Diary

Sunday, 28.03.04
Woke up at 0.30 a.m. and couldn’t fall asleep anymore until 3 a.m. Excited?!
Great weather! Stood up at 6.30 and was on my way to hooker valley campsite by 7.15. Didn’t went for the up-to-date weather forecast but I was willing to take that risk. Looked good enough. Started for Mueller Hut at 7.30. Up to Sealy Tarns it was a pretty steep climb. But the built in stairs made it rather comfortable. Reached the Tarns at 8.30 and from there it got interesting. The way up to the boulder field was tricky. Snow and ice did their bit. The boulder field itself was probably the worst part. Because I was the first to be walking there this morning the fresh snow had no tracks to show the easiest way. And the cracks were sometimes hidden by the snow. Up the gravel field was steep but easy with the new snow on it. The ridge itself was again rather tricky because there were no signs for the safest way.

The view… priceless. Past Mueller Hut (which people call “the fridge on the ridge” because it has no means of heating) I ascended to Mt Oliver. Ever so often I could hear avalanches going off at the side of the mountains. This is the stuff dreams are made of. Surrounded by snow, high peaks and glaciers, looking over the Divide Mountain range throned by Mt Cook.
Had some toast and a nice chat with a German couple from Freiburg and started to descend at 12.00. Took me 2 ¾ hours up and 2 h down. A bit exhausted and with my knees in pain, I arrived at the car, very happy for the experience and the view I was able to get.