Mikes Musings: Day Two

This was to be the moment of truth, the day it began for real. No 4wd access, home baked lunches, hot shower in the morning or real coffee. Nothing but the wilderness and us. It was to be a long day, 22km and roughly 1400m height gain. Our packs were heavy but we were fresh and keen so off we set. Within 20 minutes we had lost our way in the morning mist. Trying to find "garbage gully" a rocky morraine descent used frequently to get on and off the glacier, and we couldn't find it. After scrambling up and down various steep gullies we pulled out the GPS, hoped nobody saw us and got on our way.

Mike Descending Garbage Gully

Photo: Ben Necklen

Then began the endless plod up the glacier, it began with endless piles of morraine (Rock ground up and carried by the glacier), merged slowly into white ice, and then into soft snow with small crevasses that sucked your leg in up to your knee. This in turn caused your tired body to lurch shockloading your legs with the heavy pack. Lovely! Thankfully there were some phenomenal views as the mist began to rise. Which was lucky as by the end of the day is was in pain! Ben was an absolute fit maniac, who thankfully I think plugged most of the steps late that afternoon. We would alternate, I would plug 10 steps, Ben would plug steps for 10 minutes. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" became my mantra for the day. Step by step I quoted it as I forced my way up the white baking hot glacier. 12 hours later we finally arrived at the hut. It felt good to have survived the first day, however I wasn't quite sure how I was going to do the next. My entire body ached, I could only hobble around the hut. However arriving at the hut was amazing. We dumped our packs outside and began to pull out our tent (as we knew the hut was very full). A guide then came round the corner bearing cups of raro for us both! Asked if we had come from Ball Shelter which we confirmed we had. He then congratulated us, told us there was hot tea inside for us, asked us if we wanted milk or sugar, and then proceeded to tell us not to worry about the tent they were busy moving their clients inside so we could have beds! What a welcome. Raro followed by hot sugary tea was amazing. It was New Years eve and what a way to spend it. Sitting in the middle of the most beautiful scenary imaginable. At 9:30pm Kelman Hut did a countdown celebrated New Years then went off to bed. Tomorrow was a good forecast so much climbing / travelling was planned by all parties!