Day Climb in the Ahuriri Valley
Finally after around a week of hiking and eating nothing but dry food I am back into civilization. I left Christchurch with Rich, a Scottish guy that I met, and we set out in search of some areas to do some tramping (hiking in Canadian terms). So after managing to pile all of our gear into his car and picking up some supplies we made our way to Mount Cook Village. Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand and is also home to the Tasman Glacier which is the largest in the Southern hemisphere. We spent a few days here just laying around the hostel and waiting for the weather to clear so we could hike up to the alpine to a hut for the night. Unfortunately mother nature never aloud us to do that but our last day there we took the alternative and hiked to the ball point shelter which is about 11 kms up the Tasman Glacier. We stayed up there for only one night with no heat, electricity, or really anything of any kind. I am really happy I decided to buy a warmer sleeping bag when I arrived here cause its was below freezing up there!!
The next day we packed up our gear, walked off the glacier and headed to the Ahuriri Valley for a couple other trails and huts to stay in, but once again we were met with bad weather and nothing but rain. We stayed in the Base Camp Hut which compared to our previous night was comparable to staying at the Hilton. We had a table, chairs, a wood stove and enough wood to last us for days and also allow us to dry off our clothes after walking in the rain cause that's all that seems to be following us. We spent our days doing day hikes but always kept our base at the main hut so we didn't have to carry our gear through the not so great weather, and spent our nights sitting in the dim light of our head torches playing cards for hours on end waiting for it to get late enough to not feel guilty for going to bed.
The next day we packed up our gear, walked off the glacier and headed to the Ahuriri Valley for a couple other trails and huts to stay in, but once again we were met with bad weather and nothing but rain. We stayed in the Base Camp Hut which compared to our previous night was comparable to staying at the Hilton. We had a table, chairs, a wood stove and enough wood to last us for days and also allow us to dry off our clothes after walking in the rain cause that's all that seems to be following us. We spent our days doing day hikes but always kept our base at the main hut so we didn't have to carry our gear through the not so great weather, and spent our nights sitting in the dim light of our head torches playing cards for hours on end waiting for it to get late enough to not feel guilty for going to bed.
From the Ahuriri Valley we arrived in Wanaka and finally got a hot shower and fresh food, ahh the things you take for granted on a daily basis. As of right now I haven't done a whole lot in Wanaka just read, relax, and went on some wonders around the town. It a picturesque little town built on Lake Wanaka and reminds me alot of Banff with being surrounded by mountains and the ski town buzz through town. A couple more days here relaxing and then off to Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand, where the fun will really begin. I think I may throw myself off a bridge at the Nevis Bungy which is roughly 450ft and the second highest on the planet. But time will tell and Ill be sure to update again when I have some more exciting things to tell.
Home Sweet Home on the Tasman Glacier, Ball Point Shelter
Sunrise Over The Tasman Glacier
The Most Deadly Mountain in New Zealand "Mount Cook"
"Good Times!!" Ahuriri Valley
2 comments:
Nice stretch! I think there's a future in ballet. The Mountains are beautiful. Take it easy and stay in some warmth.
you left us hanging finish it up Brutus.
Post a Comment