Foggy Peak

Day hike up Foggy Peak

Mueller Hut in Mount Cook National Park

This past weekend had perfect weather forecasted, so Sara and some friends and I took a weekend trip to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to hike to Mueller Hut. Mueller Hut is a backcountry hut built by the Department of Conversation for people to use, this particular hut sits up on the Sealy Range at 1800m overlooking the glacier covered Main Divide of the Southern Alps. What an amazing trip. It's not a long hike, but it's straight up, climbing 1200m or 3700ft over a few miles. With the views and all the snow that had fallen in the past few weeks combined with the calm sunny warm weather, made the trip unforgettable.

We left Christchurch at 6am and drove down to Mount Cook arriving at 10am. bought our hut tickets and starting hiking up the 1080 steps to Sealy Tarns view point. From there, the trail becomes a poled route for the rest of the steep climb to the ridge top at which point the upper Mueller Valley is visible. Amazing views. before you know it, the red Mueller Hut view welcomes you. It's like a mountain lodge set in the most extreme scenery.

Starry night over Mueller Hut

Sunrise

on the summit of Mt Ollivier

Sharks Teeth

Mueller Hut

It's amazing that you can do a trip like this over a normal two-day weekend!

Our legs are hurting...

Castle Hill Peak

Mt Oakden

Some co-workers and I wanted to get out and do a day hike, so we decided on a "hill" (Mt Oakden) near Lake Coleridge.

As beautiful the area was, the hike was a pain in the ass, it was all bush-whacking and scree climbing. Didn't make it to the top. But had some great photos!

Mt Oakden, doesn't look bad

Mikael climbing up the scree

Wilberforce River

Wilberforce River

Lake Coleridge

This is one of my favorites (I didn't do anything to the color)

unreal water color