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| Mt. Cook and Hooker Valley from Seally Range |
Location: Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park, South Island
Distance: ~10 km return trip
Hiking Time: 8 hrs
Start Elevation: 750 m
Max Elevation: 1800 m
Trailhead: White Horse Campsite 2 km north from Hermitage Village at the end of Mt. Cook road (Hwy 80)
Although not long, the track is quite strenuous. Alternate trailhead is at Hermitage village inside Park Headquarters (end of red line, lower left) but this adds 2 km walk. Yellow line indicates commonly used start at end of Hooker Valley Road. The Hut itself is tucked in glacial valley behind Sealy range directly above. No-nonsense ascent gains almost a vertical kilometer in less than 3 km. There is no trail beyond ridge crest, but the route is flagged with orange markers and requires a couple of class 2 scramble moves before reaching the hut at far end of rocky basin under Mt. Ollivier.
Driving towards Park Headquarters along Mt. Cook road around 9 am. I stayed for several days at nice motel in Lake Tekapo, about 1 1/2 hours drive. This photo was taken with one hand on the wheel -- by this time driving on left side of the road started to feel more natural from the right! High clouds caused some worries; Aoraki never completely cleared but overall I had excellent conditions throughout the hike.
The trail is mostly vertical staircase, with wooden steps along the way built by National Park crew to help control the erosion. It is quite similar to infamous Grouse Grind in Vancouver North Shore, except that views are infinitely better. Views back to the Hooker valley are to the left. Park Headquarters (well worth visiting) are just right of center.
First objective is to reach Sealy Tarns -- small bodies of water about 2/3 of the way up, with great reflections of glaciated Footstool in the distance. Elevation gain to this point is about 700 m. More than half of people turn around here. The crest of Sealy range is another 300 vertical meters above. Photo taken on return.
Looking down to Hooker Valley from Sealy Tarns. Mueller Lake in lower center. Long ridge leading from Aoraki to the left towards Bali Pass is popular guided trip. The term "Long White Cloud" was never more evident than it was here!
Top of Sealy Range, about 40 minutes of scramble up steep-ish scree slopes above the Tarns. The trail ends here, but orange markers indicate the way around the cliffs to the right. It was extremely windy here -- I needed a break, but could not find proper shelter so after a quick bite I continued. Elevation gain was behind me at this point, and the hut was about 30 minutes away.
Mt. Sefton - on the left photo with amazing Huddleston and Frind ice-flows. Rocky basin leading to the hut on the right. Mt. Ollivier rises behind the hut and is an easy 45 minutes scramble.
Reaching Mueller Hut about 4 hrs of moderate pace from the trailhead. Open year-round, it is very well maintained with on-site custodian. Outhouse, water-tank, kitchen and lots of bunks. I was surprised to hear that NZ parks rely on your 'good will' to pay for the stay upon the return in park headquarters! Entrance to NZ national parks are free as well; I wonder how long it will stay that way.
After 30 minutes break on the Hut terrace I headed back. I thought about scrambling Mt. Ollivier, but it was clouding over and cold winds made me change my mind. I stopped for this great shot of Mt. Sefton -- New Zealand third highest mountain.
Just before I started descent down Sealy range, one last treat waited -- couple of very exotic looking keas! They were not afraid of me at all, and let me come close I could almost touch them. Thanks for posing!
The long white cloud that obscured Aoraki for most of the day finally lifted in late afternoon just when I was descending by Sealy Tarns. Mixed ice/rock climb, the first recorded ascent was only in 1894 by group of Kiwis via Hooker valley and the North ridge.
One last shot of Aoraki during the drive back to Lake Tekapo. I wish I could have stayed couple of weeks to explore and hike more trails, but it was time to head back and continue Kiwi experience towards great Southern ocean and adventures ahead.
Mt. Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Also known by its Maori name 'Aoraki' it reaches the height of 3754 m. It lies in the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs the length of South Island. Along with nearby Mt. Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks it forms one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Mueller Hut is high alpine shelter situated on top of Seally Range and the only one feasible as day destination. The route is steep and scrambly at places, but does not require use of crampons or ice-axes. The views are amongh the best I've ever seen; in my mind this is one of classic hikes that should be on everyone list. |
Although not long, the track is quite strenuous. Alternate trailhead is at Hermitage village inside Park Headquarters (end of red line, lower left) but this adds 2 km walk. Yellow line indicates commonly used start at end of Hooker Valley Road. The Hut itself is tucked in glacial valley behind Sealy range directly above. No-nonsense ascent gains almost a vertical kilometer in less than 3 km. There is no trail beyond ridge crest, but the route is flagged with orange markers and requires a couple of class 2 scramble moves before reaching the hut at far end of rocky basin under Mt. Ollivier.
Mt. Sefton and Footstool dominate the horizon during initial 30 min walk in valley bottom that leads to the start of Sealy Range and beginning of elevation gain. The trail turns sharply left here and begins relentless switchbacking ascent.
The trail is mostly vertical staircase, with wooden steps along the way built by National Park crew to help control the erosion. It is quite similar to infamous Grouse Grind in Vancouver North Shore, except that views are infinitely better. Views back to the Hooker valley are to the left. Park Headquarters (well worth visiting) are just right of center.
First objective is to reach Sealy Tarns -- small bodies of water about 2/3 of the way up, with great reflections of glaciated Footstool in the distance. Elevation gain to this point is about 700 m. More than half of people turn around here. The crest of Sealy range is another 300 vertical meters above. Photo taken on return.
Looking down to Hooker Valley from Sealy Tarns. Mueller Lake in lower center. Long ridge leading from Aoraki to the left towards Bali Pass is popular guided trip. The term "Long White Cloud" was never more evident than it was here!
Top of Sealy Range, about 40 minutes of scramble up steep-ish scree slopes above the Tarns. The trail ends here, but orange markers indicate the way around the cliffs to the right. It was extremely windy here -- I needed a break, but could not find proper shelter so after a quick bite I continued. Elevation gain was behind me at this point, and the hut was about 30 minutes away.
Mt. Sefton - on the left photo with amazing Huddleston and Frind ice-flows. Rocky basin leading to the hut on the right. Mt. Ollivier rises behind the hut and is an easy 45 minutes scramble.
Reaching Mueller Hut about 4 hrs of moderate pace from the trailhead. Open year-round, it is very well maintained with on-site custodian. Outhouse, water-tank, kitchen and lots of bunks. I was surprised to hear that NZ parks rely on your 'good will' to pay for the stay upon the return in park headquarters! Entrance to NZ national parks are free as well; I wonder how long it will stay that way.
After 30 minutes break on the Hut terrace I headed back. I thought about scrambling Mt. Ollivier, but it was clouding over and cold winds made me change my mind. I stopped for this great shot of Mt. Sefton -- New Zealand third highest mountain.
Just before I started descent down Sealy range, one last treat waited -- couple of very exotic looking keas! They were not afraid of me at all, and let me come close I could almost touch them. Thanks for posing!
The long white cloud that obscured Aoraki for most of the day finally lifted in late afternoon just when I was descending by Sealy Tarns. Mixed ice/rock climb, the first recorded ascent was only in 1894 by group of Kiwis via Hooker valley and the North ridge.
One last shot of Aoraki during the drive back to Lake Tekapo. I wish I could have stayed couple of weeks to explore and hike more trails, but it was time to head back and continue Kiwi experience towards great Southern ocean and adventures ahead.
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