Feb 16

We drove from Lake Tepako to Mt Cook village where we got hiking information at the Department of Conservation office. From parking lot at the head of the valley, we started hiking for Mueller Hut around 11 a.m. The weather was sunny and warm, and the trail was steep. We started at about 675 m and reached the hut at 1800 m. We took lots of pictures along the way.

 Here we are on the trail.

 They even put in stairs on the trail.

After gaining the ridge we heard sounds like thunder or jet aircraft only to realize that it was ice breaking away from the glaciers across the hanging valley- very impressive but I didn't get a video of one. The views along the way were amazing. We got to Mueller hut (1800 m) in about 2 and a half hours, and after some food, we hiked further to top of Mt Ollivier (1870 m). Mueller hut is impressive for its solidness with lots of steel I-beams in its construction.

Mueller Hut was well equipped with a steel outhouse.


On the way down we stopped to take pictures at the ridge and Sealy Tarns and then went to Kea Point. After getting to the car we stopped at the DOC to look at the displays. Then it was down to the hostel for showers, beautiful clean hot showers. Supper was an omelet, which went down very well.