Grant Axe Rawlinson - From Peak to Peak: Story of the First Human-Powered Journey across Two Summits in New Zealand

PRAISE FOR FROM PEAK TO PEAK

Entertaining and insightful. From Peak to Peak captures the essence of why adventure is important to the human spirit and proves that great challenges can be achieved on even the most shoestring budget.

Andrew Lock,OAM

Australian Geographic Society Adventurer of the year and the first Commonwealth mountaineer to climb all 14 of the worlds 8,000m peaks

In an age of adventure which is all too packaged, sponsored, televised, and worse, guided by experts, From Peak to Peak is a rare account of a refreshing attitude towards tackling the oceans and the mountains on their own terms. Rawlinsons adventure, where the eventual outcome was always in doubt until the final moments, is an inspiring read.

David Lim

Leader of the First Singapore Mt Everest Expedition 1998

Explorers are a dying breed, Im told, but think of two great New Zealand peaks, an ugly stretch of water between them, a daredevils dream of making one tough overland journey, and you have Grant Axes quest undertaken with a mate. It was one helluva trip and a great read!

Colin Monteath

Hedgehog House polar and mountain photographer

First published November 2014

Copyright 2014 Grant Lyndon Rawlinson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except for inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

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From Peak to Peak

The story of the first human-powered journey from the summit of Mt Ruapehu in New Zealand to the summit of Aoraki/Mt Cook

National Library Board, Singapore Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Rawlinson, Lyndon, author.

From peak to peak : the story of the first human-powered journey from the summit of Mt. Ruapehu in New Zealand to the summit of Aoraki/Mt. Cook / Grant Axe Rawlinson. Singapore : Candid Creation Publishing, 2014.

pages cm

ISBN : 978-981-09-2426-3 (paperback)

ISBN: 9789810934507

1. Mountaineers New Zealand. 2. Mountaineering New Zealand. 3. Ruapehu, Mount (N.Z.) 4. Aoraki/Mt. Cook (N.Z.) I. Title.

GV200

796.522 -- dc23

OCN894110376

Printed in Singapore

To Stephanie, thank you for allowing me to live my dreams.

To Mum, sorry for causing you nightmares.

CONTENTS

Alan (L) and myself on Tahurangi Peak, the summit of Mt Ruapehu and the highest point in the North Island, the official start point of Peak-to-Peak.

Filled up with gear, the Divorce Machine was still afloat - just! Loaded up at Taumaranui and ready to kayak for the next 260km.

Alan (L) and Robert (R) negotiating the icy traverse coming off the summit of Mt Ruapehu.

Passing a Canadian kayak as we paddle through the mist covered gorges of the Whanganui River.

Riding the swells in the middle of the Cook Strait - an amazing part of the world. (Photo: Tim Taylor)

Approaching Arapawa Island and safety as we paddle the Cook Strait. (Photo: Tim Taylor)

I take a photo of the Bluebridge Ferry exiting the narrow Tory Channel entrance before we make our own entry to the South Island of New Zealand. (Photo: Tim Taylor)

Alan cycling around Lake Pukaki, South Island, New Zealand.

Alan reaches the end of the road on the Tasman Glacier. We left the bikes here to start our climb of Aoraki/Mt Cook.

Traversing the avalanche and rockfall-prone slopes under the Anzac Peaks. I am just barely visible, centre right of photo. (Photo: Alan Silva)

A sick and weakened Alan climbing the summit rocks on Aoraki-Mt Cook.

Alan approaches the summit of Aoraki/Mt Cook. The Tasman Glacier can be seen 2,700m below (top right of photo).

Alan on the summit of Aoraki/Mt Cook.

Me on the summit of Aoraki/Mt Cook.

ROUTE MAP