Ski Touring

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Ski Touring November 1980 Dave Wills We pulled up outside the Mt Cook airfield at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 15th - a fine but windy day. Sorry! No flights. Next morning, despite people telling us there's no snow in November, we flew amongst dazzling peaks with our dubious pilot worrying about the plane that was bogged down in deep snow a week ago. After a rough touchdown we grunted up to Murchison Hut in knee-deep crusty soft snow for a one o'clock lunch, following which we skinned up the glacier before turning back at 3.30 in falling snow. After snowing most of the night we woke early to fine silky powder and blue skies. We glided down from the hut and then skinned up to Whataroa Saddle via Classen Saddle. We lunched on views of D'Archiac and Elie de Beaumont and the sound of avalanches before skiing back to Classen Saddle. We left all our gear here and skinned up the large slopes for a superb run down. Enjoying it so much we decided to go back up and this time continued on to the summit of Phyllis. After a snap session we enjoyed an exciting run back to the packs before making our way to the hut in the cruel heat of the Ski mountaineering/Dave Wills afternoon sun. Next morning we headed up Mt Cooper to ski the Mannering Glacier. The singing and exam study, in the company steep upper slopes were great but lower of six from CUTC. The weather was down the snow turned to slush, Ruapehu still very bad but next morning we left style! A long suffering march up the at 7.30 for the Hermitage, skiing blind Murchison (even fine weather can be in high winds and falling snow. It horrible) and then up the Aida Glacier took a long two hours to reach De la before skiing down and back to the hut Beche corner into a head wind. We - Marty minus one ski pole basket and removed skis and struggled on to Ball me with stick-on skins that were too Shelter (1 pm). We were cold and wet drenched to stick. through and a hot brew did little to warm us. Packing up in the early morning to go over Tasman Saddle saw Nick leaving Following lunch we spent two hours food behind I too much weight. We sat bruising feet by walking to Blue Lakes in the sun on the saddle and enjoyed Shelter and the road end. Marty and I the views with our morning tea before shivered there for 12 hours while Nick carrying on to climb Aylmer, a beautivaliantly ran out to the airport and fully situated peak at the head of the brought his car back to pick us up. Tasman Glacier with several thousand After finding the shop was already shut feet sheer drop to the Whataroa Valley. (goodbye fresh food and goodies) we The snow was heavy so we made for squelched into Unwin where we were well Tasman Saddle Hut and watched a party treated with hot drinks, fireside seats who were heading up the valley. and good company from the Central Otago Tramping Club. Next morning saw high winds bring rain and sleet, turning to powder snow later It was snowing at the Hermitage when in the day. A clearance at about 6 pm we pulled away on Sunday 23rd on our allowed us to eat dinner on the hut way home. With me on the trip were roof soaking in the sun and views of Marty Robins and Nick Bishop (PNTMC) Mts Cook and Tasman among others. from Christchurch. Marty and Nick had started skiing only this year and The following day passed with cards, self last season. my-