Avalanche peak

Yesterday Gareth took part in the Avalanche Peak Adventure Race - a 22km running race up to the top of Avalanche Peak in Arthur's Pass national park and back down again, along a long rocky river bed. I'm really glad he took the camera so that I could see what he saw up there - I never would have been able to get there without a helicopter. The climb is 1,178 metres high (3,864 feet), which wouldn't be so bad, except that you have to climb that in just 3km (1.86 miles). Gareth says, "Brutal!"

You don't need a helicopter or legs of steel though. We bring you the goods right here:

(Those are 2 keas - alpine parrots - hanging out in the mountain mist.)

In this last photo, you can just see the specks of runners coming down the river bed. This photo was taken from the finish line, which was cruelly located on top of a hill.