Cameron Hut
Cameron River and Glacier, Otago Anniversary Weekend, 21/23 March 2026
This time it was anticipated that significant glacier retreating had taken place, so we did carry crampons, axes and hard hats but did not anticipate doing the same as the last visit. It did make for heavy packs all the same with some of us also carrying tents in just in case the hut got too busy.Two exiting trampers we met warned us that kea were present at the hut, which did put us off the idea of putting them up.
The last 4 km of the walk did seem to go on longer than the previous 12 possibly because of the increase in the rate of climbing but eventually we got to a vacant hut which is not seen until you are almost upon it. It has 9 bunks, 3 high, with solar light and usb charging for devices. There was only the distant occasional kea call so one tent was erected. In the next wee while another 4 trampers turned up which meant that the hut was quite busy for cooking but the new arrivals also put up tents spreading the risk for kea attacks. One young man from Greenland complained about the weight of his pack which was over 20kg.
He had been unsure about drinking river water and had brought a weekend’s worth of bottled water.
The following day we started a leisurely stroll up the ramp towards what was once the access route to the glacier, the ramp is the top edge of the moraine wall and can be seen from almost the start of the tramp the previous day. Where it runs out there had been a route onto the ice…not now, 2 of us carried on climbing to a point where it got too difficult to carry on without getting to anywhere close to the glacier. The others found a good possie to look on. After descending a bit the 2 of us then donned our helmets and went down the moraine wall to the valley floor with the aim of climbing directly up the face of the glacier which is very rocky, see photos, to eventually reach the ice and after fitting crampons having a small explore. The ice had retreated by at least 100m in height and from our new perspective we could see where in the previous visit the route for access had been, now just sheer rock plummeting to the now rocky surface of what remains of the glacier.
The spectator group had returned to the hut and the 2 of us also returned there now along the valley floor to finish the day with well deserved cups of tea and a good rest.
The extra trampers had all left at this time and we did not really expect to see anyone else there, but wait , just on dark after we were all in bed 3 others turned up and they were looking for a bed in the hut. So a full hut and all the sounds and stirrings that go with that meant a fairly sleepless night and it was with some relief that we got up at 6 and prepare for our walk out. Initially there was a thick mist around the hut so thick that it was difficult to find the loo, but by the time we left at just after 7 it had cleared and another beautiful day was here. A much faster walk because of the downward gradient meant that we were back at the cars at lunchtime feeling hungry for pies in Geraldine. Sadly they were almost all gone by the time we got there with just mutton pies in the cabinet, but we made do with other offerings and continued home feeling very please with our weekend.
Thanks to Neil, Jen, Jenny, Julian and Lynette for great company on this adventure.
Robbie