Aoraki Mount Cook visit yesterday

Yesterday, 27 December, I left Tekapo at 5.50 am for a trip to Aoraki Mt. Cook, home to the highest peaks in New Zealand. I worked  for the Natiuonal Park in 1971-73 as a mountaineer-general where I had mountain rescue, guiding and general conservation work. The best years of my life. In the winter, there were 350 women working in the tourist trade and only 90 men. But it was the mountains that called me back and back again since i foirst climbed here in 1966..

My first view of Aoraki Mount Cook looking across Lake Pukaki. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Trees, lake and mountains as I drive closer. Photo: Bob McKerrow

A reak delight to see the NZ Alpine Club. Photo: Bob McKerrow

One of the old cottages at the Hermitage and Mt. Sefton (l) and Footstoll (r). photo: Bob McKerrow

A statue of Sir Edmund Hillary who learnt to climb on ice and snow at Mount Cook and started climbing with Harry Ayres. Photo: Bob McKerrow

A close-up of the summits of Aoraki Mt. Cook. The east ridge is on the right skyline an ascent I did with Chris Timms in Dec 1971 Photo: Bob McKerrow

The south face of Aoraki Mount Cook and to the left of the south face is the Hillary Ridge. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Compare the above photos to the one I took in the winter of 1972 . Photo: Bob McKerrow

Aoraki/Mt Cook ridge named after Hillary

The South Ridge of Aoraki/Mount Cook is to be renamed Hillary Ridge in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson today confirmed a recommendation by the New Zealand Geographic Board to alter the name.

''Sir Edmund made an enormous contribution to our country and abroad and it is befitting and appropriate that his contribution is acknowledged in this way.''

Sir Edmund had a personal association with South Ridge which began when he was one of a party of four to make the first successful ascent in February 1948.

Photo above shows south ridge of Aoraki/Mount Cook in the right foreground, leading to the south summit. It is now the Hillary Ridge.

The three other climbers were guides Harry Ayres and Mick Sullivan, and Ruth Adams.

I was fortunate to know Sir Edmund Hillary well, and he agreed to write the Foreword for my book, Ebenezer Teichelmann, about another great New Zealand mountaineer. Mick Sullivan I could also count as a friend as in 1991 when I lived at Franz Josef Glacier, Mick and his wife Joyce lived over the hill at Fox Glacier, we organised the Guides Reunion to celebrate the NZ Alpine Club Centennial.

Williamson said his decision to rename the geographic feature was made the greatest respect to the other climbers and their families.

Sir Edmund was an admired and respected climber and mountaineer, not only in New Zealand but in many other parts of the world, he said.

''Altering the name South Ridge to Hillary Ridge will further cement Sir Edmund's place in New Zealand's history.''

The Hillary Ridge name will become official on 18 August 2011 when gazetted by the Board.

Left: Aoraki/Mount Cook. Photo: Bob McKerrow

A Tsunami, a wedding, the French woman's weightlifting team and a Christian Jazz festival.

Ablai learning how to make a NZ BBQ.

Arrived in New Zealand last Tuesday from Jakarta for Ruia and Gavin's wedding at Hamner Springs on Friday.

It's ll a.m. on Sunday morning and the big wave generated by the Chilean Tsunami is beginning to hit the East Coast of the North Island and eastern parts of the South Island of New Zealand. Not far from where I am living in Christchurch, waves of up to 3 metres are expected to hit Bank's Peninsula in a few minutes. Large tsunamis affected this part of the NZ coastline twice in the last part of the 19th century, and again in early 20th century.

It's ironical that after working for five years on the Indian Ocean Tsunami, I come home for a break from Tsunami, and a Tsunami lashes New Zealand.

I just spoke to Peter Cameron , who is the regional Manager for Civil defence New Zealand's, South Island. Peter worked with me in 2006 and 2007 in Indonesia on the Tsunami operation so is no stranger to these disasters. He said the tsunami warning system has worked well and he hopes people " will not be tempted to go back to the coastline to have a look."

As I write, the main wave has hit the North Island and it seems from initial reports, it hasn't done much damage.

Ablai and I arrived in Christchurch last Tuesday and travelled to Hamner Springs on Thursday. I have great memories of Hamner where Harry Ayres and Mick Bowie, two of NZ's great mountain guides, retired to. Bob and Ablai, ready for the wedding

Ruia and Gav's wedding went really well and was a great family reunion. We also had a the French women's weightlifting team here, and a Christian Jazz festival in Hamner springs which added further sparkle.

What I have enjoyed very much during the wedding process, is meeting Gavin and Ruia's friends. They are strong and determined farming stock mainly from Southland and Otago. Typical is Gavin's best man, Richard, a giant of a fellow, who farms 35,000 stock units, which includes 30,000 sheep. I also found out that his wife, is the sister of the Southland Ranfurly shield captain, and All Black Jamie MacIntosh.

Richard and his mates put on a massive BBQ yesterday after the wedding, and we had the best lamb, beef and venison available in NZ. And as we drank Speight's Beer and ate delicious food, a Christian Jazz group played superb music next door. Unfortunately the French Women's weightlifting team never turned up, and I am sure they knew they would have been out lifted by these strong, frisky NZ farming lads, or spiritually uplifted by the Christian Jazz groups.

I have gotta run. Heading for Christchurch where we are going to watch the T 20 match between NZ and Oz, hen to Otipua (near Timaru) where Jonts and Anita have a farmlet. Hopefully from there to Mt Cook to take Ablai up the Tasman Glacier and introduce him to the Southern Alps. When we flew over the Alps last Tuesday near Arthur's Pass, Ablai exclaimed " Can we see more of those mountains Dad?" I have a promise to keep !