The Southern Alps of New Zealand are not known for quality alpine rock. However in a week spent on the upper Fox Glacier during a period where conditions were not ideal for snow and ice routes, that is exactly what we found. Adventurous terrain, tricky protection, quality climbing and little to no prior route information made for a fun and adventurous week out.

This is my fifth trip to New Zealand in as many years. It has been a wet November with weather windows too small to justify a heli into the mountains. However, it has been the perfect opportunity to explore more of the rock climbing available in the area and so far I have not been disappointed.

We are not only the sum of the mountains we have climbed, but those we aspire to climb. I love that phrase as it sums up the essence of goal setting. Setting goals can be difficult and scary, however, the positive influence they can have is powerful.

More than 4 million people a year visit Yosemite Valley, 75% during the six months from May to October. Doing the math that is over 16,000 people per day during peak season. Given those stats you are likely to think it’s a pretty crazy place, hard to get around and do what you want to do. For the most part however I found life in the Valley incredible easy, relaxed and inspiring.

hen you are venturing into the mountains or on long multi-pitch climbs, you need a good climbing pack. Something that is lightweight yet durable, big enough to carry what you need without being cumbersome and is easy to manage. The Pursuit 40L climbing pack designed by Macpac fits that bill and has been a key part of the Vertical Year.

Climbing is a funny activity in that there really are no rules, yet we all play these funny games while imposing our own brand of style and ethics to any given ascent. I am no exception and enjoy partaking in the games climbers play. With its moderate approaches and close travel proximities to Huaraz, the Cordillera Blanca provided the perfect playground to test how much difficult terrain I could cover in a day.

The Cordillera Blanca and the Great Barrier Reef don’t share much in common. Perhaps the exception is that both may no longer exist within a generation or two. The name Cordillera Blanca (meaning white range) could seem inappropriate for mountains without permanent snow, while the Great Barrier Reef could possess no life at all. An incredibly sad thought.

When we are free to focus on things other than survival necessities, we should be focusing on what brings us happiness and fulfillment. However, it seems somewhere along the way a lot of us have lost or way. We are being bombarded with ads and consumerist agendas which has led us to forget that we are free to pursue happiness in our own way. This is my story of how I changed my priorities, providing myself the freedom to pursue my dreams.