Mid Winter Crawl to Angelus Hut

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Mid Winter Crawl to Angelus Hut Wayne Stevens This year the Club tried something a little different. Rather than running trips to the South Island on the long weekends only, it was decided to run a couple of weekend trips, one to the Richmond Range in July, and one to Nelson Lakes in August. e set off on Saturday W morning from the Mt. Robert carpark and the route took us straight into the snow. Our packs were obviously not too heavy, though, as everyone rejected the idea ofj joining the skiers on a helicopter ride to the Mt. Robert skifield. The views of the lakes and surrounding snow-capped mountains were fantastic as we headed up the track. The area hasn'tchanged much since I was last there, but it was pleasing to walk past the trees that were replanted as part of the re-vegetation of the Mt. Robert face in the 1980s. Upon reaching the turn-off to Bushline Hut the intrepid skier in Descending into Cascade Creek Stevens our party, Colonel Fletcher, put on Wayne his skis and we wondered if that was the last we would see of him that day as he skied The evening saw us scoffing down one of Shane's mum's off into the distance. Due to the snow conditions, how- yummy dishes. I still cannot, to this day, figure out how ever, the skiing didn't turn out to be that easy, and the Shane can be the size he is, eat so much, and have a Colonel was soon struggling along behind. Mum with such wonderful recipes (this must surely be one the great mysteries of the Club). As if we were not The spectacular views continued as we made our way full, the chocolate fondue was brought out, and we all along Robert Ridge. The wind had picked up significantly delighted in splattering chocolate all over. and we were occasionally blasted by wind-blown ice and snow. We took shelter on the leeward side of the ridge The next day the conditions weren't any better and it was and had lunch while we discussed our plans. After lunch snowing. We decided to drop down the Cascade Creek progress was slow as we plugged steps in the deep snow track into the Travers Valley and walk out around the andl battled into the wind. We considered dropping down lake. Half running halfj jumping our way down, at times to Speargrass Hut but everyone was keen to go on, de- we got stuck in deep snow up to our waists great fun! spite the marginal conditions. The ridge was steep and Down in the valley, Jeanine had knee hassles, and the the combination of the gradient, wind, snow and ice Colonel's ski poles were put to good use as Jeanine meant that we were almost crawling along at times. We tramped along with the poles, looking like a German kept going though, knowing that Angelus Hut wasn'ttoo tourist. much further. So ended a great winter trip. Nelson Lakes in winter is We reached the hut and found a group of people loung- fantastic. ing around inside and playing in the snow outside. Who were these lazy types - yes, you guessed it it was The punters were: Sherpa Shane Connolly (leader), Col the so-called "Fit" group. They had piked from their Fletcher, Marilyn (Club socialite) Duffy, Jeanine (trainee jaadventurous trip when they discovered the comforts of ja) Langvik, Rob Tindall, John (where are my biscuits and Angelus Hut. It certainly was amazing, and had been have you done your tax return) Hoffeins, Wayne (scribe) improved substantially since I last visited it about 12 Stevens, James (door headbanger) Edgar, Sarah Young and years ago. Andrew Downes. Tramping and Mountaineering 1997