Our Great Adventure: Mt Ollivier Day 161 26/02/2015

The weather in the mountains here, like any mountain region, is highly changeable. The forecast had been for clear skies but we woke to low cloud. We got ready slowly watching for any change in the conditions before setting off back up the road to where the route up to the Mueller Hut and then onto Mt Ollivier starts from. Not far from the campsite we were delayed by sheep crossing the road and it was nearly 9am when we arrived at the car park. We got sorted and set off, stopping not long after as Diane's new water pouch (know locally as bladder) had leaked all down her back. Not only was it uncomfortable it also meant that she'd lost nearly 500ml of water. We debated what to do and decided to carry on, conserving the water we had. The route initially heads up to Sealy Tarns and involves 2200 steep steps. The cloud was still low and thick and we didn't see the tarns on the ascent. From here you continue up through tussock and over a boulder field to reach a steep and loose scree slope to the ridge. As we approached the ridge we came out of the cloud with the most spectacular inversion we have probably ever seen (and we've seen some amazing ones at home and abroad). All of the peaks where visible with the cloud thick in the valley obliterating any view down and creating a white carpet between the peaks. We stopped to take (lots of) photos of the surrounding peaks, glaciers, smaller hanging glaciers, snow fields and the peaks of the Main Divide. From here you head south towards the Mueller Hut which, at 1800m, is easy to spot. The red and orange structure is the fifth hut to be built on the site and was officially opened by Sir Ed. We stopped at the hut and met the very nice warden who we chatted to about the surrounding peaks, listening to his tales of the ones he's climbed or ski mountaineered. Apparently most routes are now much harder due to the retreating glaciers caused by global warming. From the hut we continued up a short rocky scramble to reach a rocky outcrop and then on to the summit of Mt Ollivier at 1933m. Apparently this was the first peak climbed by Sir Ed. The views are spectacular and we stayed for over 30mins enjoying lunch, soaking in the views in glorious sunshine with very little wind (and secretly wishing we had our winter gear with us so we could attempt some of the snow routes). We headed back down to the hut and said our goodbyes to the warden before retracing our steps back down, stopping at Sealy Tarns which we could now see and then eventually reaching the carpark a couple of hours later, hot and tired but exhilarated after a fantastic hill day. We stopped in the village for ice creams before heading back to the campsite and, after retrieving our table that we'd left to reserve our space and somebody had kindly 'borrowed', enjoyed a chilled beer with views of Aoraki. Simon cooked dinner on the campsite bbq and then we admired the moon and stars before heading off to bed. The area was declared an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2012, one of only five in the world, and even without a telescope you could see why.