frontlawn: November 2008

24 November, 2008

NZMASP 2008: Or mathematicians in isolation

Phew! NZMASP08, and my role as one of its organisers, is over for the year. I think things went pretty darn well in the end, with no small part of this due to the tireless Howie and Alethea at Auckland. Here's the group photo from the conference. A couple more pictures are in a Picasa gallery. A fuller set will be put somewhere one day. If you were there you'll hear about it soon enough I guess.

08-11 NZMASP08

Whanganui Bay

Only a little late, a photo or two from Whanganui Bay --- where the quality of the slacklining was as good as the climbing. Bruno and Alex probably have more news from the same trip.

08-11 Whanganui Bay

13 November, 2008

Swiss Chocolate Arrives in NZ

Thanks Dude!

Ruapehu: Camping and Traversing

Just a quick post to put up a link to some photos from last weekend at Ruapehu. N., Erich, Bruno and I drove up to Whakapapa after work on Friday and headed up the mountain. The ski field on that side had been closed for a month or so and snow conditions were perfect. 20cm of fresh snow from earlier in the week, no tracks, no ice. We were a bit slower than expected and so camped at Knoll Ridge rather than on the summit plateau as we first planned. Woke on Saturday to bright sun with neither a breath of wind nor a cloud in the sky. Packed up, stashed the tents near the groomer shed and headed up to the summit plateau. Perfect snow conditions for walking most of the way. We didn't need crampons until going up the crater wall. We ate lunch on the crater wall above the plateau then had a quick look at Dome shelter and the crater lake before making a quick side trip to the summit of Pare-te-tai-taonga, the second highest peak on Ruapehu (I think). Bruno and I then traversed across to Turoa ski field, laughing at the ant trail of skiers and snowboarders sloooooowly inching their way up to the summit saddle (Turoa ski field had been open that day), while N. and Erich skied/snowboarded back down Whakapapa to the car, before meeting us at Turoa carpark. Anyway, here are the photos. The Picasa gallery features some from Erich and Bruno too.