Trip 080 - Day Trips From Aoraki / Mt Cook

 

DATE: August 19-20 2023
LEADER: Mark Stephenson (0027 615 1870)
TRIP GRADE: All

The first listed OTC trip to Aoraki / Mt Cook was held just over 70 years ago in 1962. This was a leadership and snowcraft instruction weekend, based at the Ball and Tasman Glacier confluence (no doubt driving to and staying at one of the earlier versions of Ball Hut).

Since then, the club has held over 50 weekend trips to the Mt Cook area, with various types of trips undertaken. Ball Pass has been a popular option, with club groups crossing in 1987, 1991, 2002 and 2005 amongst other years.

In 1995, Barry Wybrow led a ‘Champagne Copland Crossing’ taking a large party over to the West Coast. Other trips have visited the Mt Cook Range, Mueller Hut and Annette Plateau.

The first of the ‘Mt Cook Day Trips’ was run in 2003, and was based at the NZDA Thar Lodge, adjacent to the DoC camping ground. Since then, several more similar trips have been run, the latter ones being based at Unwin Lodge.

This trip will also be based at the NZAC Unwin Lodge ($40/night for non-NZAC members). There are numerous day trip options, including the Red Tarns, Kea Point, Hooker and Tasman Valleys, as well as towards Sealy Tarns or part way up the Mt Cook Range if conditions allow.