Mueller Hut Walk - 28 September 2008

Mirandah and i jagged a week off work so we took the opportunity to head to NZ for 9 days. We had no firm plans, just a station wagon that was a vehicle and our humpy for the trip.

The weather forecast looked pretty good for our first full day so we headed straight to Mt Cook. Views over Lake Pukaki up to Mt Cook were amazing.

Early morning views of Mt Cook

There had been a decent snowfall over the previous day so we decided to try and jump on the "Ski the Tasman" glacier plane. Unfortunately the plane was full by the time we got to the alpine guide centre at Mt Cook - to much time taking in the awesome views on the road in. Plan 2 was to head up to Mueller Hut. We initially wanted to head up for the night but the weather didn't look great for day 2 so we decided to make it a day trip only. Intelligence from the alpine guides bloke was that we would be fine with hiking boots. This guy was a champ. He could have spun us a line and got us to hire some gear from him but he was honest and recommended boot packing. The lady in DOC office was a little less helpful insisting that we take just about every bit of climbing gear available. We took the advice of alpine guides and armed ourselves with hiking boots and ski poles.

We left the car at 9am and headed up the Sealy Tarns track.

Mirandah at the trail head. We were about to climb the treed slope on the left of this photo.

A few hundred vertical metres in and the views were getting better. Me, the Mueller Glacier, the Hooker Glacier and Mt Cook.

The track was steep but well formed. Lack of fitness was shown up on the steep climb up to Sealy Tarns. Snow had been getting deeper all the way up the track and at Sealy tarns it was all but complete cover. About 10-30cm of fresh on firm base.

Mirandah and I at the Sealy Tarns. Mt Cook in the background.

The next 600 odd vertical metres was a bit of a slog and Mirandah was keen to can the trip.

Smiling but not happy.

We were near the top of the ridgeline and the wind was getting stronger. The whinge frequency (mirandah) was increasing at a rapid rate from behind.

"Can we turn back now?"

I had just about used up all my "we're only going a bit further" calls up when we ran into a nice couple making there way down the slope after spending the night in the hut. They insured Mirandah that the extra 100m vertical was worth it for the views up the top. I owe this guy a beer. From then on Mirandah fired up and we were on the ridge line shortly after. Wind on the ridge was pretty strong and there was plenty of snow blowing around.

Climbing the home stretch. The Hooker Glacier and Mt Cook in the background.

View looking west from the ridgeline. Mt Sefton (right) and Mueller Glacier (top left to bottom right).

A relatively flat stroll up to the hut from here in strong wind (note snow blowing across the ridgeline).

After a relatively easy stroll up the ridge we reached the hut. NZ'ers are spoiled. The hut was luxury. After having lunch we took in the view.

Mirandah on the deck at Mueller Hut.

Then we got into the heavy jackets/pants for the walk down. By the time we were heading down the ridge we were in and out of cloud and blowing snow.

Making our way down.

Once we dropped over the ridge it was calm and sunny again. The walk back down was pretty casual.

We passed some fresh avalanche activity on the way. The guys we had just had lunch with at the hut had triggered this slide on there way down to the car park:

Freshly triggered (about 20 mins earlier) wet snow avy that we saw on the way down.