The upper Hodder River

Day 1: Ascent of Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku (Mt Tappy)

This is near the end of the first day's tramp into the Hodder Huts. We've spent most the day in the Hodder River, or just about to enter it. Oh so welcome to cool off on a hot, sunny, summer's day like today but it would be a different matter in cold weather or winter.

Large is best (and no sweat involved)

The sting in the tail at the end of today is the grunt up loose rock from the river to the huts. Fortunately there is a wonderful collection of water tanks up there to maximise run-off from the roofs and save weary people like me the long haul down to the river and back up again. Still, nothing like the loose rock we'll face tomorrow.

One of today's memories was the native NZ Falcon that cried and swooped on us as we passed through its territory and presumably close to its nest.

Another memory is my wash behind a huge boulder. Just a little cold water in a bucket but what a difference it makes. I adapt quickly to the great outdoors ;-)

A sort out of gear and food for tomorrow's climb, a decent dinner and early night is the final preparation. That peak in the background isn't Mt Tappy. That remains around to the left and out of sight. Maybe that's just as well.