Big day out

View large and enjoy (without the effort ;-)

Starting from top left and moving clockwise.

- Heading towards the ridge on the right above the middle gut, then up the peak out of view on the right. No marked track but occasional animal tracks to follow. Plenty of my old friend Matagouri (my upper lip and side of my face copped it this time :-/

- Ian pushes up and into the snow basin below the set of 3 peaks where our destination looms above us. Below us a glimpse of the Rakia River and Lake Colleridge. The clouds stretch towards Christchurch where the weather was less idyllic.

- Are we there yet? Apparently not but I'm hoping like nothing else that is the summit up there. (Why do photos never show how steep it really was).

- A quick hpx pose out of the breeze, surprisingly relaxed given the 5.25 hours of ascent I've just done. The views of Mt Cook and all the other peaks were sensational.

I left home at 6.50am and walked in the door at 8.50pm. A 9 hour trip. If it weren't for the voice of reason of the lone female, we would have been a lot later. As it was we were in total darkness for most of the last hour on the farm track. Fortunately I took a head lamp with fresh batteries and a set of extras.

We went up the south bank of the Rakia River, and started from Red Cliffs station. At some point we crossed the boundary into Black Hills station. It wasn't a trip the leader had done before and he did underestimate. Probably with retrospect it's a better overnighter based from the musters hut on Red Cliffs station.

But a brilliant day, hard and demanding physically and mentally. I'm exhausted the views and sense of accomplishment were worth it :-)