Godley River - Fox Glacier Traverse

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Godley River I Fox Glacier Traverse David Humm rrr Brrr. Brrr Brrr... Click. Now the enjoyable bit- "It's on." our first downhill run in "What do you mean 'it's on?" fresh powder into the "The trip." Murchison. The handbags "The trip?!! Bloody hell!" seemed evenl lighter as our ski tips disappeared in the It's funny how a simple phone call can powder, never to be seen transform an average week in the of- again until we picked our fice into the potential for agony, ec- way over the serac debris, stasy, and all points within. This par- and onto the Murchison ticulart trip had been on the cards for a Glacier. It was a great powwhile andi it was the heady cocktail of der run through a few cregoodweather, new: snow, and the lads' vasses. The only big negaavailability that sent us into a frenzy tive was the presence of of preparation. heli-skiers exploiting the liberal description ofal Na- "Left. Right." tional Park concession. "Left... about 11 o'clock." "Cairn...r right.. over there!" During the lunch break, "We're stuck! That'll do-Guy can see the decision was made to the hut, he reckons.' " head to Kelman Hut over the top of the Murchison Another lather of organisation as we headwall and into the exited the rental 4WD, hastily: stuffing Tasman Glacier. Easier said bananas in pockets and clutching the than done, and by the end kettle fries. There was plenty of new of the process, there was snow in the Godley-a good sign. considerable relief and Greg had assured us we only had to general shaggedness. By take the skis off when we got to the this stage, we were queshuts at the end of each day. tioning the merits of huts situated on rises at thee end Everything looked good-packs the of hard days. Rudolf Glacier névé David Humm size of handbags, perfect blue sky weather... We tiptoed across the The Tasman Glacier the next morning forward traverse through West Hoe Godley and Classen confluence-the was commuter central; we found a Pass into the Fox and down to Chancold was grim but the slime was the convenient set of tracks and enjoyed cellor Hut. worst for bare feet. Fresh pasta and the ride. Hung a hard right at De La pesto with vegetables in the sublime Beche corner and we werei in the more Five minutes later, we were in Fox Eade Memorial Hut, and that con- remote Rudolf Glacier. Glacier township arguing the merits cluded the exodus from Christchurch. off beer, ice cream or pies. A very sat- Greg's pre-trip ski statement struck a isfying feeling... 2% days for an east- Prod, probe... the nervous extension few problems as we had to eventually west traverse over some of the best of the ski pole onto the frozen Lake resort to snow plugging up a few gul- ski-touring country in New Zealand, Classen. Thel hesitant first steps.. then lies, and sneaking around the numer- and in perfect weather. Now for the a quick but effortless glide to the ous crevasses to finally gain access to office and reality. Classen Glacier terminal face. We the Rudolf névé. Back onto the skis moved up through debris and moraine and once we discovered the correct Route: Godley River Classen Glacier which had conveniently been covered location of Graham Saddle, a set of Classen Saddle (sort of) - Murchison with 20cm of new snow that smoothed traverses got us to the slopes beneath Glacier - Tasman Saddle - Tasman Glaour route and provided a moonscape Centennial Hut. Further derogatory cier Rudolf Glacier - Graham Saddle ofsoft, rounded terrain. We werei into comments about huts being at the top Franz Josef Glacier I West Hoe Pass the rhythm and the next thing we of slopes at the end of hard days! Fox Glacier. knew, we were on the ridge to thel left of Classen Saddle, enjoying the views Technology enabled us to book a heli- Who: Greg Ord (ex-WT&MC), David into the Murchison (complete pack of copter for the next morning and even Humm (ex-WT&MC), and Guy Wynnlies-the Classen seemed to go on for- though the West Coast snow was not Williams (undetermined heritage). ever, got very steep at the top, and was quite as accommodating as the East very hot when the sun came out). Coasts snow, it was a relativelys straight- When: August 1996 TRAMPING & MOUNTAINEERING 1996