Enjoying some excellent spring temps in the wonderland of the Castle Hill Basin.

Me bouldering on a recent trip to Castle hill basin. The climb is called Nasal Slip. I is just a very steep slab with nothing on it. No good on a hot day.

This is the view you get from up the back of Spittle Hill. On the other side of the fence is Quantum Field.

Trevor Elste (Chicago, USA) boulders an un rated problem on top of flock hill on a nice day in February. Photographer is Josh Porter from Arizona.

Quantum field boulders, Castle Hill, NZ. The problem starts with a jump to the ledge and then a mantle over the top. Photographer: Trevor Elste.

Photographer Josh Porter takes a photo of Trevor Elste on the finishing jug before pulling to the top.

Reaching mantle on Massacre a V4 problem

Such a unique problem for the area. Seb made it look like a piece of cake. it's a nice high ball V4 which everyone must do when you visit Castle Hill. The free camping down the road is another huge incentive but beware of the KEA's. (alpine parrots)

Me on a V1 crack, with random guy Graham, and tough guy Rich looking on. Photo by other Rich.

Castle hill has many slopey mantles, this is one of the 3 star classics! Growler V6 is hard and awesome.

The terrible thing about this addiction is that it can hit anyone and can be easily hidden from loved ones in it's early stages. For the trad addicts that can't go cold turky we give them a little hit in the form of bouldering, just enough to take the edge off. Although Gabe (sbaclimber) isn't far enough along in the program that he feels comfortable climbing without a harness, you will note he did only load up with quick draws, choosing to leave his serious trad gear in the bag. (Well done Gabe!!) Some people, like sbaclimber, may never fully recover from this all-consuming addiction that is trad climbing but they can still go on to lead full and productive lives with a little support. ( PM socialclimber regarding donations)

Between the few sport climbs in the area there are tons and tons of boulders, so I tend to occasionally get suckered into trying to climb one of them. Photo by Doors

This photo was taken on my first trip to Castle Hill Basin. We drove out from Christ Church to check the area out and weren't really expecting to climb. It's the most beautiful bouldering I've ever seen in the world. These boulderfields go on for miles. No idea what route this is or even what part of the castle hill basin it's in.

not only hobbits and horses... Katleen climbing fine limestone at Spittle Hill. Picture by Bram Honorez

Clair near the top of beautiful edges, she has just hit the right at full extension. This is an original black and white.

Mark Watson enjoys a beautiful day and finds peace and tranquillity on a V5 at Flock Hill, NZ. Photo and all rights by Jörg Zeidelhack. Check out www.vision-z.com for more... .

socialclimber on Basalisk, Mark spotting. Pic by Laurent de Senarclens

Seth finishing this v2 Gary killed first. Gary is cool. So is Seth. I wish I was in New Zealand again bouldering with them.

This is Gary. His rc.com name is socialclimber. He is rad and let me tag along on a sweet day of bouldering. He is doing a diagonal dyno on this problem. Right after he caught the pocket he swung into a horizontal position and promptly landed on his side, next to the crash pad. Good thing the landings are all grass. I didn't land on my side, but i did tear a huge hole in my finger on the pocket he is going for. This problem rules.

Steve skips a few moves of Beautiful Edges (V4) on this warm winters day. This is a great place to throw down and wonder around the top of Spittle Hill as there are heaps of problems to play on. Check out the mantel warm up boulder on the bottom R of this photo and go solo the (13) slabs (top L) for a bit of spice! Photo by Mick Wells

Socialclimber on Train tracks. The problem is found at the eastern end of the Badlands area at Flock Hill. The mantle is a little harder than you might first expect then smear/jam up the "train tracks"

Nicole working the 100 times slab. This is one of my favorite problems. It is as steep as it looks. You can work it for ages and not lose any skin or pop any pullies on it. And with the thousands of little water runnells carved into it, a beautiful piece of rock.

a Spittle Hill Classic on the back of the Nasal Slip boulder.

Tony on unknown boulder in Castle Hill, photo taken by Jimmy.

Though the lower crack has yet to be freed, the upper (between myself and socialclimber) one is a beautiful splitter hand crack. The crux is just getting off the ledge, then it's pretty straightforward. The valley visible to the right is the border between Dry Valley and Flock Hill. Photo by Flo N.