Heading up Pukematawai through the Cloud

So, the good weather didn’t hold long! “Is it me or is it a *bit misty* today Cookie?”… “It’ll be fine don’t worry about it”…”It’s probably considered good weather in these mountains…” “Uhuh. Ok …. : / … Righty-ho then. “

And off we went :) Into the mist!

We’ve heard so many horror stories about the weather in this range, it did feel like as long as it wasn’t blowing a gale or snowing, you were having a good day! I mean a bit of low cloud and a breeze are not exactly uncommon weather conditions in the mountains.
Sun 16th Jan
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It’s a whiteout!

I can see exactly jack shit out here. We’re heading up the big peak from the hut. It’s exposed, and the wind is getting up. It’s drizzling a bit and slippy. Is it a good idea to go scrambling out higher into the range? It’s about 5 hrs from here to the emergency bivvy if you climbed with no breaks, ( and don’t get lost ). Hmmm not sure this will be a relaxing day ;)
I gave Nicky a lesson on how to use a compass this morning before we set off. I knew it would worry her not being able to see where she’s going. I thought after explaining that getting lost on a ridge is pretty tricky as long as you monitor what direction you’re going and how far you’ve traveled, would put her at ease. I think it had the opposite effect..
Sun 16th Jan
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Cookie Disappearing into Mist on the Ridge

Wait for me Cookie! :) Wooh getting spooky out here now. Keep telling myself that mist can’t hurt you. But it feels ominous to say the least! However it’s probably an advantage not to be able to see how high up we are ;) And also, we’ve come so far now that I really wanna be able to say we’ve crossed this bit, that we’ve made it up and over the mountains. You never know, maybe we’ll climb above the clouds and there’ll be an awesome view? Just keep going Nicky!
The mist wasn’t a problem, but the wind was picking up. Normally it was fine, but an occasional strong gust would force us to sit down and wait for it to pass.
Sun 16th Jan
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Huge Cloud Comes for Nico

NickyThe clouds move so fast up here. Are there special winds? Or do all clouds move this fast, just that we’re often so far below them we can’t tell? Who knows. They’re dramatic anyway :)

Wed 16th Mar
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Cloud or Alien Cloaking Device?

NickyOccasionally in the mountains you get some very peculiar cloud formations. Some look almost computer generated in their unnatural form. This streaky type are our favourite. Often formed over only the highest mountains. This one held an extra special surprise for us. Over an hour or so it unfolded and billowed and flowed out across the sky, darkening with intensity and anger as it conquered the space above our heads. A rain storm grew swiftly from within the innocent looking streak of a cloud and cloaked us in grey as we ran the gauntlet of swelling streams down to our hut for the night.

Wed 16th Mar
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Day Trip Up the Moody Rees Valley

As the route from Aspiring Hut over Cascade Saddle essentially drops down onto the popular circular Reese-Dart valley track, we thought from the junction it’d be fun to have a quick day jaunt along in the reverse direction towards the Rees River half and capture some of the good views from the saddle.
For a rare change we found ourselves ahead of schedule! The hut warden reckoned the walk up to Rees Saddle was the best thing nearby to use up our spare day. So up we went into the mist, optimistically hoping it would clear by the time we got to he top..
Thu 17th Mar
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Misty Morning Whiteout!

Misty Morning Whiteout! ( Nicky and tent )

NickyNoooo! We can’t see a sausage! Nuffin! Not even the path :) Well - Not the ideal conditions for grabbing some spectacular shots of the mountain beast. We start to think that maybe just maybe we might simply be inside a cloud? If we go up higher will we be able to climb out of the whiteout?
CookieNicky’s checking the weather forecast on the iPad, amazingly we get 3G reception up here! It’s supposed to clear up this afternoon, so we broke camp and headed optimistically up the hill.
Wed 23rd Mar
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Tantalising Glimpses

Tantalising Glimpses ( cloud diptic )

NickyThe speeding clouds waft and swirl around us revealing tiny glimpses of the glacier alongside, against a brilliant blue sky. Like a sped up time-lapse they swiftly layer and unfold in all directions, blown in spirals by the eddying gusts of icy air. Illuminated bright white and gold by the sun they form both a dramatic curtain and performance in one, showing slices of vista and fleeting windows down into the valley below. Hopefully, building to the grand finale - the grand centre piece itself… We wait.

Wed 23rd Mar
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Maybe We Can Get Above the Cloud?

Maybe We Can Get Above the Cloud? ( Nicky climbing )

NickyAfter taking hundreds of shots of the unfurling clouds and glimpses of exciting rock and ice it was revealing, we decide to climb yet further up through the whiteness all around in search of a bigger break, and a shot of the real drama that ought to be looming at the end of the valley. But that involves a bit more ‘up’.

Wed 23rd Mar
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Where Would They Hide A Hut Up Here?

Where Would They Hide A Hut Up Here? ( tiny Nicky big Cookie )

NickyWe’re on the tops! There should be a hut up here … Somewhere. We shall circle around until it shows itself. And for some reason i appear to have shrunken ( my already small size ) into a hobbit sized portion, while Cookie definitely has a touch of the Gandalfs ! This place sure is mysterious.
CookieWe knew we were getting close to Mueller Hut, but couldn’t see anything through the mist. Suddenly it appeared in a brief window through the cloud, “bit smaller than I was expecting?” Ah, we’d found the toilets first, the hut was still beyond!
Wed 23rd Mar
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