The Old Man Range is classic Central Otago high country. At this height, nothing grows but ground-hugging moss and crazy-shaped rock tors. The Obelisk is the largest of these.

The first day of 2023. On a perfect summer morning, I drove a bunch of friends up the east face of the Old Man Range in Central Otago to the Obelisk at 1.687m (5,534ft).

The plan was they would ride down the backcountry ridges. I stayed behind to capture this arid, lonely, and magnificent place.