A Nosey up the Matukituki

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A Nosey up the Matukituki Ann Kempster This isn't reporting on any, great achievement, nor of peaks accomplished; just the thrill of exploring new territoryis exciting enough for us Poms. he April school holidays found us heading south in search of mountains. We scrutinised guidebooks and maps, settling on the Matukituki Valley in the Mt. Aspiring National Park. Setting off up the valley, we tried desperately to look like Kiwis shorts exposing goose-bumply knees and carrying heavy packs. Ah yes the freezedried food. After having spent hours turning pieces ofs semi-dry chilli con carne, we disembarked at Picton to discover our dried chilli was still sitting in our kitchen. There were several options of routes from the Matukituki Valley, but as we got closer, Mt. Aspiring had a large pull on us. Reluctant to admiti it, Phil and I felt driven by the desire to reach thel Bonar Glacier, from which Below the Quarterdeck Phil Kendon Mt. Aspiring can best be seen. The Matukituki Valley is a perfect example of glacial ero- There was much fiddling with the radio as we tried to get sion a wide, grassy valley with the river meandering a forecast but the battery was flat. A look outside was ag gentle course and mountains surging up on either side. enough to determine that we were in for a big storm. We Our guidebook led us to believe that April could see "late sat around for a long 1% days listening to the hut maksummer conditions". It was not without some alarm that ing alarming noises as the wind gusted and the snow fell. as the valley began to narrow and steepen we got the Winter had certainly begun to take an icy hold. We distinct feeling that winter had actually already arrived. passed the time in our pits, reading the rather limited hut library, eating and dreaming of rehydrated chilli. We planned to access the Bonar Glacier via Bevan Col, SO we followed the river to the head of the valley. Cal- At last an uncanny silence rewarded us. We donned froculating that we had enough time to reach the Col and zen boots and shivered our way into the morning sun. thati in an emergency we could bivvy in the upper basin, The views were breathtaking. We decided to head up to we started up the narrow gut on loose and slimy rock. inspect the "Quarterdeck", though two days of fresh Progress was slow and we didn't like the sight of rock snow thwarted anyi ideas of going further. Looking up the plasteredi in snow higher up the route. As time ticked by valley, our Bevan Col route didn'tlook at all inviting - and poor weather clouds accumulated, we decided to re- good decision to turn back from it, given the storm we'd treat and headed back down the valley to our base camp. just sat through. The next day was very wet and we were thankful the The tip of Mt. Aspiring could just be seen glistening bivy option was avoided. We decided to head up French above Mt. French very tempting but not this time. Ridge an alternative means of accessing the Bonar Gazing around at all the surrounding peaks and routes Glacier when the schrunds have not opened We we vowed to return in the summer. It was all a bit isosloshed our way steeply up through thel bush - thep path lated and intimidating. The pull of the mountains is SO imitating a small stream until we emerged on gentler great sometimes that to turn around is not easy, but you tussock. The views were impressive down the valley and just weigh up the consequences and console yourself across to neighbouring peaks, despite the rain and sleet. with the fact they'll still be there next year. We snapped Itwas one of those days when waterproofs are tested to off some photos and reluctantly headed back to base their limit, and we reached the Lucas Trotter Hut damp camp. Our first taste of the Southern Alps was enough and cold. to ensure that we'd return in the summer. Tramping and Mountaineering 1997