Hawden and Edwards Revisited.

Can’t remember the last time I was here. Ok, I looked back.. it was Tuesday April 6th, 2004. Wow.. I have been here a while. And not getting any younger.

You’d think I’d remember the tramp..

In this picture we went up and over and down a small hill – just to avoid a 1m wide stream. I’m sure in foul weather it is worth it – but not in summer!

The hike itself is a good one – certainly not a walk in the park. Ok.. it is a walk in Arthurs Pass national park.. but still… not an easy walk in the park.

So – off for the long weekend set Steve & Michelle, Myra & Graham, and Maaike and I. We were pretty blessed with the weather, only a little rain on the last day. It meant the various river crossings were grand, and the views better than the last time.

Bringing Steve along has it’s moments. Moments of greatness I mean ;) Well, of bugs and insects at least.

There was still quite a lot of snow about – which made things a tad interesting at times, as one never knew if it would hold. I gave this arch a thorough testing though.

The really quite scary part (only scary part) was up Tarn Col.. it’s a steep climb of about 120m or so. Now, on rock, this would be no worries.. but the top of the slope is covered in slippery ‘snowgrass’.. and it’s lethal stuff. Not a good place to slip with a heavy bag. In fact, quite a bad place to slip.

But no one slipped.

So it was fine :)

And then it was on to more magnificent scenery.