first crossings 830 tv one....

I really enjoyed this episode.
Probably because I looked at it differently. Not as a full re-enactment but as more of a testament to the astonishing feats of Grave & Talbot. I mean to go back there every summer for 30 years is truly remarkable. No GPS, no high tech clothing, no kermantel rope or cams,nuts etc.
And anyone who can rappel using the classic method deserves a medal.

Very watchable. Grave Talbot and their numerous companions are legends. Read the book (Beyond the Southern lakes, Anita Crozier) go try and retrace any one of their trips. Most of the country hasn't changed that much in 100 years.

I must say I agree, it was a very enjoyable show .

http://tvnz.co.nz/...1-ep3-video-4981913

anyone note they are wearing modern rubber soled boots? rubber soles didnt come about until the 1940's

Re the boots, yes, I noticed that in last weeks episode as well... very modern boots mixed in with the 19th century clothes.

Very enjoyable episode last night. Lake Adelaide/Giffords Crack/Barrier Knob/Gerturde Saddle has long been a route Ive wanted to do so it was great finally seeing some decent pictures of it. Must admit it was quite off-putting. Maybe I'll just go as far as Lake South America and return!

i was guessing it was adelaide saddle.
theres been at least three deaths around there in recent years. one was a top mountaineer who slipped on wet ground.
the rock is slick when it's wet.
i was in the area for a week, hoping to get to gertrude saddle. it never dried out enough for me to risk trying it

The full story of Grave, Talbot & Co can be found in a book "Beyond the Southern Lakes" by Anita Crozier. Anita was Grave's daughter and she compiled this book from his diaries. It was first printed in 1952, reprinted in 1975 and then there was another edition produced since then with additional material.

This was obviously the source material for the TV show as he describes caverns amongst the Moraine in Moraine Ck, how Gifford discovered Giffords Crack as the evening light changed and also the abseiling off snowgrass tied together with bootlaces to get down to safe ground off the Grave-Talbot Pass.

The show was put together with a bit of licence. The trip to Adelaide Saddle was an earlier trip than the Grave-Talbot pass one. They didn't traverse the ridge to find a new pass as the TV show suggested. It was a different trip in a different year to get to Homer Saddle and Grave-Talbot Pass.

Also I didn't see them carrying a gun. When they went into the hills they carried some oatmeal, tea, sugar and tobacco but most of the time they relied on shooting the birdlife for food. There is a great story of how these guys got stuck without food in a place they called Starvation Creek. Weak with hunger, bad weather, soaking wet and not sure if they would be able to cross back over the pass.

Many great stories in that book. makes the best of us nowadays look like a lot of pussies.

"Many great stories in that book. makes the best of us nowadays look like a lot of pussies."

True, though there are probably also quite a few epic exploration stories which have never been told because there was nobody to tell them. I'm good with that. :)