Mount Cook Area

Mueller Hut

10-3-2014

     Frankly, the "walk" to get here was a pain in the butt. It was more of a climb. The majority of the trail was stairs, and then the top quarter was all scrambling. However, it was worth it. It's beautiful up here. The view is incredible. We're on Mount Oliver looking out across a deep valley, and on the other side is an enormous ridge shaped like a crescent moon. To the side is Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. It is where Sir Edward Hillary practiced his mountaineering skills before he and Tenzing Norgay climbed Mount Everest, the first ever to do so. Like Mount Everest, it's a very dangerous climb. One of the most dangerous in the world, apparently, because of unpredictable weather and snow conditions combined with a very technical climb. I want to explore it, but I think I'll hone my mountaineering skills first. As in: I'll get some. This is not the place to start, and besides, this is not the time of year to climb Mt Cook.

    I'll have to be content with Mt Oliver, by the hut here. It's only a half an hour from here to the top and doesn't even require crampons or an ice axe. The plan is to go do it tomorrow. Right now we're pretty tired from our clamber up this mountain.

    In fact, everyone here but me is asleep already. I just couldn't help but write, because this is so cool. The moon is a little over half full and pretty bright, the starts are out, and outside it's quiet except for the thunder. It's like a thunderstorm only it's not; it's avalanches. Huge chunks of snow on the mountains across the way are hardening now that it's cooled down for the night, and they're breaking off and hammering down into the valley below. It's incredible to hear, and I wish it was light enough to see. I can't wait until light tomorrow morning, when it will warm up again.