11/02/2016 – 14/02/2016 Raspberry Creek – French Ridge hut return
Mount Aspiring National Park, Otago region, NEW ZEALAND
Distance: 50km Total Ascent: 2610m Total Descent: 2610m Time: 19 hours
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
Day 1: Thursday 11/02/2016 Raspberry Creek – Rob Roy Glacier Lookout – Aspiring Hut
Max elevation: 753 m
Total climbing: 742 m
Total descent: -650 m
Average speed: 4.49 km/h
Total time: 05:35:11
We had a quick turn around after our last walk finished yesterday when we did laundry, shopped and chased up a few repairs and shopped for the next trip.
The perfect weather continued and the forecast was excellent. We drove along the Mt Aspiring road and parked at the large and crowded Raspberry Creek car park. We headed off about 11:00am and walked the Rob Roy glacier side trip. It was spectacular.
We then continued on to Aspiring hut (19km in total) and found just a few trampers staying there which was a pleasant change after the busy huts on the Young-Wilkins.
Day 2: Friday 12/02/2016 Aspiring Hut – French Ridge Hut
Max elevation: 1467 m
Total climbing: 1165 m
Total descent: -169 m
Average speed: 3.36 km/h
Total time: 05:05:31
We decided to aim for French Ridge hut following advice from the warden, Donald. The hut was higher than the Liverpool hut and an 1100m climb. We made quick time to Pearl Flat, crossed the river and then started our ascent. We met a kiwi woman in bare feet who told us that the next section was like a childrens playground and we would forget about the packs on our backs. Unfortunately this didnt happen. It was a grind up the hill through the adventure playground until we reached above the tree line we had good views of Liverpool hut as we continued our ascent.
We kept climbing up the hill with more hills in sucession. I was told we would be happy when we saw the red toilet and indeed we were. We arrived at the hut after a five hour walk. We spent the afternoon relaxing and taking photos.
Erica from chicago arrived after 7:00pm. She had climbed above the tree line and saw Liverpool hut and thought she had gone the wrong way. So she climbed back down the adventure playground and across the river in her boots to be told she had in fact been going the correct way.
We prepared for the pre arranged call to ranger Donald at Aspiring hut for the nightly head count and weather report.
A Slovakian climber arrived a 2:00am having walked up in the dark. He called New Zealand a “crazy beautiful country”.
Day 3: Saturday 13/02/2016 French Ridge Hut – base of glacier return
Only shows the climb up to the glacier.
Max elevation: 1847 m
Total climbing: 383 m
Total descent: -11 m
Average speed: 1.86 km/h
Total time: 01:12:41
The next morning we walked up to the base of the glacier and were rewarded with astounding 360 degrees views. The weather was perfect. We decided to spend another night at French Ridge and walk out the following day as heavy rain was forcast for the next few days.
Sue amongst the glaciers on French Ridge
We had twelve trampers in the hut that night including a local, Evelyn who brought her eight and eleven year old children. They did so well as it was a tough climb for anyone especially for those so young.
We were entertained in the evening by James from Methven and Andrew who taught us some interesting Kiwi poker rules (jokers were queens, fours and one eyed jacks).
Sue on French Ridge
Day 4: Sunday 14/2/2016 French Ridge Hut – Raspberry Creek
Max elevation: 1480 m
Total climbing: 342 m
Total descent: -1447 m
Average speed: 4.76 km/h
Total time: 06:23:54
We headed off by 8:30am and made good progress. We were down the adventure playground in no time. We had lunch at Aspiring hut and completed the last nine kilometres back to the carpark in good time. We didnt even feel the earth move when another earthquake occurred in Christchurch although there were reports people felt it as far south as Dunedin.
What a fantastic walk and we felt truely priviledged to have spent time in such a magical place.
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