Loking back at Bevan Col.
After a massive coffee hit I got the bus down to Queenstown before my Saturday flight back to Brisbane. A beautiful place Queenstown. Very like the English Lake District.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
New Zealand. Day 6. Thur. 3rd April. Aspiring Hut to Wanaka & Queenstown..
A pre-dawn start for the 2 hour walk to the road and our trip back to Wanaka.
Loking back at Bevan Col.
After a massive coffee hit I got the bus down to Queenstown before my Saturday flight back to Brisbane. A beautiful place Queenstown. Very like the English Lake District.
Loking back at Bevan Col.
After a massive coffee hit I got the bus down to Queenstown before my Saturday flight back to Brisbane. A beautiful place Queenstown. Very like the English Lake District.
New Zealand. Day 5. Wed. 2nd April. Scott's Bivvy to Aspiring Hut.
Overnight the rain stopped and it became freezing. In the morning the rivers had gone down enough to let us pass and we headed off down the valley for the 5 hour walk to Aspiring Hut.
The stone built hut had a wood burning stove and mattresses. Luxury!
It also had a fabulous view of Mt. Aspiring and the north-west ridge. A comfortable night ensued.
The stone built hut had a wood burning stove and mattresses. Luxury!
It also had a fabulous view of Mt. Aspiring and the north-west ridge. A comfortable night ensued.
New Zealand. Day 4.Tue. 1st April. Scott's Bivvy.
A damp but comfortable night. In the morning all the rivers were even higher and we were going nowhere.
We had plenty of food and water was literally running through our cave. We settled in for the day.
Luckily I had a good book to read - 'Mountains of the Mind' by Robert MacFarlane.
We had plenty of food and water was literally running through our cave. We settled in for the day.
Luckily I had a good book to read - 'Mountains of the Mind' by Robert MacFarlane.
New Zealand. Day 3. Monday 31st Mar.
Simon & I get kitted up and about to board the helicopter.
The landing zone, just below Bevan Col.
As soon as the chopper left we were hit by gale force winds and snow. The weather system had arrived early. Simon knew there was no way we could make the 3 hour trip across the glacier in white-out conditions.
No choice but to head down.
He belayed me down about 5 pitches then we had a 100 ft. abseil down to the rapidly rising river in the valley.
However, NOT the end of our problems. We were surrounded by huge waterfalls and the streams were treacherous. We got across a couple of torrents only with extreme difficulty. Simon knew of a cave called 'Scott's Bivvy' but he'd never stayed there. We had no choice.
The landing zone, just below Bevan Col.
As soon as the chopper left we were hit by gale force winds and snow. The weather system had arrived early. Simon knew there was no way we could make the 3 hour trip across the glacier in white-out conditions.
No choice but to head down.
He belayed me down about 5 pitches then we had a 100 ft. abseil down to the rapidly rising river in the valley.
However, NOT the end of our problems. We were surrounded by huge waterfalls and the streams were treacherous. We got across a couple of torrents only with extreme difficulty. Simon knew of a cave called 'Scott's Bivvy' but he'd never stayed there. We had no choice.
New Zealand. Day 2. Sunday 30th Mar. Wanaka.
A beautiful day in Wanaka.
I'd spoken to the team at 'Aspiring Guides'
Aspiring Guides
I'd spoken to the team at 'Aspiring Guides'
Aspiring Guides
New Zealand. Day 1. Sat.29th Mar. Queenstown to Wanaka
The quest to climb Mt. Aspiring in the Southern Alps.
Queenstown below. Airport at the end of the lake.
Queenstown below. Airport at the end of the lake.
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