Lake Ohau-Nth Huxley, Sth Huxley, Sth Temple and Passes.

Lake Ohau-
Huxley Forks, Nth Huxley, Brodrick Pass (1620m), Sth Huxley, Vee Notch Col (1884m), Sth Temple.  February 2010

 7 hardy souls set off from Monument hut in the Hopkins with assurance the weather would be beautiful from day 2 on (according to METVU). Only time would tell. While crossing the swing bridge over the Huxley it was noticed the river was slightly up from the recent rain. Off we went through the bush and then onto wide grassy flats. Diana’s memory told of long riverbed flats finishing with an easy river crossing and shingle fan, all easy going. Alas we crossed the river piecemeal but then couldn’t re-cross until opposite the Forks hut and a few scratches and bush bash later. Never mind- it added a bit of interest to the day.

 The unfortunate last one in the hut was allocated to the floor of a 6 person hut but what a resourceful fellow he was. He, (Don), looked outside and found a brand new 3 person Officers hut. Not to be selfish he took Helen and Diana with him. What luxury!

The morning dawned clear and stayed that way for the rest of the trip. No river crossings today. So we took all the high tracks and crossed many very steep avalanche chutes. Clearly winter travel could be quite treacherous! The Brodrick hut was a welcome sight mid morning.

Here we unloaded all but a few essential day trip items and headed for the Brodrick Pass. Another deep gut to cross and then a poled route through steep regenerating scrub followed by snow grasses and then shale rock. The views were great, and so many rests were taken and we leisurely reached the top in time for lunch by a sheltered tarn. We were standing on the main divide surrounded by high mountains with glaciers.Superb! Diana was now standing where once her great grandfather had stood when he discovered the pass into the Landsborough. Eventually cold fingers and cramp started so it was time to descend out of the wind through the afternoon sun.

Next day we returned down the North Huxley then up the South Huxley. This track did a high sidle through beech forests to eventually emerge onto beautiful tussock flats. A leisurely walk took us past the bivy and onto a sunny terrace. A perfect place to contemplate our surroundings. The exit out was rather dense bush. Most of us returned the way we came but Angus and Gerry were determined to go south straight into huge avalanche debris. Many scratches later 2 foreign objects emerged from the bush and were then quite content to meander along the river to a sunny camp spot about a kilometre from our intended climb in the morning.  That was to ensure a good warm up before the hard stuff. Tent sites were chosen for shelter and comfort but the wind dropped away overnight.

Next morning, the climb to Vee Notch col started at the end of the scrub line and went straight up then diagonally back to the col. It was certainly challenging on the legs and helmets are definitely recommended (in hindsight). A stray rock on the steepest pitch put everyone on high alert. A very relieved and elated group arrived at the top with great views of the head of the Ahuriri and our camp way down back in the Huxley. Mt Cook shone brightly in the distance. We carried on, on a high sidle over to the col into the South Temple about 1km away. Here we enjoyed a well deserved lunch and rest. (Some bread rolls were getting a bit dry by now I heard.) Off again down a very long, unpleasant scree, descending on the northern side to avoid small bluffs. Water was found at last then a long walk down to the South Temple hut in rather hot conditions.

Diana and Paul elected to tent so they could enjoy the beautiful mountain air while others, less hardy, used the hut.
 
The next morning saw a short walk out with a car shuffle and another successful trip completed.
 
Thanks to Helen Wells, Paul Knox, Charlie Ledbrook, Angus Macdonald, Don Mee and Gerry Burgess for accompanying me down memory lane and realising a dream.

 Diana Kirpensteijn, Leader