It seemed like the weather had been sunny and scorching for weeks. Drought conditions were being endured at various points around the country and the fire hazard was set at high.

Shaun Barnett had some unfinished business on an 1,870 metre crag known as Mount Technical on the Lewis Tops in the Lewis Pass National Reserve. He’d climbed it before via the west ridge, but wanted to have a crack at the more technical north ridge. My boots had never trodden anything in the Lewis Pass area, so anything was worthy of a look as far as I was concerned. Although the weather forecast indicated a change coming, we hoped the clear weather would last a bit longer.

For a route map and more images www.occasionalclimber.co.nz

Peter Laurenson is a member of the Wellington section of the New Zealand Alpine Club and editor of FMC’s Backcountry.

For more images and info about Peter, visit www.occasionalclimber.co.nz