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"Steve G. at Emerald
Lakes" |
It proved a popular place to sit. We
set off up the hill into the snow and needed sunglasses
after 3 minutes although there was no sun and we couldn’t
see more than two snow poles distance.
After navigating through the deep
drifts of slushy snow at the throat of the Ketetahi Valley
where we met some Wellington T+M Club members headed for
Ketetahi, we emerged onto the ridge above Blue Lake. Here
the gusting wind made progress hard. Blue Lake was covered
in white stuff that looked like it would not support a
person’s weight. Continuing seemed easier than returning so
we dropped down out of the wind to Central Crater, pausing
at the Emerald Lakes. The upper half of Red Crater was
hidden in the mist, as was Ngauruhoe. The descent from
Emerald Lakes into the head of the Oturere Valley involved
dropping steeply down a narrow spine of mixed rock and
snow. From here we could look back and see the steaming
cliffs of Red Crater. |
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With weather gradually improving we emerged out of the lunar
landscape to the Oturere Hut, where
the snow petered out. We had the hut to ourselves Saturday,
and did not see the four legged occupants (mice) that the
hut sign warned us about.
Sunday we headed off south into rain. We reached familiar
ground
after about an hour then continued across
to Waihohonu Hut then out past Te Mako Bush to the Desert
Road. What no white van! The doubters were made to eat
their words when the vehicles arrived 30 seconds later.
Nice timing guys!
Thanks to all participants - the A Team
(Claire, Stephen_G, Steve_A, and Nigel (reporter), and
especially to Noel, Carl, Eileen, and Colin who made the
trip possible by their good deeds (again) of ferrying the
vehicles.
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Reports Page |
