BlogRoddus: Mt Aicken - May 29th 2011

Uncle Roddus Tramping Diary:Tramp No. 104

Mt Aicken - May 29th 2011

Another CTC trip this weekend and fortunately another beautiful clear day for being on the tops. This trip was originally intending to go to Goat hill, above the Otira township, but the weather forecast wasn't too promising for a pleasant day on the tops there. As we set out from Springfield, the day was cold and frosty but clear-as-a-bell, so we decided to head for Arthurs Pass and see what it looked like up there. Stopping at the Mt White turn off to check in with the other car, the skys were still clear but we could see the clouds sitting on the tops further to the west. Arthurs Pass looked clear and so it was decided to tackle Mt Aicken. Several members of the group were pleased about, me included, as a trip there was abandoned a couple of weekends back because of the weather. As we arrived in Arthurs Pass, it became obvious that Goat Hill wouldn't be a pleasant option and so around 9 AM a party of nine headed up the Mt Aicken track. Starting at around 700m, we climb steeply up through the bush, passing part of the old Hydro scheme before leaving the bush after a short time at the 1300m mark. The views of the mountain range skirting Arthurs Pass are excellent, with a light coating of fresh snow to add to their beauty. Morning tea was had on a flat outcrop at around 1500M before heading off to the first peak. By this time we were travelling through the fresh snow that has fallen the day before and scrambling up a rocky ridge. Point 1844 is the first peak reached and looks for all purposes as the top, with a large flat area and a cairn, but our leader informs us that real top is the one we can see further north. After a quick photo shoot, as the views of the surrounding mountains are stunning, we continue scrambling along the rocky ridge towards point 1863, where we have a cold lunch trying to shelter from the cold wind and some of the party spy a group of Shammie down in Agility creek. Our leader informs us that this is not the top Aicken Peak but the next one just to the east, but this turns out to actually be peak 1858, 5 meters lower. It was quite difficult to get between points 1863 and 1858 staying on top of the ridge as it was very rocky and involved very careful rock climbing in places and with nine in the party could have taken some time to traverse this short distance, so we dropped below the ridge and then had to climb back up to point 1858. From this point we proceeded to drop down to the east into the Mingha river. There was enough snow on this side to allow some good bumslides, with a couple of inches of fresh dry snow on a harder base. Although we were carrying crampons, we just got away with out using them. The party regrouped at the bushline, where the leader instructed us to stay well to the left of the creek so as not to get bluffed and once hitting the Mingha track, just head on out to the cars. The two drivers, who were fast trampers, went ahead to do the car unshuffel and I managed to almost keep up with them on a relatively easy bush bash down to the Mingha, which we did in about 40 minutes. The drivers raced ahead, while myself and another headed out at a more sedate pace, with no sign of the rest of the party behind us. It was almost dark as we reach the carpark and there was still no sign of the others as we waited for the cars to return. The rest of the group arrived in the dark around 40 minutes later. A brilliant day and a bit of everything on this trip, very enjoyable.