Mt. Brewster

After the Kepler Track day trip, I had a couple of days to kill before flying back to Aukland. I drove back to Wanaka, because I was much happier to stay there than Queenstown. But had to drive right past Queenstown to get there. The route to Wanaka went up a switchback road and there was an overlook with great views of valley. Queenstown is in distance. Back in Wanaka I ate more fish and chips 🙂 and pondered my next move. With not much a plan, I headed north. Thinking maybe of going to Mt Cook, or Franz Josef Glacier, not really sure. The drive was beautiful thru the mountains.

The road had a bunch of single lane bridges (so not much traffic), and these bridges didn’t generally have a light, so you just had to pay attention and give the right of way. I think there were signs declaring that a certain direction had priority, but not remembering clearly. I finally made it to the beach again, Haast. After crossing a very long 1 lane bridge over the Haast River, I turned around. While I suspect the drive north would have been nice, I did not have any idea of what I could do at Mt Cook area. It was still early in the season, and lots of stuff would be covered in snow. So, I headed back and made decision that I would hike up to Brewster Hut the next morning. A ranger in Wanaka had made an offhand suggestion about this hut, but did not really convince me at the time. The hut required a reservation after Dec 1, and I was not successful trying to make one with spotty internet. But whatever, last night. I think I camped at a roadsite camping ground. Pic below of Mt Cook is from across road from campground

Up relatively early and off to Brewster Hut. The very first as in get out of car, leave parking lot, was to ford a stream. All the wonderful suspension bridges, but not one here. The crossing wasn’t even that obvious. Although once across the stream the trail was easy to follow. It was thru the trees, steeply up, no switchback, lots of roots. In short normal NZ trail. I think it took me 2 or so hours to get above the tree line, and some excellent views. The trail to the hut was really fun, some of it was along the top of a ridge.

The hut was again one of those beautiful red/orange huts in a grassy area, expansive views. After a break, some lunch I took some water and snacks and headed up the hill to reach the peak. There was 5-6 other people who arrived around same time I did and they left the hut shortly after I did. After about 20min or so the trail kind of disappeared, or maybe it is more accurate to say there were lots of possible trails. I was looking up and saw what looked like some pretty big cliffs going straight up, so I was kind of working my way around the side of the mountain, sort of heading to the saddle between the peak I was going to and Mt Brewster, where a glacier was visible. Well, this sidehill stuff again got really steep, slippery and awkward, but I persevered for a while, and eventually reached a slope where there were rocky talus areas, and rocky talus areas that were completely covered by snow. I of course was committed at this point to seeing how far I could go. I had pretty much figured out I took the wrong route, but wasn’t looking forward to the side slope awkwardness again, so up I went. Eventually I reached an end point. I either started tramping up a steep snow covered slope with my summer weight shoes, or turned around. Since I am here to write this, the answer is obvious.

But I did not have to go all the way back to the front, after a getting off the talus slope I worked by way along the side taking opportunities as I saw them to go up. Worked out fine, mostly. It got a bit scary when I reached a bit of snowfield, and there was no way around. I had to cross, not going up, but across the slope. It was only about 15 feet wide, but it was a long ride to the end of the snow. But hiking poles and stomping my feet in made it not a big deal to get across. Just be careful. After that I made my way to the big cliff looking rock area, and it was kind of fun to scramble up. It did require going back and forth to find a route, as it was huge boulders. I also had to cross a handful of snow fields, but most of these were upslope, and there were footsteps.

Going up all this, I kept turning back and taking some pics, as I got higher, I could see more of the mountains looking west. It was a great view. At the peak, suddenly I got enough elevation, and the view expanded to 360 degrees of snow capped peaks. I just started laughing. It was immense. The smile I have in pics was just the smile plastered on my face while up there. I wouldn’t describe the hike up as easy, but certainly not the most difficult. Going from parking to top and back is certainly a reasonable day hike.

After going back down, one of the young people who left to go the top after me, noted that they were a bit concerned that I wasn’t at top. Ah the young looking out for the old..

The hut ended up being full, and I had no interest in making everyone hate the snoring monster old man. I did bring wine on this hike. The only time I took wine out on the trail. But I also wanted to sleep outside and be able to look at stars a bit. It was a rather chilly night, but I was fine. The next morning, get up and eventually hike back down.

This was a magnificent last hike. I wasn’t up for a big trek and this wasn’t, but it was fun and the payoff was way beyond what I expected. I am so glad the ranger did not sell it, but just suggested it as a good option.

I think I drove back to Queenstown and stayed there for the night, different place, not much better than last one, but more fish and chips. A flight to Aukland, and a night there, and a full day to kill because my flight left late in evening. I don’t remember anything particularly interesting. I want to say I bought some gifts, but I did that in Queenstown and Wanaka. meh. I wandered.

The flight home sucked. I did have aisle, but the middle seat was a big human. He was nice enough, just took up a bunch of space. He also had a small child behind him kicking the seat most of the flight. The flight had a large group of Mormons, and this man and his daughter, who had window seat, were a part of that group. What was odd was the formality of the interactions between this man and his daughter. It seemed like they did not know each other. I dunno, religious people are odd to me. There was a young guy a few rows back also apart of group, wearing a suit on a long 18 hour flight. He never even loosened his tie. I was awake the whole flight. Did not sleep at all. Watched maybe 5 Marvel movies. Did not sleep on flight from LA to DC either. But, I arrived home around 9pm I think. Went to bed around 11, and slept for 13 hours. That rocked, but I was completely messed up for a while after that. My cat hangs close for a couple of days after I am gone for a while, then she goes back to her normal needy, but also dismissive self.