Lake Heron basin and Arrowsmith Range

After an hour or so climb this was view as we rested in the sun.

We're looking straight up the Cameron Valley. That is the Cameron Glacier in the middle. The Canterbury Mountaineering Club has a lovely hut at the head of the Cameron Valley. It feels like a moonscape up there and the wires tying the hut down only add to it.

Back to today's trip. The sun helped mitigate the cold wind. Those puffy clouds multiplied and wrapped the upper part of Mt Sommers into a white out. Luckily we kept to the south face below the bluffs and didn't attempt the summit.

Rough country, lots of mud, some snow and an interesting signed section with numerous avalanche paths. It took about 10 minutes to cross. Lots of smashed beech trees and snow. Some sizable avalanches have swept through. You don't stop to admire the power of nature.

A different trip to what I expected but enjoyable just the same. 5.5 hours is easier to recover from than 7 hours. I have the satisfaction of having crossed the south face. I always wondered what it was like and now I know.

Everyone should get to rest their eyes on sights like this. While not possible for all view large (no cold wind or hard rock to sit on ;-)