Trip Photos

Leaving the carpark	Heading up the valley	Cameron Hut
Inside Cameron Hut	CIMG0542	Lucky Possum

Trip Report

Backcountry Cuisine reigns again

Twas a stunner of a day (again) as we left behind the grey and drizzly Chch morning and headed out towards Mt Arrowsmith. A couple of minor detours later, both vehicles managed to end up at the correct carpark and debark all passengers ready for a beautiful tramp up the Cameron River. Within 20 seconds we encountered our first slightly unexpected obstacle – a locked gate. Suffice to say that some manage the climbing of a gate with pack on more elegantly than others. Some may also possibly experience future difficulty with fathering children!

About 5ks up the river track we stopped for lunch and de-layering. Although not a cloud to be seen, the temperature was not so flash when out of the sun, so luckily we remained within its warm reach for most of the way. Thomas had only put a weather station in over the back reasonably recently, so was able to tell us that the previous night was -10 degrees – oh and that the hut had no fire – so we were a little apprehensive to say the least!! The fact that snow had last fallen weeks ago and that there was still a pretty decent covering in the area, plus innumerable amazing ice features in the river meant we were pretty reconciled to a cold night.

The views all the way up were more and more beautiful, and once we had ascended the only climb before the final stretch we had stunning views behind us back to the Taylor range and through the river valley also. No crampons nor ice axes were required on the way in – luckily as several of us would have been on a crash course if they were! Passing the Homestead (about the size of my bathroom at home I think) and then later reading the history of the area up in the CMC hut makes you really appreciate the comforts of home!!

It was a pretty long hike in as snow made things a little slower, and the last half an hour felt like about 2 hours climbing up the moraine wall so the hut was an extra welcome sight when finally reached over several false peaks on the way! We found two climbers already snugged in for the night, and with the 7 of us it made for a very tight fit but luckily an extremely warm one. Much inadvertent dancing as we tried to each make tea in the confined space later, we were all tucked in and ready for sleep at a decent hour.

Some of us were up and ready for action at a decent hour the next morning too, however others (JOHNATHAN AND THOMAS) moaned and complained long and loud at the notion of being dragged out of bed at 7.30am (are you kidding???) but eventually mustered their courage and got up. Thomas was mystified at the number of tracks his sandals had made to the toilet the night before and would possibly have needed counselling over his sleepwalking had five of us not admitted to borrowing them in the night!

Frozen boots are a nice experience but even these eventually succumbed to the inevitable and we managed to get on our way again, joyously as the weather continued to be glorious. Eagerly anticipating the sun making it up the valley towards us got us moving at a decent pace for the start, and then when we hit the climb we split into two parties with Thomas, Brian and Cathy attempting the “gorge-ous” river route (Johnathan’s new use of the word definitely worked!) and the rest of us heading up over the tops again. Coming down the far side was rather nerve racking due to minimal winter experience and no poles, but ice axes prove to be remarkably good poles when needed so we eventually made it down and joined the others for lunch and a pack break.

One very surprised possum did not expect its leisurely drink to be interrupted by several trampers chasing it under a rock and then taking photos of it however none of us could quite sum up the guts to put an end to its fluffy and destructive life so it had a lucky escape!

It seemed like quite a slog getting back to the cars, I think several falls (my boots and snow were not friends!!) and the snow + overnight pack are a new level of tramping to get used to for sure – but overall a fantastic trip with beautiful scenery. Lake Heron camping ground looks like a good spot for summer so I’m looking forward to seeing the area again over Christmas.

Thanks Thomas, great leadership as always and thanks too to my fellow trampers (Cathy, Catherine, Ruth, Brian, Johnathan), great company!

PS And the award for best sunnies goes to…..Brian!!

Cathy Batchelor, Catherine Tatarniuk, Ruth Barratt, Chantal McCarthy (scribe), Brian Dougan, Jonathan Carr, Thomas Matern (leader)

-- Uploaded by Thomas Matern on 19 July, 2010