07.02.11 Journey from Moeraki to Mount Cook
It rained all last night and stopped by 11am this morning. When the papers arrived in Moeraki at 11.30am we were able to look at the 4 day weather forecast for the various areas. Based on the fact that Mount Cook area is looking fine for Weds and Thursday we headed towards Twizel and then Mount Cook. We are at the camp ground right up in the mountains with a fabulous view of the mountains. The Rangers had to dig some people out of the site this morning because of the torrential rain and the fact that the ford became impassable. So we are staying on the hard standing area before the ford and well away from possible flooding if it rains tonight or tomorrow as is predicted. We have a lovely evening now and can see the snow on the ridge leading to Mount Cook as well as glimpses of the Tasman Glacier. Not a bad view from our supper table. This site is a Dept of Conservation Site (DOC) and is the usual voluntary honesty box contribution of $6 a person. Mount Cook visitors centre is completely amazing. So much information in a cleverly set out area. There are daily scheduled lectures, film loops running, history and geography of the area, Sir Edmund Hillary info and books, maps, obligatory gift shop café and more. Artistically designed so that it's like being in a telescope looking out over the mountains. I will try to photograph some of it.

08.02.11 Mount Cook National Park

After a very windy rainy night we woke around 8am to the sound of the warden knocking for the nights fee…we couldn't get across the stream to the self registration station the previous night. The tractor and earth mover arrived by 9am to dig out the ford area and make the road passable. In view of the weather forecast we decided to walk the Hooker Valley path , a 3 hour route towards the Hooker Glacier. It was a good decision because the wind was blustery, it was raining some of the time and in parts the path had become a boulder hopping stream. We were back at the van for lunch just before it absolutely threw it down for the entire afternoon. After lunch, a snooze and a little reading time we drove to the visitor centre and spent a pleasant hour looking at the exhibitions before making our way to The Hermitage hotel for tea. We then walked tothe Old Mountaineers lodge to look at the photos, sit on the settees and enjoy the views of Mount Cook at sunset. I must admit to having a hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows…yummy and naughty. We then went back to our hotel on wheels for supper.

09.02.11 Mount Cook National Park - Muller Hut Alpine Walk

After a night of rain we woke up to a cloudless sky and superb views all round. Our intended route was awaiting and we were breakfasted and en route for the Muller Alpine Hut by 9.00am. The walk is a vertical ascent of 1000m over 2 ridges but very well marked although it included a boulder field scramble and a 200m scree of mixed sized shale and small boulders. We summited for lunch and ate our sandwiches perched on top of the world with clear views of the peaks of Mount Cook, Mount Sefton and their surrounding ranges and glaciers. It took us about 4 hours with stops, and then we had to descend!! We arrived back at camp in time to watch Mount Cook turn sugar pink in the sunset.