“Good for you, sweetheart!” Better to let her set the pace while the enthusiasm is still flowing strong, I thought as I tightened the waist strap on my tramping pack, pulled my neck warmer over my nose and followed her along the ridgeline.
It was Boxing Day and we had just gained around 600 metres elevation while slogging up the side of Pourangahau/Mount Robert, on our way to Angelus Hut. Situated on the shores of a small alpine tarn, the hut is perched some 1650 metres high on the Travers Range between Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa in Nelson Lakes National Park. Tramping blogs accurately describe the 3 km climb up the Pinchgut Track from Mount Robert Carpark as “unrelenting,” and I would wholeheartedly agree, however my company was cheerful and the views were spectacular. We stopped for a quick snack and to catch our breath at the Relax Shelter, adding windproof layers and sun protection to shield us against the harsh sun and wind that we knew we’d encounter on the nine kilometres of exposed ridgeline before we dropped down to Lake Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus.
My stomach was a mixture of nerves and excitement as a surveyed the vast open space around us. I had watched the Mountain Safety Council’s video on the Robert Ridge route several times, checked the latest weather reports, and spoken to the DOC staff at the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre, however I knew nothing was certain in this unpredictable alpine environment. The spring weather was restless and volatile and I didn’t want to get caught out on the tops with a six-year-old, on day one of a multi-day tramp in Nelson Lakes National Park. I tried to swallow my nerves and remain calm and confident, assessing the risks and telling myself, you got this.
Denne historien er fra August 2021-utgaven av Adventure Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra August 2021-utgaven av Adventure Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Papua New Guinea
Four reasons to add Papua New Guinea to your bucket list
The benefits of being a Multi-Trick Pony
"A broad skill base and how you can draw from one platform to the next – women often pigeon hole themselves"
The RELUCTANT adventurer
An eighteen-year-old princess, who paints his (yes, his) nails and dyes his hair bleach blonde, embarking on an adventure trip with his family, sounds like a plot for a bad 80s movie.
The Meaning of Tramping
What does tramping mean to you?
Keala Kennelly owns Red Bull Magnitude
The North Shore season of 1957 is recognized in the surfing world as the start of an era. When Greg Noll, a young Mickey Munoz and company went out and rode Waimea for the first time, it was a glimpse of what could be in the world of big-wave surfing.
North West Circuit Stewart Island
I found myself in limbo during the winter of 2020, in between jobs in a strained covid economy. And so, I did what any outdoors person would do with a large amount of free time on their hands. It was time to pack up my belongings and hit the road. It was time to leave behind home comforts and go adventure-seeking.
Emilie's adventure to Angelus Hut
“I want to be the leader!” Miss Six announced, pushing past me in her determination to be in front. Momentarily off-balance with my heavy pack, I narrowly avoided twisting an ankle on the sharp rocks and silently swore while cracking a bright smile.
Nancy Jiang Breaking stereotypes
I recently watched a youtube movie entitled, “Her Way” (check it out on the Adventure Website) which introduced a woman who had an overwhelming passion for running. The preface at the bottom of the clip, read as follows:
Adversity at Altitude
The wind and snow is whipping at my face. I’ve readjusted the stiff frozen fleece buff around my neck and mouth, desperately trying to protect myself from the -20 degree bitter wind. Adrenaline is still pumping through my body but I know I’ll start to get cold soon.
Last Great Mountaineering Challenge
Ground-breaking mountaineer Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja MBE has attained an incredible new world record by submitting K2 as part of a collaborative team in the depths of winter. Until now, it was a record that was believed to be impossible to accomplish and was famously known as the ‘last great mountaineering challenge’.
