When your significant other says they want to go tramping, you can’t really say no…
An impromptu plan to get to Barker hut, find pretty rocks and see some glaciers was slapped together on Thursday night and 24 hours later we were headed to Arthurs pass. As it is to be expected with the southern alps, it was raining.
Instead of getting to Anti-Crow Hut that evening as intended, the night was spent in a cosy Honda Civic. Seeing as we’d forgotten the cards, there was only one option for amusement as we waited out the rain….
You guessed it! Watch the raindrops race down the windscreen and doodle in the condensation!
The next morning, the weather had cleared and we were off, desperate to escape our tin box, sand fly trap of a shelter. We made good time to Anti-Crow as we caught glimpses of glaciers behind retreating clouds. Blissfully ignorant of the track, we bush-bashed onwards up the bank of the Waimak thinking, “Ah…. that sure looks like one flooded river….. Sure hope we don’t have to cross it….”
Turns out we did.
We gave it a nudge, but seeing as I almost lost my girlfriend down the river, the call was made to bail. Retreating back to Anti-Crow with our tails between our legs (on the track this time) we vowed to be back again later in the year.
We took our time on the way back to find a few rock samples. I’m no geologist, but I can safely say that rocks are hard, heavy and are occasionally colours other than grey. Also, geology students all have hammers, so best be careful.
Getting back to Anti-crow hut, we were greeted by the scuttling of mice as they ran back into the walls, sand flies and four French people out for a cheeky overnighter, plastic wine glasses and all. It was somewhat less impressive than where we had intended to end up, but it was much more comfortable than the night before so who can complain.
Overall thoughts on the trip? Location – awesome, company – amazing, accommodation – no free wifi, but otherwise okay, sand flies – vicious.
Christopher Dewhurst
29/02/2020
CUTC 