Kia ora! For those eager to get out and about, meet other keen people in CMC and explore one of the best areas in NZ then this trip is for you. The trip will have an easier and harder option, to cater towards different skill levels.
Mt Cook is simply stunning – expect to be awed by the scale of the mountains, hear the rumble of crashing glaciers, and maybe even get your favourite hat stolen by a cheeky kea.
If interested, read on!
Leader: Owain John (open to an additional more experienced leader if we want like to try some glacial travel)
Date: 7th – 9th March.
Itinerary:
- Friday – mid/late arvo leave Chch. (Depending on when people can get away – ideally would leave Chch by 4pm). 4hr15 drive to stay in the CMC lodge in Mt Cook village.
- Sat – two options!
1) For those who are newish to being in the mountains, you would walk directly up to Mueller Hut (see DOC description for timing/details). This would be a self-directed hike (i.e. I would not be leading you – you’d lead yourselves, noting that this is a well frequented by day-hike). Given it’s so popular the hut is already booked out – so we’d all be camping near the hut instead (you can still use the hut facilities and it’s an awesome camp spot!)
2) For those of us who are after some more adventure, we’d head up Sebastapol ridge and summit Mt Annette (if we had someone with us who was confident with glacial travel, and depending on timing, we could try head towards Mt Sealy too – this will be discussed before the trip), then traverse along and also stay at Mueller Hut (camping). Thus there’d be an easy option and a harder option, but everyone could stay at the same spot on Sat night.
If the weather is poor, camping up high could be challenging (especially if windy). If that was the case we’d either head back down to Whitehorse Campground for Sat night, or have already chosen the Plan B (Lewis Pass trip) instead.
- Sunday – day walks/exploring then drive back to Chch by evening.
Food: We may look to do a communal dinner on Sat evening in the hut – TBC. Otherwise cater for yourself.
Numbers: 4 for the harder route, 5+ for the easier route.
Previous experience required:
Easier-route – Be ready for 1000m elevation gain, pretty consistently uphill! Previous hiking/tramping experience expected, you need to be able to look after yourself. That being said, it’s a very popular walking track and on a good day 100’s of people of varying abilities will be doing it.
Harder-route – confident with exposure, some previous mountaineering experience, rock scrambling, rope skills.
Gear
Easier-route – No specific climbing gear required, but you’ll need a tent (or make friends with someone with one!), appropriate outdoor clothing (warm and waterproof gear). Bring a good sleeping mat as the campsites are rocky!
Harder-route – ice-axe, crampons, helmet, (rope possible for ridge scramble and/or glacier travel if head onto the glacier, harness, glacier travel gear), tent / shelter. sleeping mat, warm and waterproof clothing.
Plan B:
If weather doesn’t look good for Aoraki Mt Cook region, we may have to re-plan to go elsewhere. At this stage that would likely be Lewis Pass – if so that could be:
- Fri arvo/evening – 2.5hr drive, walk in to Ada Pass hut (some cars could leave earlier, but for those who wanted to come but couldn’t get off work then they could come later – a speedy walk in the dark would only take ~3hrs! Stopping at Cannibal Gorge hut could also be an option)
- Sat day – mission up Faerie Queen/Gloriana for those who were up for it. For those who want an easier option then they could hang out in the hut/day walk. Stay at Ada Pass hut.
- Sun – back to Chch.
Questions: If you have any questions about the trip, feel free to contact Owain on [email protected] (or call me on 027 714 0510).
Resources:
Topomap: Mt Cook/Mueller Hut – link, Faerie Queen – link
ClimbNZ: Mt Annette, Faerie Queen
