Needing a fitness trip, I drafted a list of people and places and sent out an all points bulletin a week before Wellington Anniversary Weekend, hoping someone would be keen on Kehu in Nelson Lakes.
James was fresh back at work after a decent break down south and stoked to have someone at work to share his excitement about a walk-in climb of Aspiring with mountain running guru Colin Rolfe. Colin was keen for a Nelson Lakes trip, and had already lined up Mark who I knew from multi-sport circles.
Well, what we had was a cracker of a three-day jaunt in Nelson Lakes National Park taking in Cupola, Hopeless, Angelus and Robert Ridge.
We romped around the lake and up the beautiful Travers Valley to Cupola Hut by mid afternoon Saturday. Three stars for great condition, the view of Hopeless, and a new box fire perfect for heating up pizza and drying out saturated rain gear. We had turned back at about 2,000m on Cupola in deteriorating visibility and strengthening wind and rain.
In beautiful weather the next day we traversed Mt Hopeless via the SW ridge and down the trampers’ route to Hopeless Hut. The undoubted climbing highlight was the steep section of the summit pyramid immediately above the ridge — steep orange rock that was easily the best on the route. Rock crux grade 12 exiting chimney to get through the steepest section.
Climbers descending the snow slope below us turned out to be Lorraine Johns and Simon Bell returning from the summit via the Hopeless Creek Route, and we rolled back to Hopeless Hut together. With the hut full, we were two in the wood shed and two under the stars.
Enjoying light packs, an afterglow from the day before and the easy camaraderie of a well-matched group, we went out via Sunset Saddle, Mt Angelus, Robert Ridge and Bushline Hut. Three guys from the Swiss orienteering team left as we rolled into Angelus Hut. They’d just posted a time of 35 minutes hut to peak.
Nelson Lakes really is a superb alpine area — not just a southern version of the Tararuas with Lakes, or a lower country cousin of the Kaikouras. If you haven’t been before — or lately — take a look at the tramping and climbing options for the next three-day weekend.