the weather hasn't been great the last few weeks, but we have made the most of the days and seen a few places and done a bit of walking....
The first few days in Temuka were spent sorting out our stuff and getting ready for the first trips, on Friday 10th we headed up the Godley River with Aaron's cousin Jacob, for a 4WD camping and Tahr Hunting Trip. We were hoping to stay at the Red Stag Hut, but it was already occupied so we pitched our tents beside the wagon out of the wind
Camping Spot for the Weekend, Godley River
On the Saturday we headed up a nearby creek in search of some Tahr, an hour up the river I realised I forgot the sunscreen, so was a bit lobster like by the end of the day! We wandered up the river for a number of hours and then up a side ridge, we only saw one young bull tahr, happily watching us from a nearby bluff
It was getting late in the afternoon, so after a rather steep decent we walked back to camp to a well earned drink after 10hours of walking!
On Sunday we packed up camp and headed down river, finding a steep short ridge to walk up, there was good Tahr sign but the wind didn't play the game and gave our location away, a nice walk anyway with some great views of the valley, after a very steep decent and bit of a shingle slide we were back to the truck after a 5.5 hour walk. At least we were starting to get our hill fitness back for our longer trips!
The next day was a bit of a recovery day, and a chance to catch up with my lovely niece Emma, we stayed with her and Juz and Rob. She is growing up fast!
Tuesday the 14th saw us heading towards Mt Cook and the cloud and rain, we stomped around the visitors centre at the village in our tramping gears (scaring a few tourists!) before heading up to Ball Shelter for the evening (in the rain), the track runs alongside the Tasman Glacier and you can here rocks and ice rumbling through the glacier as you wander past it!
Looking out over the Tasman Glacier
Terminal Lake of the Glacier
Ball Shelter - Home for the night
On Wednesday we headed up onto the tops above the shelter for a walk and were entertained by some Kea's and the rock/ice falls coming off the Caroline Face of Mt Cook, as the weather wasn't improving we left Mt Cook and headed towards Fairlie, staying with Aaron's Auntie and Uncle for the night
On Friday 17th Aaron's nieces and nephew came to stay, I don't think he will appreciate this picture but it sums up the fun they had chasing uncle aaron! :)
On Saturday the 18th we went for a walk up Mt Nimrod with Dad and Juz for a few hours before heading to Ruth and Carls engagement party in the evening, a good party followed by a surprisingly good sleep in the back of the Corolla! Followed by a rather sore head on Sunday morning!
Juz, Rob and Emma enjoying the walk up Mt Nimrod
On Monday the 20th we headed up to Arthurs Pass for the week, we parked at Bealey Village and started the walk up the ridge onto the tops, I think I must have still been Hungover as I really struggled with the climb and heavy pack. We decided to camp on the tops near Jordon Saddle, rather than head down to the Avoca, as the weather was a bit marginal and so were our energy levels!
We found a flat-ish spot and set up the bivy, had a feed and went to bed - I woke up in the night to hear the rain and see that the cloud had come in to obscure the saddle we wanted to walk over the next day! Oh well thats wandering in the NZ Mountains!
Packing up camp in the cloud
We have to go that way somewhere...
Camp for the night
The next day we packed up camp and decided to head off the tops into the Waimak Valley - the forecast was for more rain and the visibility wasn't great on the tops. We dropped down the Jordon Stream and down to the Anti Crow Hut for the night
The next day we went on a day walk up the Anti Crow Creek and for a fish in the Waimak River before heading back to find the Hut had been invaded by some tourists - who decided it was a good idea to light the fire (in Summer) and then open the door because they got to hot - and let all the sandflies in!! Good times!
Fishing in the Waimak
It continued to rain through the night and by morning all the streams and creeks were up and starting to flood, we packed up and started the walk out to the car, crossing the flooded Jordan Stream that 2 days before we had travelled down in low flow, makes you realise how quickly conditions can change in the Mountains
Waimak River Valley
The flooded Jordan Stream
Waimak River Valley
We made our way out to the car and headed towards Christchurch, stopping at Lake Pearson on the way for a fish in a gale of a Nor'Wester
We spent the Weekend in Christchurch with Family, great to see Nana and Grandma and others
4 generations, Emma with her Mum, Grandma and Great Nana!
Monday 27th we headed off to Lake Sumner forest park, up the Hurunui to Gabriels Hut, we were going to stay for a few days but the wasps were horrific, you could hear the hum of them from inside the Hut!! We went for a fish at the lake before heading back to the car and out to Christchurch
Lake Sumner
A strange looking Man trying to avoid the sandflies!
Hurunui River
The plan from here is to head Otago ways and then over to the West Coast, will update the blog again in a few weeks time!
