New Zealand (2025)

 

Between 23 November and 8 December 2025, an eight person "expedition" of Polish Men and Women Mountaineering Club of Edmonton explored the South Island of New Zealand. During this trip we visisted: Christchurch, Edoras, Mt.Cook/Aoraki National Park, Lake Wanaka, Queenstown and Fiordlands National Park. 

The members of the expedition were: Piotr Rajski (Leader), Dragan Radovic, Andy Rutkowski, Ewa Stroemich, Mike Trzecieski, Barbara Walter, Jolanta Wroblewska-Wilk and Marianna Zaremba

If you are interested, below you will find links to the semi-humorous posts on Facebook giving some account of what took place:

Day 1 - Travel to NZ and Christchurch

Day 2 - Edoras (Mt. Sunday)

Day 3 - Mt. Cook/Aoraki

Day 4 - Mt. Cook/ Aoraki

Day 5 - Lake Wanaka

Day 6 - Rob Roy's Track

Day 7 - Queenstown

Day 8 - Fiordlands NP (Lake Marian)

Day 9 - Fiordlands NP (Milford Sound)

Day 10 - Te Anau

Day 11 - travel back to Christchurch

Day 12 - Christchurch

Skoki Backpacking Adventure

 I discovered the Skoki area about 4 years ago.  I could not believe that after hiking in the Rocky Mountains since 1997 or longer I have never been there.

Ascension on Raspberry Ridge

Great things took place during this trip to Raspberry Ridge Lookout Loop, combined with the birthday celebrations of our Dear Mike. On the summit, perhaps a combined result of altitude, the presence of his beloved Barbara, and the champagne consumed, our Birthday Boy reached such the levels of elation that it looked he could have been taken to the heavens at any moment! (To see it all on the film, click: https://youtu.be/SwllDe-Ku3M). 

Full Moon Hike

 Full Moon Hike

Record of the hike

Golden Camp - recapitulation

On the last day, having only half a day for some activity (the rest reserved for the drive home), we followed Pani Przewodniczka (Lady Guide) to the launch pad on Mount Seven. Here we befriended a Bulgarian (!) paraglider, Branko, who kindly agreed that we take a few photos with him. 

The scandalous excesses of Gorman Lake.

 

Gorman Lake is a beautiful lake not far from Golden, BC. It was hiked by a group of our Club Members on 30 August 2025. It was a great experience, but a few "scandalous" things took place, which this story will talk about. If you haven't noticed who is in charge in our Club ... it is Pani Kierowniczka!

The Day the Horse (Did Not Actually) Kick Me

 "### **Year 5 - Day 23 – 1283 – August 31, 2025 - The Day the Horse (Did Not Actually) Kick Me**

Let the record show that on this day, we were functional, semi-punctual human beings. The mission: rendezvous with the Polish hiking contingent at 10 AM sharp at the base of Kicking Horse Mountain. The wake-up call: 7:15 AM. The target departure: 8:00 AM. The actual, real-life, no-take-backsies departure: 8:10 AM. I consider this a blistering victory against the universal forces of entropy that usually govern our mornings. We were basically astronauts.

Wilcox Summiting Aug 2025

Beauty Creek definitely lives up to it's name

Located 80 km south of Jasper does not offer much of comfort but it is cozy and..