Another mission with four. Like-minded mates full of endurance and delight and what would have to be said variable sketchy snow conditions
This year took us to Rex Simpson Hut. A private hut owned by Alpine Recreation with good enough access to tempt you into carrying far too much food up the hill. The plan seemed simple. A short walk in. Maybe an hour or two. The reality, over three hours, 500 meters of climbing heavy ski gear and enough fresh food to open a small restaurant, yummy, weighs a lot.
Rex Simpson is in an amazing spot. Views across to the Southern Alps the 3000 meter giants on the horizon. It is the perfect base for exploring. That night, we unpacked our ridiculous food hall venison Ragu from John’s wife Di. Butter chicken pasta with cream cheese and capers and settled in with Scrabble and 500.
The Scrabble was in German, which made for some interesting words
With one bar of cell phone coverage. We even managed to tune in and watch Andrew’s debut on Country Calendar. A surreal moment in the mountains.
You are many delights, but. The one that springs to mind was on day one. An eight hour trip skinning up about 800 meters to Beuzenberg Peak. I recall skinning up this wandering peaceful ridge line and just stopping and taking in the view the awe of the Alps time just seemed suspended. A mate silhouette it on the ridge line.
It was just a magic day.
The next day was the big one, the royal tour. The first challenge crossing Camp Stream. Three of us rock hopped across with dry boots. Anthony decided to find a better spot and came up with two boots full of freezing water. Perfect way to start an 11 hour day.
Memories are built on our experiences, emotions, body reactions, and being with people day two. Was definitely a memory that if allows to sum up was endurance, support and purpose, things that had stand out for me. The extreme pain in traversing icy conditions, trying to keep high and minimize our distance. The Royal Tour with steep drop offs. And needing to traverse gullies and broken rock and tuss, it just punished the thighs for searing pain.
My favorite moment, well, that’s easy. On the second day when we were doing the Big Royal tour, and frankly probably bit off more than we could chew, reaching the top of Stag Saddle, I think it’s 1,920 meters. Highest point on the Te Araroa trail. I was pretty happy when we got up there.
That ski off Stag saddle was pure magic, golden light, soft turns. And the feeling of earning every meter.
The thing that I probably learned more than anything is what can look like a shortcut on a map can very quickly turn into more time and more effort. Existing tracks and previously mapped out ways of getting around the mountains are there, ’cause someone else has already worked that out. Unfortunately, we figured that out the hard way.
So that’s a lesson learned for all of us, I reckon.
The last 60 minutes of the day when we’re returning home in moonlight and through into darkness with a flat headlamp skiing between two mates, my tank was absolutely truly empty. We got there by carrying my skis up the last small rise before we dropped into Rex.
Such a relief to get. A really hard day!
Four days, perfect weather, good snow where it mattered, and an unbeatable mix of hard work, laughter, and mountain time with good mates and new friends, trips like this remind you Adventure isn’t just about the peaks you climb, it’s about the people you share them with.
If I had to sum up the trip in three words, that’s really easy. I was rooted.
