After a week of watching a weather forecast evolve from not so good to improving by the day, Thursday saw 7 trampers sign up for Mike's mid winter Mt Arthur trip.

Then Sunday dawned a cool but sunny early morning. We met at Pokororo Hall at 08:00, before heading up the nail biting (for some) access road to Flora carpark.  Over the last few days our party had morphed to a total of seventeen. Mike greeted us and we all admired his skill for turning on the blue skies.

The brief had been to carry an ice axe and crampons just "in case."

We set off from the carpark toward Mt Arthur hut on the well-maintained graded track through lovely beech forest and bush.

Morning tea at the Mt Arthur hut

Morning tea was had at the hut, with a cheeky weka in residence and onwards up over the open tussock terrain, on a tramping track i.e down to single lane. The views were admired as it was a beautifully clear day, views stretching beyond in all directions.

Pat enjoying the view of Mt Arthur at the turn off to Gordons pyramid

Then the fun stuff started, the undulating rocky track, up towards the plateau of Mt Arthur and the snow. 15 mins below the plateau the majority of us donned crampons for the final ascent.

The start of our snow experience

It’s not often some of us get to wear our crampons so there was some chatter and anticipation of the final climb across the snowy section which was completed with ease and we all emerged on top of Mt Arthur smiling to wonderful views.

Climbing the last steps to the peak ridge

Leader Mike arrives at the peak

Lunch at the summit was amazingly clear, sunny, and very little wind. We were indeed a very happy bunch.

The team on Mt Arthur peak

With some guidance from experienced members the trip back down off Mt Arthur in the mushy snow was uneventful.

We enjoyed a leisurely afternoon tea back at Mt Arthur hut and continued on back to the carpark for 5pm.

A wonderful day out in perfect weather and great company, big thank you to trip leader Mike.

Participants: Mike (Leader), Chris T, Pat, Brian, Philip, Debbie, Kath, Michele, Lear, Tom, Era, visitors Jasper, Janey (scribe), Jane, Andy, Chris O and Chris G.