After months of inaction, Russell the Peak-Bagging Moose (me, that is) finally got to go out and bag some peaks - and this one was a worthy one. Mount Bogong, highest mountain in Victoria, Australia (I understand it probably doesn’t count as particularly worth if I was a moose from another country, but I must make do with what is available).

There was over 1300 metres of vertical gain in one day to reach the summit, there was wind and snow, and beautiful clear blue skies. I’m a happy moose once more.

(You can just make me out sheltering between the stones of the cairn - I was close to being blown away)

Aha, finally I get to see some action! I just spent the last week touring around Tasmania. Some lovely peaks out in the South West, but we just didn’t get the time to go and bag them. But I did get to go to the summit on Ben Lomond. Tasmania really is a very agreeable place. Anyway, here is a photo of me at the summit cairn of Ben Lomond, one cold and windy morning.

Well, I’m feeling fairly ropable at the moment. The first weekend of peak bagging in how long? And I get left behind! I spend a weekend lying on a bed in stinking hot Melbourne, when I could be off bagging peaks in Alpine Victoria. Mt Buggery, Mt Speculation AND Mt Despair would have ALL BEEN MINE! But no. And this? This is just some sort of atrocity against moose-kind. You’re not fooling anyone you know.

So I came up to Mt Buller for the weekend. Alright here, a bit dusty and dry, but hardly a challenging peak in the Summer (well, not that it’s challenging in Winter either apparently, but at least it’s a bit more interesting). I’d really like to play in the snow again, I’m not much of a Summer moose.

Still not sure who this Wilson chap is (apparently the friend of a sea captain, not all that sure what he did to have the Promentary named after him). However, I digress. I spent the past weekend there and had a lovely time bouldering and travelling in sea kayaks and that sort of thing. No peak bagging however. But at least I got to do something.

Here’s me jamming my way up the crack on a boulder on Squeaky Beach.

I tried this chimneying business, but found it a bit of a challenge - it was just getting a little too wide for my liking.

And here you can see my encounter with a wombat. He seemed quite pleasant and friendly at first, and then he started trying to eat me, so I quickly left the area. Not an experience I’d like to repeat in a hurry.

Well, I’d been back in Australia for a while, and had thoroughly recovered from any moose-lag, when we made a foray up into the ACT. And enroute, stopped at the Dog on the Tuckerbox (of course). He seemed quite a pleasant chap, but not particularly talkative.

A few days later, we were returning to Melbourne, when I happened upon this submarine.

My time in Mexico was interesting. I thought it would be hot and unpleasant, and that all the tequila would make my fur sticky. In reality, in was sometimes hot and unpleasant, and then sometimes cold, rainy, windy and unpleasant. And then occasionally the weather would be entirely unremarkable. Also, there wasn’t that much tequila, except in the Duty Free section at the airport. There wasn’t much peak bagging achieved, however, I present you with my adventures, such as they were.

On our third day in the country, we climbed the volcano, Nevado de Toluca. Here I am poised above one of the crater lakes, Laguna de Sol.

And, towards the flatter side of the volcano, here’s me with Laguna de la Luna. With the rim standing at 4690m (15,390ft) at its highest, Nevado de Toluca it’s Mexico’s fourth highest peak. Not bad for a small moose.

Here you can see me perched on top of the Peak of Bernal, and yes, I’m in Mexico. Actually, I’m not on the Peak of Bernal. But I am near it, on the El Capitan boulder. I particularly admire the way my fur glistens in the sun here. This was a nice little rockclimbing spot we spent a day at, and apparently is also a point of much cosmic energy. I’ll probably live longer now.

We set off on the aeroplane. I’m allowed to drink some guava juice, although it’s rather sweet.

After sleeping in the van overnight in the Walmart carpark, we go to REI in Denver the next morning to buy some fuel for the stove (well, that’s what they say, we seem to wander around a lot looking at other things). Then I play with some friendly bear cubs I found in the gardens outside.

That night we climbed the Third Flatiron by the light of the full moon, which was rather enjoyable. Here you can see me against the lights of Boulder.

The following day we drove up towards Rocky Mountain National Park, and I went bouldering at Lumpy Ridge - the altitude was a bit of a killer, I can tell you.

We climbed Longs Peak (14,261 ft) the next day, summiting at 8.30am. Unfortunately it was rather windy, and I kept blowing off this boulder - luckily I wasn’t near the edge. However, for the sake of a photograph I had to be weighted down with a Nalgene bottle full of water.

And then we went and climbed Mt Elbert, the highest peak to be bagged in Colorado, at 14,440 feet. It’s the highest I’d ever been.

And then I went home. The End.

This is me, on top of Hawksbill (the highest peak in Shenandoah National Park), reclining against a hazy backdrop.

I saw a bear! Thank goodness it didn’t savage me. And some deers that were almost mooses, but not quite. Reached the summit of another peak also. Photos on their way (hold back your excitement, dear readers, I can see you are frothing at the mouth).

Well, I had an absolutely spiffing weekend. We went to Summersville Lake in West Virginia, and I was allowed on the boat on Saturday. While they all went hurling themselves in the water and climbing up the cliffs, I was reclining and enjoying the scenery.

I got to hang out with Vegas again, which I rather enjoyed. I also met Ness, who is a charming young lady. This is me giving her a back massage.

I spent some time playing with Alyce as well - here I am sitting on her lap while she teaches me how to drive the boat.

Well, I was of the opinion the whole thing could have been a bit of a debacle. We got to Seneca on Saturday, and I’d only gotten up one climb before a thunderstorm came across! Completely unpredicted, and it rained for the rest of the day. However, I ended up finally summiting on Sunday - despite the forecast changing to suddenly being completely dire and miserable sounding, it was lovely and sunny. Perhaps too sunny. Never mind. This is me on the South Peak, with the town of Seneca in the background