Mulder discusses good / accessible South Island glacier walks (20130822 #ualug)

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[23:34:06] <Mulder> lake marian (1-2hours)
[23:34:19] <Mulder> walking up to the milford divide is nice (~3hours)
[23:34:34] *** passcod takes notes
[23:34:43] <Mulder> mt alfred (near glenorchy/kinloch) 4-6 hours return. amazing views on summit
[23:34:55] <iampat> passcod: have you ever gone up Ngauruhoe?
[23:34:57] <iampat> *down
[23:35:45] <Mulder> if your'e a bit more rugged, then mt earnslaw is a good one to see ~8 hours to where the glacier is - proceed further only if you have alpine skills
[23:36:15] <Mulder> routebourn and milford tracks are spectacular but they're great walks and $$$ for hut fees
[23:36:21] <Mulder>  i can personally vouch for routebourn
[23:36:29] <Mulder> kepler is meant to be quite good too
[23:36:37] <Mulder> those are multidays
[23:36:56] <Mulder> but because they're great walks they're easy mode as far as tramps go. just need modicum of fitness to go up and down a lot of altitude
[23:37:41] <Mulder> rees-dart track is another spectacular walk , multiday. more rugged, not great walk. some navigation skills maybe required (although mostly posted)
[23:38:02] <Mulder> ben lommond is another good day tripper
[23:38:08] <Mulder> that one is in queenstown
[23:38:12] <iampat> Mulder: is well traveled
[23:38:39] <passcod> iampat: nah, I did the tongariro, then went down to that hut on the north-west of the ruapehu, what's it called again? whakapapaiti is it
[23:38:40] <Mulder> around wanaka there are some good ones too but not great walks so a bit more rugged
[23:38:50] <Mulder> waihohonu?
[23:39:03] <iampat> not sure what the hut is called
[23:39:17] <iampat> Ngauruhoe is the most fun
[23:39:22] <iampat> i went in summer
[23:39:28] <iampat> going up is so frustrating
[23:39:40] <iampat> but going down is like a massive rock slide
[23:39:45] <Mulder> welcome flat hut is a nice one near fox glacier
[23:40:00] <Mulder> 5-7 hour walk in bush along river then there are hot pools 2 mins from the hut
[23:40:18] <Mulder> mueller hut near mt cook is also meant to be quite spectacular 4-6 hour walk
[23:40:51] <Mulder> mt fox on a clear day (haha good luck) is spectacular too
[23:42:32] <passcod> awesome, thanks mulder
[23:43:00] <Mulder> so everything i've listed is basically day walk
[23:43:10] <Mulder> except for the rees-dart and great walks
[23:43:22] <Mulder> and mueller is best done as overnighter so you can stay at the hut 
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[23:43:48] <Mulder> mt fox is ~6 hours return but it's steep. you climb about 1000m. it's almost completely all uphill
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[23:44:39] <Mulder> gertrude saddle depending on when in summer  you go might need to be careful too
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[23:44:58] <Mulder> basically if you see a lot of ice on the track you should seriously consider turning back
[23:45:05] <Mulder> 1. slippnig hazard
[23:45:12] <Mulder> 2. probably avalanche hazard from above too
[23:48:10] <passcod> right
[23:50:57] <Mulder> i dont know if i'd enjoy ngauruhoe in summer
[23:51:06] <Mulder> walking up scree is a royal pain in the ass
[23:51:21] <Mulder> only fun bit would be coming down
[23:55:01] <Mulder> also fox glacier is probably only place left where you can get guided onto a glacier of decent size
[23:55:19] <Mulder> franz used to be viable but too dangerous now
[23:55:34] <Mulder> unless you shell out for helicopter or something
[23:55:53] <Mulder> also spend the money on glacier guides 
[23:56:01] <Mulder> well worth the $$$