^)


[26 February 2011, Canon 20D, 10–22 mm F4 at 22 mm, ISO 200, 1/500s at f8] 


All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Baring Head: approaches to gravity

Baring Head on Saturday. Dan Pringle sends a high and scary problem on the wall in the Split Apple area. Although the cloud dispersed a little as the day wore on, the cold southerly meant the most popular climbs were those with a least a little shelter.

(The gull was NOT photoshopped in.)


[26 February 2011, Canon 20D, 10–22 mm F4 at 22 mm, ISO 200, 1/640s at f8] 

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Jackson on Love Bite at Baring Head, 2004

At the Baring Head Rock Hop (the National Bouldering Series event) in 2004 I was still using film, supplementing it with digital photos from my little Pentax Optio 555. This is a scan from a transparency — Jackson Green on a successful send (i.e. ascent) of the classic Love Bite (V6).

All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

National Bouldering Series at Baring Head — 2010

Ewan Sinclair in action on one of the particularly difficult problems (Chris 'n' Cosy; V7) at Baring Head in February. More photos at Baring Head Bouldering.

All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

National Bouldering Series at Baring Head

Aotearoa's National Bouldering Series begins soon, with the second event of the series taking place at Baring Head (the eastern side of the entrance to Wellington Harbour) on 20 February. A great social event, whether you're a top climber like Wellingtonian Dave Kopp (shown here on a V6 (i.e. impossible for ordinary mortals) new problem at last year's event) or a struggler on the low grades (like me).

I’m away from the Internet again for a little while and have been too disorganised to schedule occasional photos for posting during the next couple of weeks. Sorry. Normal service will resume after that.

All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

Bouldering at Baring Head, 2009

Another from the National Bouldering Series 2009 event at Baring Head. Not all climbing is about going up (or down, rapidly) — traverses can be exceedingly difficult and a lot of fun. They're also a lot less scary (usually).


All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

Winter on Ruapehu

Winter can be difficult. It can also be wonderful, particularly when it offers the opportunity to climb in conditions like these. That's Girdlestone, a subsidiary summit of Ruapehu, in the background. We climbed it on a brilliant day in August 2005.
All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

Terry above the Waimakariri

Terry in his natural habitat. This was back in January 2005, when Terry, Lance and I climbed Mts Wakeman and Murchison at the head of the White River, Arthur's Pass National Park (in the South Island), then came out via the Greenlaw basins and Greenlaw creek. The big valley in the background is the Waimakariri River.
All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

Cloud shadows on crevasses, Kahutea Glacier

Cloud shadows on the Kahutea Glacier below the summit of Mt Murchison. The Kahutea lies at the head of Weka Stream, which flows into the Wilberforce, one of the major headwaters of the mighty Rakaia River. We never found out who made the line of footprints. [Mid January 2005].
All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

Ice stream, White River headwaters, Arthur's Pass

One morning in January 2005, Terry, Lance and I left Barker Hut at the head of the White River before sunrise for an ascent of Mt Wakeman — initially a cold climb, but well worth it. I photographed this stream on our return. Rock emerging from snowfields should be approached carefully; the sun's heat, absorbed by the rock, melts the surrounding snow, often undermining it substantially. It's not always as apparent as this, and even a short fall can snap an ankle.
All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

V6 hands; Baring Head

Another photo from Baring Head. Dan Pringle sends a V6 sitting start problem on the Entrance Way boulders.


All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

Bob bouldering

Last Sunday I photographed at the annual Baring Head bouldering competition, on the south-eastern tip of Wellington harbour. I climbed, too — nothing spectacular, but I loved the feel of moving on real rock again.

Here, Bob Keegan tops out on Jaded (graded V5: that's incomprehensibly hard if you've never climbed seriously; a warm-up climb for the elite). Dave Kopp watches in the lower left of the photo, after spotting Bob through the crux of the boulder problem ("spotting" means being ready to guide the climber's body, particularly the head and neck area, away from dangerous landing spots like rocks in the event of a fall).

All content © 2009 Pete McGregor