Overnight stay in the Southern Alps part 2
May 29th 2007 08:52
As we settled down for the night, the wind grew stronger and even though we had built a good snow wall and weighed down the tent pegs with heavy rocks, the tent still shook with each strong gust.
And after each gust I would call out ' Is the tent still there?' Which was daft really as we would soon know if it wasn't, but it was one of those times, when saying something like that, makes you feel so much better lol.
Anyway I got up at about 5pm and it was awesome, very cold but quiet and still, with the ever so faint glow of dawn in the distance. I went back inside the tent to keep warm but at 6am decided to get up and watch the sunrise.
Just after this photo was taken, huge bank of clouds caused almost a white out effect. Thats what I love about the mountains as you can never get enough of them and the weather is always different and exciting.
After a not so nice brekkie, which consisted of just add water etc, we packed up the tent and decided to leave our packs and just travel light to the summit.
With the cold of early morning, the snow was just right for crampons and we made good time without being weighed down with all our gear.
Near the summit
Remember that ridge pic in the other post? Thats it below after another cloud white out.
It was a great experience, not that dangerous really, just good fun. You would need ice axe and crampons and very warm clothes for this time of year, but its a good day out in the summer too. So well worth a trip to Arthur's Pass village if you are visiting the South Island.
This is also an indication of what we could expect as we cycle through the Alps?
The weather this week has been very nice during the day although starting to get cold in the mornings, with 1deg today as I cycled to work, so if there is a strong wind chill then it will be challenging.
Hal
And after each gust I would call out ' Is the tent still there?' Which was daft really as we would soon know if it wasn't, but it was one of those times, when saying something like that, makes you feel so much better lol.
Anyway I got up at about 5pm and it was awesome, very cold but quiet and still, with the ever so faint glow of dawn in the distance. I went back inside the tent to keep warm but at 6am decided to get up and watch the sunrise.
Just after this photo was taken, huge bank of clouds caused almost a white out effect. Thats what I love about the mountains as you can never get enough of them and the weather is always different and exciting.
After a not so nice brekkie, which consisted of just add water etc, we packed up the tent and decided to leave our packs and just travel light to the summit.
With the cold of early morning, the snow was just right for crampons and we made good time without being weighed down with all our gear.
Near the summit
Remember that ridge pic in the other post? Thats it below after another cloud white out.
It was a great experience, not that dangerous really, just good fun. You would need ice axe and crampons and very warm clothes for this time of year, but its a good day out in the summer too. So well worth a trip to Arthur's Pass village if you are visiting the South Island.
This is also an indication of what we could expect as we cycle through the Alps?
The weather this week has been very nice during the day although starting to get cold in the mornings, with 1deg today as I cycled to work, so if there is a strong wind chill then it will be challenging.
Hal
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