The forecast was good for the day that Silke and I had planned to hike up to Mueller Hut. Mueller Hut is a refuge build for hikers in 1800 meter’s altitude. The track goes up a steep and rugged mountain and is quite strenuous. The top of the mountain was still covered in clouds when we set out from the hostel way down in the valley. It didn't rain a lot, just enough to make us worry if we would be able to make such a long trip.
I considered turning around several times but lots of people had highly recommended this particular track so how hard could it be? I am in pretty good shape by now but four hours straight up into thin air is tough. Eventually we got to the top of the mountain after a difficult part with loose pebbles and rock. We then traversed along the ridge on huge boulders another half hour before Mueller Hut appeared in the dispersing clouds.
The moment we reached the hut the sun broke through and we were rewarded with a stunning view of glaciers, the snow capped mountains Mount Cook and Mount Sefton, rock as far as you could see. A rumbling sound from a lavine. Otherwise stillness!
Mount Cook, 3754 meters
Kea. Native mountain parrot
Going down seemed easier than we had expected in spite of it being strenuous. The views of Mount Cook and Hooker Valley were beautiful, the weather perfect. Unfortunately, half way down, I suddenly twisted my ankle on a narrow rocky passage. We still had to hike for two hours before reaching the valley. Strangely enough I could walk, though carefully. So I ‘sucked it up and kept walking’, lots cheaper than a helicopter rescue and it still makes a good story.
Enjoying good food and fine wines at the Hermitage after the hike.
Yes, I took that picture!
After Mount Cook I spent a few more days with Silke in Lake Tekapo and Christchurch before I headed up to Kaikoura which is a small town on the East Coast of the South Island, famous for whales, dolphins, seals and albatross. One huge sperm whale had been spotted that day off the coast of Kaikoura. The whales dive for 45-60 minutes, breathe for 10 minutes spewing water before it dives down again, exposing its tail for a few seconds.
On the way back from whale watching we saw hundreds of playing dusky dolphins, an albatross and a couple of fur seals. I guess I took hundreds of pictures to be sure to catch a few dolphins in the air.
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