Geoff Spearpoint began tramping in the Tararuas, spending his first night in a hut (Cone) during 1966 when he was 15. He joined the Hutt Valley Tramping Club and later the New Zealand Alpine Club (and is now a life member of both) following a passion of transalpine tramping and climbing trips.

Initially trained in microbiology, he later worked for Mount Aspiring National Park and spent many years in the print industry in pre-press. Prior to co-authoring Shelter from the Storm, Geoff wrote Waking to the Hills, various articles for club journals and Wilderness magazine, edited Moir’s Guide North, co-authored The Canterbury Westland Alps and contributed a chapter to Wild Heart.

A member of the Peninsula Tramping Club, Geoff lives in his own hut at Birdlings Flat on the Canterbury coast with his wife, Jane Morris.