Hi,
I'm travelling to NZ this December with a group of 6 other people and we're fairly experienced trampers. We're going to be there for about 20 days to go tramping.
I'm wondering what are some multi-day tramps by Mt. Cook that don't require crampons and ice axes. I've heard about Mueller Hut and possibly hiking to ball pass hut. (Though I've heard we can only do a day trip up to the ridge because Caroline hut is private, correct?)
I've also been looking at tracks by Mt. Aspiring, and I'm wondering if the cascade saddle will be snowed in mid-December?
Thanks!
There's not much you could do in the way of multi day trips from Mt Cook village without ice axe and crampons. Possibly just up to Mueller Hut and back?
A lot more possibilities in Mt Aspiring National Park. Wilkin Siberia Gillespies pass area:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/mount-aspiring-national-park/things-to-do/gillespie-pass-circuit/
Matukituki Valley, Cascade Saddle and this area. Cascade saddle should be snow free in December, but it could snow any time. Don't attempt if it's snowing / snow covered.
Routeburn - Greenstone - Caples area; Lots of possibilities, not just the main Routeburn Track.
Perhaps others can expand..
Unsure of you ability levels, but there are lots of multiday tramps in the Twizel area 30km sth of Mt Cook village. Huxley, Hopkins, Temple, Ahuriri, Maitland, Snowy, Dingle, Timaru Crk. Valleys are tracked so you can do lots of quite easy there and back walks.
If your skill levels permit, most passes are unmarked routes so you can make some good loop trips - but you need good navigational skills if you wish to make a loop walk joining valleys up. DOC used to have a good brochure covering all the tramping-level passes in the area, but it seems to have disappeared from their website.
The following may give some ideas though.
http://routeguides.co.nz/?x=1340096.9999414&y=5108208.9997787&zoom=11
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/canterbury/twizel/ruataniwha-conservation-park.pdf
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/canterbury/twizel/ahuriri-conservation-park.pdf
@ddcura I second Madpoms suggestions. There are alot of nice tramps out the back of Ohau.
Mueller Hut will still have snow around it and pockets along the ridge but nothing extreme unless its been a heavy winter.
The track up past the tarns is frequently cleared by December sun.
The last time we went up was Jan2014 and a mild front had just dumped a few centimeters of snow, which was all gone by midday following.
On a good day Mueller is like a tourist escalator, so beware.
Ball Pass is more enjoyable, but steeper, from the Hooker Valley, but you will need gear(and experience) to cross over. You could always camp at the Playing Fields as an overnight return.
Don't forget your poo-pots :)
