KIWI WRITING.....updated on (NZ's) 13 th.May, 2012
WELCOME TO KIWI WRITING....new alpine writing for our new world, published from British Columbia, Canada.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL e-books listed below, APART from 'RED DEER WRITING ~ A NEW ZEALAND OUTDOORS MEMOIR' , can now ONLY be purchased as Kindle books from Amazon.com . All hard copy books can still, as usual, be bought from the publisher via this website. Remember, if you buy 'RED DEER WRITING' as a Kindle book from Amazon.com, you can then order RED DEER WRITING'S 8-MB pdf photo and illustrations file, free, from alpinewriting@lycos.com. Further, if you are dissatisfied with your Kindle edition's layout and design, please email me for a pdf edition of 'Red Deer Writing' at half-price ($4.00). The poorer layout of the Kindle book is due to my, the publisher's, lack of html knowledge. The Kindle book is quite readable, but the pdf edition is considerably the superior e-book of the two.

This website was born in October 1999, and was kindly donated by the USA company, Lycos. Thank you very much Lycos. The New Zealand content begins here at the top of the site, the Canadian content begins towards the bottom half of the site. This page's photographs may take a minute or so to build. There are links to other websites on this page.
Photos above: bow hunter, tui at Goldsborough,NZ 2011; and Crow Glacier, 2009... A.P. National Park, NEW ZEALAND, 2009...below: G.Ross @ Crow Hut, and Waimak' Falls Hut..

.....The price of 'Red Deer Writing' (RDW) has dropped again. I apologize to readers that the 'Red Deer Writing' e-book has varied in pricing. Since its publication in October, 2011, I have been trying to establish a reasonable price for it, but, as this e-book is sacred material to me, placing a price on it has been difficult. Also, upon request, anyone who buys or who has bought a copy of 'Red Deer Writing' will receive a supplementary notes file regarding details in the book, as more memories surface in my and others' memories and gather in my RDW note file. There is also, upon request, a second illustrations supplement, free, available for anyone who has bought a copy of the e-book.
'Red Deer Writing' e-book PDF is now NZ$14.00/copy, or Cdn/USA$13.75/copy if purchased via PayPal.com. But, if purchased by mailed cheque the price is NZ$11.75/copy, or Cnd/USA$11.75/copy. All e-books listed below can now be purchased as Kindle books from Amazon.com. See more details below for RED DEER WRITING.
This publisher makes every effort to respond promptly to all enquiries and book orders, but asks customers to please allow up to one week after you place your order for any pdf e-book, for that book to be delivered to your email address.
NOTE ON THE 'RED DEER WRITING' E-BOOK: The 'Red Deer Writing' e-book comes from me to you as a pdf file accompanied by a second 8-MB pdf file of photographs. The pdf book is the better-laid-out of the two e-book choices; pdf or Kindle book.

Link here to ' ROD & RIFLE' magazine, one of New Zealand's best hunting and fishing magazines, where 'RED DEER WRITING' was recently reviewed by its editor.
All e-books and hard-copy books from this publisher, as listed below, can now be purchased via PayPal.com

Greg Ross was born in Canada in 1951, then spent 24.5 of his younger years living continuously in New Zealand, where he gained a BA in Geography from Canterbury University, and then worked in opossum hunting, deer hunting, govt. freshwater fisheries research, hunting writing, and NZ Forest Service track, hut, and bridge maintenance in the Southern Alps. He was a member of New Zealand Search & Rescue for three years, and a member of The New Zealand Deer Stalkers Association for four years during which his 1979 red stag head won the Best Antlered Animal Trophy at his branch of the NZDA. In 1986, he returned to Canada to reside, but has returned to New Zealand every five years on average since 1986, the last time being February/March 2011. He has been a published adventure, hunting, and poetry writer since 1979, and has been publishing books of New Zealand and Canadian outdoors nonfiction prose and poetry in Canada since 1991, as listed below. He is father to three Kiwi children and grandfather to two Kiwi grandchildren; as well as being uncle and grand-uncle to numerous other Kiwi children.
'Red Deer Writing' can now be purchased via PayPal.com by payment to alpinewriting@lycos.com, of NZ$14.00, or Cnd$13.75, or USA $13.75, which includes the PayPal.com transaction fees and payments' fees.
See more information below in book list.



photographs below are of(1) two blue ducks/whiowhio(hymenolamus malycorhynches) on upper Waimakariri River, at Campbell Stream, Feb. 2009...and (2) South Island robin, Lewis Pass, Feb.2009. (3) Giant weta bug on Kelly Creek Track, Jan. 2009.


KIWI WRITING


The photo (1)below is the view from the bushline, looking down Julia Stream to Taipo Valley, March 2009.(2) Photo is of august Harman Pass, looking west from summit, down into Mary Stream, March, 2009.


All writing and photographs(except red stag photo) on this page are copyrighted(c) Gregory Ross, New Zealand and Canada, 2010; email:alpinewriting@lycos.com


(1)above pic on left is of my pack in mixed beech forest in Lewis Pass, Dec.,2009.(2)Photo on right is of upper Julia Stream; not an easy stream to ford, hence the old track down the true right bank to bridge at Julia huts.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WRITER'S WRITING, PLEASE VISIT THE LINKS AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.

A list of books and CDs published by Greg Ross, with prices, follows below, farther down page. If you're interested in ordering any publications please use the email address listed below. Thank you.

This following writing is about New Zealand wilderness; for intimacy with mountains, forest, literature, and our alpine world.
Photos below are (1) looking up towards Whitehorn Pass, from Harman Pass summit; March 2009.(2) the hand-hewn interior of old Julia Hut, Taipo Valley; March 2009.


pics below are, from left to right, (1)Looking down into Tumbledown Stream from three-wire upstream from Scottys Cableway,(2)Tumbledown Stream Three-wire. (3)Scottys Cableway, and (4)G.Ross in Scottys Cableway(5)LOOK CLOSELY; five blue ducks: Mom on left, Dad on right, and three kids between them on upper Kelly Stream, Westland, January 2009.(6)Taipo River running high at Mid Taipo Bridge, February, 2009.



pics below are (1) upper Hunts Creek, 15 minutes from hut (2)a weka (a native, flightless rail) beside Hunts Creek Hut, January, 2009.(3) Hunts Creek Hut.(4) Crow Glacier, near Crow Hut, March,2009.(5) Crow Hut, Arthur's Pass National Park.(6) corner of Waimak' Falls Hut, looking down the upper Waimak' Valley, March, 2009.

........In New Zealand, introduced wild animals destroy native birds and native bird habitat. There is no such thing as a native animal in New Zealand because New Zealand evolved with no land mammals except a small bat species, and seals(if you call bats and seals 'land mammals'). New Zealand's land mass evolved with only bird species, a few small harmless reptile species, plants, invertebrates, and insects. No species of snakes live in New Zealand, and no species of snakes ever have lived in New Zealand. There is only one native poisonous insect, the katipo spider, which is rare and its bite isn't known to be lethal. ........When the Maori arrived in New Zealand, around 1300A.D. they introduced the Polynesian rat, kiore,(now rare) and a dog(kuri) which is now extinct. So, essentially New Zealand evolved with birds inhabiting the land, until the arrival of Europeans in the late 1700s.
Kiwi, kakapo, takahe, and numerous other native birds as well as native forest and native insects face extinction within this century, if hunting and other control measures are not continually enforced upon New Zealand's exotic introduced species. These exotic species include red deer, whitetail deer, sika deer, fallow deer, feral goats, feral sheep, feral cattle, tahr, chamois, Australian opossums, rabbits, hares, wallabies, feral cats and dogs, weasels, ferrets, and stoats. Settlers in the 19th. and early 20th. centuries liberated these foreign species. Their plan was to produce meat sources, sport, and variety of wildlife. The plan backfired somewhat, leaving future generations of New Zealanders to offset the settlers'oversight, by hunting, poisoning, and trapping the exotic animals to control them.

Below (1)is a red deer stag. Red deer are found throughout New Zealand, and are by far the most common of the seven deer species(including wapiti)that were liberated in New Zealand during the 1800s and early 1900s. Mule deer were liberated but did not survive in New Zealand. Also below: (2) upper Pell Stream (3) big tarn on tops between Pell, Alfred, and Glenroy catchments, Lewis Pass, Feb. 2009. Fly-camped beside this tarn for two nights...where the only stream to be found for miles around gushes out of the northeast corner of the tarn.

KIWI WRITING



LINK HERE, TO NEW ZEALAND'S DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION, FOR NEW ZEALAND WILDLIFE AND OUTDOOR RECREATION INFORMATION.

LINK HERE, TO ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S VERY BEST ALPINE/CLIMBING/TRAMPING WEBSITES...in ARTHUR'S PASS NATIONAL PARK, NEW ZEALAND.


LINK HERE TO NEW ZEALAND's SOUTH ISLAND VOLUNTEER TRACK AND HUT MAINTENANCE GROUP ~ 'PERMOLAT' WEBSITE; for up-to-date information on huts and tracks in Westland and Canterbury.

LINK HERE, TO AN HISTORICAL NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT DEER HUNTERS' WEBSITE.

LINK HERE TO 'GUNS & HUNTING' Magazine, New Zealand.

LINK HERE TO ' New Zealand Outdoor ~ Hunting' Magazine.

LINK HERE, TO A NEW ZEALAND ALPINE TRAMPING WEBSITE.

LINK HERE, TO A NEW ZEALAND HUNTER'S WEBSITE.

ABOUT MOUNTAINS



Above pics are of Brass Monkey Bivvy, and a freshly used deer wallow, all in Lewis Pass; photos taken during Feb.2009.
ABOUT MOUNTAINS
Mountains? Yes, I can tell you about mountains. When we hunted chamois in New Zealand’s Southern Alps we learned about mountains. I spent 20 years hunting, exploring, and tramping in those mountains, New Zealand’s Southern Alps. When we were young men we spent our time in those mountains hunting red deer, chamois and Himalayan thar. We learned much about mountains. We learned to respect the alpine.

Photos below: (1)Greg Ross with a fallow stag on the slopes of Croesus Knob, Paparoa Range, February, 1972.(photo by C. Hooker) This was one of three fallow stags together here that morning. We bagged two of them, within sight of two red deer bedded in the tussock. They were the first fallow we had ever seen. (2)Two months later, on about the same spot, C. Hooker bagged this large, roaring, nine-pointer red. As we butchered this stag, a second large stag arrived above us and roared his head off at us from the track. He escaped unharmed.(photo by G.Ross). We also shot feral goats on this very spot from time to time during the late 1960s and early 1970s. These days, during winter when tramper traffic is lower, you may also possibly see chamois here in this spot; as I believe I spotted one here in October 2007; and general information leads one towards accepting that chamois are now becoming established in the Paparoa Range. Below photographs of G. Ross, age 20yrs, with fallow stag, and Chris Hooker, age 20 yrs, with red stag are courtesy of Chris Hooker, New Zealand.

Above photos: (1)Garden Gully Hut, Paparoa Range, October 2007(G.Ross).(2)Looking up Blackball Creek towards bushline beside Top Hut.(3)Croesus Knob is in the distance; this view is from The Coal Seam, Croesus Track.
Pic (1)below is of two sets of deer haunches hanging on rafters in old Top Hut, Paparoa Mtns. December 1972, during commercial venison foot-hunting by G.Ross and C.Hooker.(2) Garden Gully water-driven quartz-crushing stamper battery, used around 1900 to separate gold from quartz near Croesus Knob, Paparoa; October 2007.(3)The open tops just north of Croesus Knob; with Ten Mile Creek down on the left and Roaring Meg Creek down on the right of the photograph. Below photograph of deer haunches and of stag on back of 'Model A' in Canterbury(1966 circa) are courtesy of Chris Hooker collection.

When we hunted during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, we heard avalanches, and used ice axes to help us hunt in difficult places during winter when snow, ice and avalanches made hunting tough. Crampons would be useful for winter hunting of thar. However, we never used crampons. We were versed in self-arrest techniques using our ice axes on steep ice slopes. The drawback of winter hunting in the Southern Alps was having to carry the extra weight of winter equipment such as extra clothing, snow googles/sun glasses; and ice axe.



pics below are(1) Kelly Range tops, from near Carroll Hut. (2) Carroll Hut, January, 2009.(3) Carroll Hut with Barron Range beind, Jan. 2009.


Hunting The Chute

In the Southern Alps is an avalanche chute that provides good red deer hunting, with an occasional chamois in its upper reaches. This chute is an open face of tussock that stretches from the alpine down in a fan shape into the forest and almost to the river flats, but ends 300 meters short of the flats. It ends in beech forest that is part of the main beech forest of the valley. So, if you're climbing up this chute from the river flats, which is the usual way we approached it from, you climb from the flats up through beech forest for five minutes, then you break out into an open shaded grassy gully that gradually expands into the open tussock-and-grass-covered avalanche chute.

It steepens as you climb the chute, and it requires about an hour to climb from flats to the top of the chute. Avalanches keep it open, sweeping down it every winter. Near the top of the chute, you'll see twisted beech saplings partly covered in rock and soil debris, and some of the saplings have been broken or are dead.

Several friends whom I took up this chute at various times moaned about the steepness and length of it.

Last time I hunted the chute I was solo, during winter of 1979. I hunted it immediately after a snowfall, which was exactly what I wanted. Hunting deer immediately after a snowfall is good because they are easy to track in the snow.

No sooner had I climbed from the flats to the start of the chute, when I walked into a stag feeding on a beech sapling at the edge of the chute. I was taken by surprise and let off a quick shot at him, but missed. He took off, and I thought, okay; now I can follow his prints through the snow. Stalking a deer in snow usually works if the deer is a young one, such as a yearling. This stag, however, was three years old and possessed some savy.
The chase began, the stalk began; a long day in the snow beagn. After an hour, he joined up with a group of other deer near the highway, and I caught up with them and sent another shot after him, but missed because I didn't take time to catch my breath properly.
The chase continued.
Then about an hour later he joined up with a huge stag which had been holed up in a thicket of lawyer and beech, for weeks, judging from the sign I saw. What a huge stag this second one was. My eyes almost popped out of my head. My scope was fogged up with snow and moisture. Instead of taking a few minutes to clean the scope, as I should have done, I took a wild shot at the bigger stag, and missed him.
By this time I was quite wet, cold, and tired after five hours in the snow, and the day was drawing to a close with that cold pre-dark winter air making it obvious that night was close. However, I followed the two stags over a bush-covered col, and down the other side a short way, but finally gave up when they sidled back up the valley into impenetrable scrub. I knew it was time for me to quit the chase. I descended to the Landrover, disappointed with my performance. But, on the other hand, I gained something from the experience; I learned more about hunting and learned how strong is the urge to survive in all living things. If I had been hunting the stag for meat for my survival, I may have been more careful about my shots. As is was, I was surprised that my stamina kept me up with the stag. A human can actually walk down such animals as horse and deer, given time, and that is largely why we have survived as a species. Our ancestors simply followed game until it was exhausted, then they speared it. The stag's urge to survive was strong enough to outlast me during that short winter day.
That was the final time I hunted the chute.

pics below from left to right: (1)red rock band in upper Avoca(2)kea family on slopes of Avalanche Peak,Arthur's Pass; two parents on the right, flank their two chicks(with the yellow bands at base of beaks)to the left. (3)Swingbridge over Mary Stream at Julia huts.


Memorial to Whitcombe and Lauper

During 1850s, Whitcombe and Lauper
Traversed the Southern Alps
Exploring westward from Canterbury.
On Canterbury side of Alps they went well.
On western side: torrential rain,
Raging rivers, huge boulders, hunger, cold, wet;
Many days spent covering 50 miles.
They finally arrived at Taramakau river mouth,
And had to cross to other side.
Here Whitcombe drowned.
A Westland river took his life,
A Westland river is his name.


Final Piece

A line saying life flows,
mountains rise, rivers cascade
tumbling through tussock basins,
sweet as water can be.
See you, see me,
Tramp over col, feel free.
Many lines of words sentences
Sentencing you to read to discover
Life's meanings,
Strife, resolution, clarity, truth...
Life's cycles habits routines.
Climb each pass,
Descend each other side.

Available outdoors books by Greg Ross, registered Canadian publisher:
All prices are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated; prices may change; and please add about $1.50 for packaging and postage OF HARD COPY BOOKS within North America, and NZ$5.00 per book for postage and packaging outside North America.

(1) 'Outdoor Writing', ....52pp ISBN: 0-9680731-0-7, first published February 1991, Jasper, Alberta; and revised edition printed in February 1992, Athabasca, Alberta, and again in 1994, Toronto, Canada. Outdoors nonfiction essays about Canada and New Zealand. Cnd$11.00/NZ$ 13.00; available as hard copy only.


fly camp beside big tarn above the Glenroy @ 5600', February, 2009,

(2) 'Alpine' 20pp; published in Toronto in 1993: THIS BOOK IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, however, its text is included in 'Alpine Writing' listed below.

(3) 'Alpine Writing', ...52pp. ISBN 0-9680731-2-3, pub. 1994, Toronto, Canada. New Zealand and Canadian nonfiction outdoors essays and vignettes; hunting, hiking, natural history. Cnd$11.00/NZ$ 13.00; as hard copy only.

The above photo, taken at 6200' in New Zealand's Southern Alps, is of a kea, New Zealand's alpine parrot, and the world's only alpine parrot. Kea need to drink, as this one does in Arthur's Pass township.

(4) 'Red Beech Writing', ...91 pp.,pub. Toronto, Canada 1995; New Zealand hunting memoir, nonfiction. ISBN 0-9680731-3-1. Cnd$14/NZ$15.00 available in hard copy only

Above: Upper Glenroy Valley; rugged and remote South Island alpine. Lewis Pass area.

(5) 'Kiwi Writing', ...32pp, ISBN 0-9680731-4-X, pub. Toronto, Canada, 1996; nonfiction essays and poems about Canada and New Zealand outdoors. Cnd$8.00/NZ$9.00 available in hard copy only

(6) 'Kiwi Two', 34pp, ISBN 0-9680731-6-6,...pub.Toronto Canada, 1996; nonfiction essays and poetry about Canada and New Zealand outdoors. Cnd$8.00/NZ$9.00 available as hard copy only.

(7) 'The True Adventures of D-for Dog', nonfiction comic book about my dog Defor, the dog with ten lives, as he lived with me in NZ's mountains during the 1970s. 10 large pages. pub. Toronto 1995, and British Columbia, 2003, ISBN 0-9680731-5-4. Cnd$3.00/NZ$4.00; in hard copy only. Add $2.00 for postage.

(8) Weka Writing, ISBN 0-9680731-7-4,... 96 large pages, published 1998,Canada. New Zealand and Canadian outdoor essays, with a few poems, includes two pages of colour photographs. NZ$20.00/Cnd$20.00; as hard copy only.

(9) Ruru Writing,...64 pp. 1999., New Zealand and Canada prose-poetrry and poetry, nonfiction. Includes many pages of ink sketches by the author depicting alpine New Zealand hunting. Cnd$18.00/NZ$19.00; as hard copy only. ISBN 978- 0-9680731-8-2

'Red Deer Writing ~ A New Zealand Outdoors Memoir' .... by Greg Ross,published in October, 2011, ISBN 978-0-9866117-5-9, available currently only in e-book (as Kindle book from Amazon.com, or, as pdf e-book from me). No e-reader required for the pdf edition, virtually any computer will suffice. Satisfaction guaranteed. Price for pdf is NZ$11.75, Canadian $11.75, and USA$11.75 if paid via Paypal.com. Or, please mail your order and payment(if by cheque or cash NZ$ 11.75, or Cnd or USA$11.75(cashable in Canada) to: Greg Ross, P.O. Box 141, Heriot Bay, British Columbia, CANADA, V0P 1H0. Thank you. The price for the Kindle book edition is US$9.99. The pdf edition is the better-laid-out of the two editions and automatically comes with the 8-MB illustrations supplement.
Above photographs: (1) Avoca Hut, upper Avoca Valley, March, 2009. (2) Easy Stream, near Avoca Hut, en route to Sphinx Saddle, March 2009.

(10) Culinary Herbs and Medicinal Plants ~ An Herbal Compendium,22pp., defining 240 common herbs, published 2006. $5.00; hard copy and $3.00 e-book. ISBN 978-0-9730604-1-7.

(11) Essays From an Island ~ Volume One and Volume Two (in one book); ISBN 978-0-9730604- 2-5,and 978-0-9730604-3-0 published 2007, Canada. Nonfiction outdoors essays with a few poems; all Canadian content; 67 large pages. hard copy (ISBN 978-0-9877692-1-3) $16.99. E-book is $5.00 via PayPal or $ 5.00 by cheque in mail.

(12) Quadra Island Poetry, ISBN 978-0-9730604-6-1, 58pp, published June, 2009, Quadra Island, British Columbia, Canada, nonfiction poetry about Canadian outdoors...$10.99; hard copy, price does not include packaging and postage; e-book(ISBN 978-0-9877692-2-0) price is $6.00 via PayPal.com or $4.00 via cheque in mail.


The above photos are of the view looking east from Quadra Island, during sunrise, to mainland British Columbia.

(13) Rainforest Drift: 72pp, ISBN 978- 0-9680731-5-4, published June 2009, Quadra Island, British Columbia, Canada., Nonfiction Canadian essays mostly about Canadian outdoors, wildlife, and travel; with some New Zealand content. $12.99 hard copy (ISBN 978-0-9877692-3-7), price does not include packaging and postage. E-book is $4.50, ....please add Cnd$1.75 if paying via Paypal.com



(14)NEW BOOK AS SHOWN, JULY 2011: "Words From an Island ~ An Anthology of Writing From Quadra Island, Canada"; ISBN 978-0-9866117-4-2; book is 50pp, holds writing (poetry, prose-poetry, essays and memoir) by seven Quadra Island writers (Steeve E. Moore, Mike C. Lee, Greg Ross, Judith Tait, Burton Wohl, Heather St. John, and Sarah Hvezda); price is $9.50 not including postage. Price of e-book(ISBN 978-0-9877692-0-6) is $6.00 via PayPal.com or $4.00 via cheque in the mail. Also available in a new, 2012, hard copy illustrated edition, illustrated with pen and ink drawings by professional artist JudithTait, one of its contributing writers. The illustrated edition is $10.50.
All books may now be purchased online at PayPal.com, and pdf e-books will be sent online to your given email address. All e-books listed can now also be purchased as Kindle books from Amazon.com
(15) Also available is a set of translations of one true, humorous New Zealand alpine story from 'Alpine Writing'; 'The Can of Peaches',ISBN 978-0-9730604-7-8. This booklet holds this one-page story in English, Farsi(Iran/Afghanistan), French, German, Polish, Hang'ul Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Chilean Spanish, European Spanish, Dutch, Italian, and Punjabi. The various scripts are art just to look at, and humorous to read.... Cnd$3.50/NZ$4.50
Following are the English plus four of the various translations into different languages of the true story The Can of Peaches. English, French, Spanish, and Dutch. ISBN 978-0-9730604-7-8
(MORE MORE MORE ...more books for sale are listed below these translations)

The Can of Peaches
A True Story from Griffin Creek Hut, Westland, New Zealand
by Gregory Ross

I’d love a can of peaches. Mmmmmmm, yes, how I’d love a can of peaches,” mused Glen as we sat in a small Forestry hut in New Zealand’s Southern Alps.
Our food had run short, we were living on canned stew, and rice, left by previous workers in times gone by. We were using much energy daily to clear tramping tracks, but had nothing sweet to eat to satisfy our sweets cravings. Each night, we tried to vary the stew by adding curry of flour or whatever we could find as we heated it over the fire.
When it came my turn to heat stew for our evening meal, I groped in the dark food cupboard for some cans. My fingers curled around a beam in the cupboard and discovered a can hidden by some previous cunning soul. I pulled it out and could hardly believe my eyes. Its label said ‘PEACHES’. I thrust it back into the cupboard before the others saw it.
We ate our stew and rice in silence and then I washed our dishes in hot water from a billy hanging over the fire. Then we all relaxed in our bunks, reading; Glen was deep in his novel. After 15 minutes I inconspicuously arose, moved to the food cupboard, casually took out the can of peaches, and held in such a way that Glen couldn’t see it. Pat and Martin saw the peaches can, but I winked at them and nodded towards Glen, and they grinned and said nothing.
I quietly opened the can in such a way that Glen couldn’t see what I was about, then dished out a quarter-share for each of us in our plates, placed a spoon in each plate, then silently carried Glen’s share to him and held it close to his face. Glen lowered his book to see what I was doing, and eyes bulged in disbelief when he saw the peaches in front of his face.
“You asked for peaches, sir,” I quipped.
We all had a good chuckle as we enjoyed our peaches.

French Translation by John Norquay, of The Can of Peaches, from Alpine Writing, by Greg Ross
La boîte de pêches
par Gregory Ross
« J’aimerais une boîte de pêches. Mmmmmmm, oui, comme une boîte de pêches me plairait » songea Glen alors que nous restions dans une petite cabane forestière dans les Alpes de la Nouvelle-Zélande.
Nos provisions se furent épuisées et nous vivions de ragoût en boîte et de riz laissés au cours des années par des forestiers précédents. Chaque soir nous essayions de varier le ragoût en ajoutant du curry ou de la farine ou n’importe quoi que nous pouvions trouver.
Quand c’était à moi de faire chauffer le ragoût pour notre repas de soir, je tâtonnai dans le placard, cherchant des boîtes. Mes doigts s’enroulèrent autour d’une poutre dans un coin noir du placard et y découvrirent une boîte cachée il y a longtemps par une âme rusée. Je la sortis, lisant l’étiquette avec incredulité: PÊCHES. Je la remis brusquement à sa place sans parler aux autres.
Nous mangeâmes le ragoût en silence et puis je fis la vaisselle. Nous nous détendîmes pour le soir, et Glen reprit sa lecture. Discrètement j’ouvris la boîte de pêches, distribuant le contenu sur nos quatre assiettes. Je fis tout en pleine vue de Martin et Pat, mais en leur faisant un clin d’oeil pour qu’ils ne disent rien à Glen. Les yeux lui sortirent presque de la tête lorsque je donnai à Glen son assiette de pêches.
« Vous avez demandé des pêches, monsieur » je plaisantai.
On en ris un bon coup.

French Translation by John Norquay, Toronto, Canada, 1998. Edited by Carole Alain, Nanaimo, British Columbia, 1999. And edited further by Sylvie - of Quadra Island, Canada, in 2010. Thank you John, Carole, and Sylvie for assisting with this translation.
© copyright, 2010, Gregory F. A. Ross, Canada/New Zealand. ISBN 978-0-9730604-7-8

Chilean Spanish Translation of The Can of Peaches by Gregory Ross This Spanish translation is by Claudia Medel of Chile, in December 2009; and the editing was by Antonio Cruz of Spain/Canada in May 2010.

El tarro de durazno

Me apetece un tarro de durazno, mmmmmm, si, como me agradańa divertiría un tarro de durazno; reflexionó Glen, mientras nos sentábamos una pequeña casa de campo en los Alpes de New Zealand.
Se nos estaba acabando el alimento, yhabiamos sobrevivido con una conserva de guisado y arroz que nos dejaron los campesinos el año pasado.
Cada noche, mtenabamos variar el guisado agregando curry o harina o alguna cosa que encontrabames. Cuando llego la hora de calentar el guisado para nuestra comida de la tarde, busqué en el mueble de la cocina algunos tarros. Mis dedos alcanzaron a rodear una viga en un oscuro rincón del mueble y descubrí un tarro oculto y escondido hace mucho tiempo por un alma astuta. Saque el tarro y difícilmente creí lo que mis ojos vieron. La etiqueta decía "DURAZNOS".
Lo puse en su sitio, sin decirlo a los demás.
Comimos nuestro guisado en silencio y después lavé la loza.
Nos relajamos por la tarde, Glen continuo con su novela y desapercibidamente abrí el tarro de duraznos. Dividí el contenido en cuatro platos, permitiendo que Martin y Pat vieran todo, pero les guiñe el ojo para que no le contaran a Glen. Los ojos de Glen casi se salen fuera de su orbitas cuando tomó entre sus manos el plato de duraznos.
"tu habias pregunta do por los duraznos señor" - dije y todos reímos.

Dutch translation by Marieke Derks, Amsterdam; of The Can of Peaches…………………………… Marieke Derks
title = EEN BLIK PERZIKEN
door Gregory Ross
    "Ik heb zin in een blik perziken. Mmmmm, ja, daar heb ik nu reuze zin in," mijmerde Glen, terwijl we in een kleine boshut in de Nieuw-Zeelandse Alpen zaten.
    We hadden niet veel te eten meer en overleefden nu op rijst en stoofpot in blik, daar in de afgelopen jaren achtergelaten door de ons voorgaande boswachters. Elke avond probeerden we variaties op de stoofpot te creëren door kerrie of bloem toe te voegen of wat we ook konden vinden.
    Toen het mijn beurt was om de stoofpot op te warmen voor ons avondmaal, reikte ik in de proviandkast voor een blik. Mijn vingers raakten een ronde vorm in een verre hoek van de kast en zo ontdekte ik een blik dat daar door een vooruitziende geest lang geleden was achtergelaten. Ik pakte het blik en kon mijn ogen nauwelijks geloven toen ik het label las: "PERZIKEN". Ik stopte het terug achter in de kast en zei niets tegen de anderen.
    Deze avond aten we onze stoofpot in stilte en daarna deed ik de afwas. We rusten wat uit en Glen verdiepte zich weer in zijn boek. Ik opende het blik met perziken zo onopvallend mogelijk en verdeelde de inhoud over onze vier borden, waarbij Martin en Pat alles konden zien, en ik gebaarde dat ze Glen niets moesten zeggen. Glen's ogen sprongen bijna uit zijn hoofd toen ik hem zijn bord met perziken aanreikte.
    "U blieft perziken, mijnheer?" spotte ik.
    We moesten er allen om grinniken.

Italian translation of The Can of Peaches by Gregory Ross
This Italian translation is by Gaia Pittarello of Italy, in August 2011
© Copyright 2011, Gregory Ross and Gaia Pittarello.

Il barattolo di pesche

‘Vorrei un barattolo di pesche. Mmmmmmm ,si,come vorrei un barattolo di pesche’ pensò Glen mentre ci sedevamo in un piccolo rifugio tra le Alpi neozelandesi. Il nostro cibo era finito, vivevamo di stufato in umido e riso ,lasciato tempo prima da forestieri precedenti. Ogni sera,cercavamo di variare i pasti aggiungendo allo stufato del curry,della farina o qualsiasi altra cosa trovavamo. Quando venne il mio turno per cuocere il pasto serale,trovai nel mobile della cucina alcuni barattoli. Le mie dita avvinghiarono il recipiente e ne scoprirono un barattolo nascosto tempo prima da qualche sconosciuto. Tirai fuori il barattolo e quasi non riuscii a credere ai miei occhi,l’etichetta diceva’PESCHE’ ,lo rimisi a posto prima che qualcuno potesse vederlo. Mangiammo il nostro riso e lo stufato in silenzio poi lavai i piatti,ci rilassammo leggendo mentre Glen era immerso nel suo romanzo. Dopo 15 minuti mi alzai e con discrezione aprii il barattolo di pesche in modo che Glen non potesse vederlo. Pat e Martin mi videro,strizzai loro l’occhio perché non dicessero nulla. Aprii il barattolo in modo che Glen non ne potesse vedere il contenuto,misi i cucchiai in ogni piatto. Quando Glen posò il libro per vedere cosa stavo facendo, i suoi occhi guardarono increduli il piatto di pesche che gli stava davanti. ‘Ha chiesto delle pesche signore’ intonai, tutti ridemmo gustando i nostri piatti.


Above translations from left to right: Hindi, Punjabi, Japanese, and Farsi (spoken in Iran and parts of Afghanistan). THESE TRANSLATIONS ARE THE PHOTOGRAPHED HARD COPY TRANSLATIONS AND for educational purposes CAN BE CLIPPED FROM HERE, PASTED ONTO A WORD FILE, THEN ENLARGED ON THAT FILE BY CLICKING ON PHOTO THEN USING THE SMALL GREEN SQUARES AROUND THE PHOTO'S PERIMETER TO GAIN OR REDUCE SIZE. (c)Copyright, 2012, G. Ross, Canada.

PLEASE NOTE:......Support Canadian peace and world peace by making a donation here. IF ANY PUNJABI OR HINDI SPEAKERS, or anyone else, certainly, WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CASH DONATION TO HELP WITH THESE IMPORTANT TRANSLATIONS, or with other writing on this webpage, THIS CAN EASILY BE DONE via PayPal.com to: alpinewriting@lycos.com, or, by mailing your donation to: Gregory F. A. Ross, P.O. Box 141, Heriot Bay, British Columbia, Canada, V0P 1H0. Thank you very much for supporting Canadian peace and world peace through supporting these language translations.

BOOK(15)'Humming Birds ~ The Fine Art of Writing Well' A 60-page book of writing to help writers to write inspired prose and poetry...an unusual, inspiring, and useful 'how-to-write' book as such. published 2010, Canada; ISBN 978-0-9730604-8-5.....Price: $10.00 per hard copy book and $6.00 per e-book via PayPal.com or $4.00 per e-book via cheque in the mail. .

(16)(CD)Quadra Island Wildlife and Nature ~ educational photographs and short videos from Canada's west coast, by Greg Ross on CD. This CD's ISBN is 978-0-9866117-1-1. Its price is Cnd$6.99, plus Cnd$2.00 packaging and postage within Canada.

(17)(CD) 'Alpine New Zealand ~ Central South Island ~ Tramping with Greg Ross' (2009). This CD is currently available. ISBN 978-0-9866117-2-8. Thistimulating, fun, and survival alpine CD includes 20 short videos plus 190 still photographs, all taken by Greg in the South Island(NZ), during 2009, and all on a 700MB CD. Ideal for trampers, hunters, and outdoors people. Price is Cnd$10.00 per copy, NZ$10.00, US$10.00. Add a few dollars for postage and packaging, thank you.
(17-A) NZ ALPINE POETRY CDs ~ four in the set, these four Cds of short videos of Greg Ross reading his NZ alpine poems live would appeal to poetry lovers........ 700-MB each CD = 2.8 GB total. NZ/Cnd$10 each CD or NZ/Cnd $30/set of four
(18)'Torn Writing ~ Writing For Writers' anthology edited by Gregory F.A. Ross; ISBN 978-9866117-0-4; 80pp....due to be published in August, 2012.
New Zealand Alpine Poetry CDs: four CDs in the set, of Greg Ross reading his poetry live on short video clips can be purchased upon request, as a set, or individually for NZ$10.00 each, or NZ$30.00 for the set, plus a few dollars for packaging and postage on each order, thank you.
All of the above books in hard copy are hand-bound and illustrated by Greg Ross.
To inquire about or order any of these books or CDs, please use the email address below.

email:alpinewriting@lycos.com



The above left photo is of old Hunters Hut, at the Lambert/Wanganui confluence, January, 1973. (photos courtesy of Chris Hooker)and on right is the old Andrews NZFS Bivvy on Hallelujiah Flat, not long before we shot a deer there that evening and then spent the night in the bivvy; November, 1972. Note, Hooker's Lee-Enfield .303 leaning against the bivvy near his pack. This delapidated bivvy was removed by Arthur's Pass National Park Board in 1974 (circa).
Enjoy your reading and writing.


BELOW IS THE CANADIAN SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE:

Below is a ballad written after completing archival and field research about a Canadian gold mine which peaked during 1911. This mine is in local bush, and in 2008 our team of 14 volunteers restored and secured the mineshafts and old steam equipment to a standard of safety suitable for unsupervised public viewing. The ballad is followed by a prize-winning story published in 2008 in one of our regional British Columbian newspapers. Lastly comes a short outdoors poem about this area.

The Lucky Jim Mine was in 1910 a gold, copper, and silver mine, just off Granite Bay Road, Quadra Island, British Columbia. A steam-engine pump ventilated the shafts, pumped air down to the miners’ rock drills, and pumped water from the mine. This steam engine is still at the mine site; its huge cast iron flywheel weighs tons and is about 12 feet diameter. Finns from Sointula Island, B.C., worked the mine. Their log cabins are derelict, rotting, and moss-covered; but still visible near the mine site; now an historic site. The following ballad was researched thoroughly in local museum archives before being written, to give accuracy to its details.

The photograph (1) below is of the huge cast-iron flywheel on the old steam engine at the Lucky Jim Gold Mine, Quadra Island, Canada.(2)the boiler from the Lucky Jim's steam engine, sitting beside old mineshafts.(3)One of the old log cabins beside the Lucky Jim Mine; built in 1909 by Finnish workers at the Lucky Jim Mine.

The Ballad of The Lucky Jim Mine


by Gregory Ross


Into Quadra Island granite, they sank deep shafts, bold men;
To build the Lucky Jim Mine; the year was 1910.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; life was different then.

Lucky Jim was mined by Finns, in British Columbia’s rain;
Immigrant Canadians, they mined Lucky Jim’s ore vein.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; gold, silver, copper; theirs to gain.

In Lucky Jim’s wet darkness, the miners mined each day;
Left forest, lakes, and birds; went deep to earn their pay.

Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; Canada’s people from far away.
“Old Curley” locomotive, met miners at mineshaft;
Emerging into sunlight, those miners smiled and laughed.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; precious metal from deep shaft.

They shipped their ore to Ladysmith, for final preparation;
Crushed the rock then smelted it; three metals separation.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; helped build Canadian nation.

The Union Steamship steamed, to Granite Bay each week;
Steamed Lucky Jim supplies, past Ripple Rock’s dire peak.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; good fortune they did seek.

Fire the pump’s boiler! Pump water from the mine!
Mine that hard rock hard! We need rich ore to refine.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; they climbed mine’s steep incline.

They hammered into granite, they hammered into quartz;
They made the boiler boil, give hot hisses, and short snorts.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; that steam sent sharp reports.

They drilled into white quartz; they drilled into gray granite;
They tended the pump boiler closely; to stoke it and fan it.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; small gold mine on large planet.

They fed the boiler’s firebox, till steam was hissing well;
Then piston pushed, flywheel spun; and push rod rose and fell.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; smell that wood smoke smell.

In log cabin’s cast-iron cook stove, the mine cook baked good bread;
With salmon, and fresh venison; to keep them all well fed.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; their woodstoves glowed orange-red.

They sawed fir for their fires; while jays and squirrels would scold;
Spent nights in warm log cabins, away from wet and cold.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; at nights their tales they told.

Gold mining costs were high…year 1911 proved too thin…
Lucky Jim shut down…and cold water flooded in.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; gone was miner’s grin.

Quadra’s 1925 forest fire, burned the Lucky Jim;
Any chance for revival, became rather slim.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; gone was gold mine vim.

Year 2006, brought bright end to damp decline;
When fresh Canadian life, woke this mossy forest mine.
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; recovery just in time.

Dull for almost a century; now free from any mystery;
Lucky Jim, the Lucky Jim; gleam on Canadian history.


The following story won first prize in The 2008 Spirit of Campbell River Essay Competition, adult category; as sponsored by the Campbell River Arts Council, Coho Bookstore, Campbell River Mirror, and Campbell River Literary Society.

The story was published in The Campbell River Mirror newspaper 20th. February 2008. www.campbellrivermirror.com

'The Spirit of Campbell River'

by Gregory Ross

Every winter, the spirit of Campbell River takes its holiday; a break from its usual surroundings.Campbell River’s spirit usually inhabits the damp mossy forest around town; and dark rock caverns deep beneath town. During its annual holiday, however, it roams the Strathcona Mountains and Quadra and local islands; and swims deep in the frigid waters of Discovery Passage, with whales, salmon, and seals; weaving through swaying kelp strands, in flowing dim depths.
The spirit lingers in forest ferns and cedar branches; and laughing, cascades down gushing streams. Loggers working in our forests sometimes sense Campbell River’s spirit; which makes them content and grateful to live and work here where open spaces and peaceful forest nurture them and their children. Fishing boat crews sometimes feel the spirit inspiring them as they haul in their catches; while the ocean under them swirls with the spirit’s pulse.
During its holiday travels, to ensure that all is well, Campbell River’s spirit makes wolves howl near town on cold nights; and watches cougar stalk blacktail; and guides black bears waddling among firs. The spirit makes owls hoot, loons call, eagles swoop, and herons stand motionless on our shores.
The spirit frolics in the air above Campbell River, invisible; watching people, and working magic. Campbell River is a small city, flowing at an easy pace; with attractive public gardens, totem poles, arts, and cultures. The spirit monitors all of these ingredients, to ensure top quality.
Our local heritage, our national heritage; and our identities, all see the spirit’s influence. Coastal Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and Canada; all feed the spirit.
History reveals ancientness in Campbell River’s spirit. First Nations arrived here 7,000 years ago. Then, Britain’s Vancouver, Spain’s Quadra, sailing ships, settlers, logging, steam donkeys, fishing boats, farming.
Our ferries hum with the spirit.
The spirit brings renewal. Listen.... You can hear the spirit’s voice during lashing storms; screaming with the wind, “ Be grateful, Campbell Riverites…to live in such a wonderful place.... Yes, we have storms; but, what’s a few storms…compared to every winter’s six frozen months that most of Canada endures…. And, when you read and watch daily news, you see the pollution and crime that large cities serve to their inhabitants. Be grateful you live in Campbell River. ” And the spirit howls mirthfully as it drums rain onto our roofs.
Silently the spirit spreads winter’s snow blankets, dramatizing our landscape.
When spring arrives, the spirit’s holiday ends; and it returns to dwell in deep caverns and forest; from where it helps Campbell River bustle with summer tourists and children’s excited cries about swimming, fishing, and riding ferries and boats. Campbell River hosts tourists from around the world; who come for Campbell River’s scenery, salmon fishing, kayaking, whales, wildlife, hospitality, and peace.
“ Welcome,” we say; “ welcome to our nook of Canada; ” as the spirit nods approval.
Campbell River’s spirit enchants some tourists, who move here permanently, embracing the spirit, as do I and you.

Coastal Northwest North America..................a poem by G. Ross (woodpecker photo below)


Knock…knock…
knockity…knock…
cones hit roofs as
squirrels harvest high
fir branches.
Autumn is round the corner.
Tap, tap, tap,
woodpecker tap-taps.
Tree frog croaks,
robins and ravens call,
soaring eagles scream.
Waves wear rock,
wind warns trees.


The photographs above: (1) an orange-bellied newt (2)red-legged frog (3)garter snake. All three reptiles are natives of British Columbia, Canada.
The photograph below is of Bedwell Lake in the Strathcona Mountains, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Links:

Visit the links below to view directories listing Greg Ross's short biography and a few further photographs.

Campbell River Arts Council, Canada

Quadra Island Arts Alliance Society, Canada

B.C. Bookworld, Canada


above: (1) Greg Ross's home,(2)robins' nest nearby (3)lipstick lichen. (4)woodpecker(side and rear views).(5)rainbow.(6) Alpenglow on British Columbia's coast mountains as viewed from his home's front door................................
All e-books and hard copy books from this publisher can now be purchased via PayPal.com or by bank cheque in the mail ..............Thank you.


YOU HAVE PROBABLY NEVER READ AN ADVENTURE STORY QUITE LIKE 'Red Deer Writing'.

CAMPBELL RIVER AND QUADRA ISLAND WRITING TUTORING SERVICE ~ WRITE BETTER ~ HIGH SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY, AND ADULT STUDENTS. NO MORE LOW EXAM AND ESSAY SCORES. SCORE A's FOREVER MORE. TOP RESULTS GUARANTEED. GREG ROSS, BA........GOOD RATES.
email:alpinewriting@lycos.com
this website was updated on (NZ's) May 13th., 2012.