Mt. Kohurau, 2010m. Sunday 27th January 2013
Fifteen keen trampers met at the car park on a fine and sunny morning at 7am. Sorry about the mix up with the start time, but I chose the early time so we could get going before the day got too hot as we had a steep climb.
On this trip we had five new trampers with us, two from Dunedin, one from Timaru and two from Oamaru who are looking at joining the club. We then headed up to the bottom car park of the Awakino Ski field which is inland from Kurow.
At the car park we decided to split into two groups, with one group of five going up the Ski field road. The rest of us started heading north/east along a 4WD track slightly climbing to we came to a fence. From here it was all up hill, first over tussocks, and as we climbed higher, onto the scree and rock.
At about 10-30am we had a rest at about 1400m, from where we got our first view of Mt.Cook. Then it was all uphill again. We had a good view of the Ski field and road and could see the other group making good time.
As we got higher up we started to come across some of those special alpine plants, so Bronwyn was having fun with her camera. After about 3 hours of climbing we came to the big flat tops with the last climb to the top of Kohurau in a distance. We headed off across the flat tops to the last climb up over some lose rocks to reach the top of Mt Kohurau at 12.15pm about 3-3/4 hours after leaving the cars. The other group arrived about 15 minutes after us.
What a great place to have lunch on a glorious warm sunny day and the view was to die for. You name it we could see it. Mt Cook, Mt Tasman, Mt Aspiring and the Remarkables. We had 360deg. views everywhere.
After lunch and a few photos all good things have to come to an end, so it was back down the side and along the flat tops to the saddle that drops down to the road that goes down past the ski field.
Along the way there were more photos of some more alpine plants and then it was down to the lodge for afternoon break and a look around.
Then it was back down to the cars arriving there at 4pm, a 7-1/2 hour hike for the day, ice creams at Kurow and then home.
Thanks to Linda, Noel, Ross Familton, Sam, Ann, Phyllis, Dave, Bronwyn, Bill and the new trampers, Rodney and Helen, Matt, Theresa and Judith. You all made it enjoyable day out – Neville.
