Hooker Valley Track

 I have been on this track at least five times now- and only once before had the clear views that I was so grateful to experience this day. But this day had a combination of early mist and later clear skies that was absolutely magical.

From the camping ground at Glentanner, I could tell that the top of Aoraki was all clear, but a wide band of cloud was at the base. I drove towards the mountain, in clear skies at first, but then in heavy mist. I started the walk hopeful that things would clear as the morning progressed.

 

I was past the third bridge before glimpses of the mountains began to show. 

 

At the viewing place by the glacier lake, heavy mist was still around, but I decided to stick around with a bunch of others, in the hope that the mist would clear. 

And as things cleared, it was almost a mystical experience. 

 

Sunlight poked through and showed the ice chunks in the lake that I had not previously seen.

 

Peaks started to show themselves, then would be covered with mist again. 

 

Aoraki was the last to show herself. By about 11am all was clear.

I didn’t want to leave the viewing place and had to force myself to begin walking back downhill.

This time the bridges were clear instead of shrouded in mist. And as I descended hordes of mostly tourists were ascending, and I was glad that I had started earlier in the peace (and cool) of the morning. What a precious day. Ka Kite Aoraki.