Mt Cupola - (rescheduled from 26-27 June) Organiser: Ruth Hesselyn
Six enthusiasts arrived at Lake Rotoiti just as Bill the boatman was easing his water taxi into the Lake. A quick flurry of activity and by 8.30am we were huddled in the cabin for the twenty minute journey to Coldwater Hut. Then it was packs on and four hours later we were lunching in the chilly atmosphere of John Tait Hut.
Once the track leaves the main valley, about fifteen minutes from John Tait, it climbs steadily for most of the two hours (at a leisurely pace) to Cupola Hut. Ice was encountered about halfway up and soon people were skidding in all directions. We eventually succumbed to the security of crampons and continued on in better style. The evening was occupied with demonstrations on how to keep the fire burning, (the wood having been gathered from amongst the snow drifts). Methods used were as diverse as ‘lungs for bellows’ or the old ‘hold the paper in front of the fire trick’, till it burns! I think Ian had pondered over this during the night, as not long after ascertaining that the climb wasn’t planned for that day (it had snowed all night!) he shot out the door saying he was going to collect a bag of coal from John Tait. Such dedication, or did he just want to escape the company?
Anyway, desperate times lead to desperate activities. The first task was to make a pack of cards, so while Carole chopped up the blank sections of the latest Press, I drew the symbols. Most were recognisable, though my Spades were referred to as Lollipops! That finished, we headed up the hill to plod steps for an early start the following morning (the forecast being for fine and frosty weather). We were knee deep in snow from the start, then after an hour or so we noticed a few fresh and still active avalanches crossing our proposed route. Not conducive to further travel, we found a protected spot and practised some rope work. We tried different anchors, the ice axe performing much better than our failed bollards. Then, with waist harness and prusik, we tried moving up and falling from a fixed rope and I’m pleased to report that it worked well! Satisfied with this, we returned to the hut where Shirley and I proceeded to beat Carole and Mike at Euchre. Mark was chief fire stoker and Ian arrived looking well ladened. As a reward for his services, Ian received the largest slice of the cheesecake that had been prepared for dessert, beautifully topped with whipped cream. By late afternoon it had started snowing again and was still doing so when I checked conditions at 5am. So much for the weather forecast! It continued to snow as we made a hasty retreat down the valley. Carole’s cell phone came in handy to rebook the boat for an earlier departure, though the male members of the group still had plenty of time to cleanse themselves by plunging into the lake. Hmm! They finally stopped shivering while supping coffees in St Arnaud. My thanks to the following for a fun trip: Shirley Arnst, Carole Crocker, Mike Drake, Ian Pavitt and Mark Stevens.