The hike will take me to Cameron Hut

My first view of Mt Arrowsmith

A group of hunters were traveling in the opposite direction and had shot this pig, it must have been heavy carrying it on your back but this fella was up to it and happy to pose for a photo

Cameron River

Looking back, Taylor Range in the distance

I have been walking for about 4 hours now, looking back to the direction where I came from

Teddy’s Hill, with an almost dried up Lochiel Stream merging into Cameron River

Looking towards Staces Hill

Another dried up stream merging into Cameron River: Lochaber Stream

I was hoping I’d already be at the hut but it’s rather tough going to be honest, it’s hard to see how much further but it should be in the middle of the photo just a few km further

And there it is, I finally made it, about time as I am totally exhausted

I am staying at the actual hut, there a few others here as well and they are tenting, here’s one of their tents at dusk

One on the other guys, Hamish, had an unfortunate fall and it looks like he broke his foot, he’s moved into the hut and is lying with his leg raised on the box with the yellow lid, it’s highly doubtful he will be able to walk back. I’m sitting on the left, I should have sat still

The hut, lit only by a small candle, lots of stars are visible

The next morning

Cameron Hut, before long it should receive some sunlight

Mt Arrowsmith straight ahead

Once again the hut. It also turned out that Hamish’ foot is no better than last night, he will not be able to walk back so his group activate their PLB, we are now waiting of a helicopter to arrive to take him to a hospital, or at least out of here

And there is the Westpac helicopter! It took them about an hour to get here from Christchurch

The chopper about to land, Hamish sitting, the rest keep their distance

Cool photo

Hamish being looked after by a flying doctor

He will be airlifted to Christchurch hospital

In the chopper

And off they go, what a lucky dude that Hamish, gets a free helicopter flight and doesn’t have to walk the grueling 16 km back

What a view! The pilot himself took some photos as well, it’s not often that they land in a place so beautiful

Me in front of the hut

The hut

Nice hut, better than DOC huts, I will donate them $20 for staying here

An ex-sheep (I think that’s what it was)

Once more the hut against the Mt Arrowsmith backdrop

On my way back again, better views of Mt Arrowsmith than yesterday when I had the sun shining in my face by the time I got there

That’s where I need to go, all the way out of the valley

The scenery is stunning

Sometimes the track goes up again like this hill, before it goes down again

Just one more little descent and then I am back at the valley floor and from there it should be an easy walk out

About another hour or two to go now

Half an hour after taking this last photo I finally made it back to the car, I had 2 blisters on my hand, 4 on my feet, I fell at one point during the hike back and had a huge tear in my trousers, I was exhausted and hungry, luckily in my car’s fridge a nice cold Diet Coke and Snickers were waiting for me. Another great weekend spent outdoors!

Cumulus clouds everywhere

Ok, maybe not right here, close to Mt Cook

But pretty much everywhere else, that’s Lake Tekapo in the distance

What a spectacular scenery!

There’s just enough room between the clouds to fly through

Crossing Lake Tekapo to the east, Lake Pukaki in the distance

Easterly creeping in

Two Thumb Range

Cloudy Peak Range

And then I noticed this beauty!

To me it looks like a sad (tired?) looking puma

To make today’s flight a little longer I ended with another quick out and return to Lake Sumner under this street of clouds