Gurney and friend Steve Moffatt, who have been following in the footsteps of 1890 mountaineers Marmaduke Dixon and George Mannering, struck a hurdle this week when Moffatt suffered frostbite to his feet while ascending Aoraki/Mount Cook.
The pair visited Timaru doctor Dick Price, himself a mountaineer, on Thursday and their epic adventure is now temporarily on hold.
As long as Moffatt did not get an infection, he should make a full recovery, Gurney said, when contacted yesterday.
The pair were not prepared to continue with the next leg of their journey this week - a kayak trip to the coast - due to the risk of infection.
Moffatt was now resting at home and Gurney did not know how long it would take him to recover.
However, there was "no way" the pair would not finish the trip.
The pair had a "tough time" during the mountaineering phase of the journey.
Moffatt, who was wearing old-fashioned sporting gear, just like Dixon and Mannering, got "very, very cold".
He had spells of incoherent speech and dizziness - "he was talking gibberish" - and Gurney said he did not enjoy seeing his good friend suffer so much.
But while Gurney admitted it was scary - "I was scared for the life of my mate" - such challenges were what adventure was about.
The trip was about facing the risks and using their skills to look after themselves.
Gurney managed to reach the summit of Aoraki/Mount Cook, which he described as "just an incredible experience".
He enjoyed kayaking more than mountaineering and was looking forward to completing the adventure once Moffatt recovered.
