![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/5867276b-6dd2-42ea-b663-dc3ae06e933e_rw_3840.jpg?h=7160576b432c374c9849813673b7f2c6)
The mist starts to clear in the Waimakariri Valley , revealing the amazing mountain above
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/f9bafbac-b18f-480a-bbc2-81b811c4459e_rw_1920.jpg?h=1756c0581b2249195943f50770eb3c21)
Mark makes getting onto the swing bridge look awkward.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/969ee7f1-9529-4ce4-ae0c-3b334373575d_rw_3840.jpg?h=a2fa57af312cb7b8667c6a26832c589c)
Gorge in the upper Wamakariri River
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/085e8bb7-47c6-4b8e-9502-d83d0988707e_rw_1200.jpg?h=9a49e7da5c5fb853226815efdbba588b)
Yeh I don't think Mark realised how good the zoom was when he photo bombed this photo...
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/40ee7180-bd14-4dbb-826a-2d9ec835a1e6_rw_3840.jpg?h=24ac3e1b21b2ed0e1a43717f9d1aafb3)
Brief night photography session at Waimakariri Falls Hut
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/114a04f0-a455-4aad-a281-482a7bcc8d11_rw_3840.jpg?h=3b4ebb13334918125aac0b828dde7327)
Yeh needs a bit more snow still!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/d582d097-3ba9-4ac0-825d-24a7e32e965a_rw_1920.jpg?h=1fbbb1adb7d003921961bfcfaec2ae3c)
But at least the upper Waimakariri was frozen!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/92e14c7e-a2c0-4c57-a417-0dcf98de113b_rw_1920.jpg?h=ae04838d8c28f51b8712450065065115)
Topping out on the Col (although technically we went over the saddle West of the actual Col)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/e4210249-e1bd-4e9b-b3db-55f67f7c73c2_rw_3840.jpg?h=5b894715f0f7e1cc84f4a5739de22a1f)
Sometimes Black and White just works
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/a1d30fef-c04d-44bb-aeb9-083bffd5cab6_rw_3840.jpg?h=5f9b89d3582092e69febe467d5c6361e)
Sunburst on the Col
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/6292b268-a282-457e-87b3-c82421a29d88_rw_3840.jpg?h=57b40f0a565c25f54256336a8f729817)
View out down the Rolleston
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/e6c308d2-dcf8-4c65-a3a4-1c7c2c0d98be_rw_1920.jpg?h=f5e20658a0e97aaf3d105ca60b02d49d)
Selfie time!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/125157e5-8bec-45b7-90fb-8241cb9143b0_rw_3840.jpg?h=899125839d39ef30c599173c470b31ff)
Mark also makes the scree in the upper Rolleston look awkward, but in fairness it was exceedingly awkward terrain.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/8583e40c-3de8-46d4-ac02-74f713c82be1_rw_3840.jpg?h=74269b660da7d07c66c62616b0ec79a9)
Further down the valley we found some great patches that hadn't seen the sun in days, Mark was clearly very happy about this.
At least happier than he was a few hours later when we were standing on the side of the road waiting for a ride...
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/4ff7e517-0536-46fb-9cda-66115a994e99_rw_600.png?h=9e7df89afab67d46834a12acfeb3ff20)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/c92d8aec-ad7a-4432-8464-5567764c2454_rw_600.png?h=7b5b03e45a5b0056045797c0eadb50a6)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/d961761d-7392-4265-9668-04f925d943d1_rw_1200.png?h=4efea13a3baf89853d24fb753036d286)
Some maps of the adventure!