Aoraki/ Mount Cook really does have something for everyone.
On the valley floor lies several short / 1/2 day walks as well as many ventures to be had in the alpine realm. The place has been a magnet for alpinists and mountaineers for several decades, both before and ever since the days of the world's most famous mountaineer, Sir Edmund Hillary. He spent much of his time in the alpine huts of the region, tackling the various peaks of the Southern alps.
We have to take a moment to respect the conditions and the realm in which these huts lie. With the winds, storms, snow and avalanche risks that lie in the alpine environment, these huts really are built to be fortresses in a place that isn't forgiving. On both of my visits I experienced high winds above 100km/h, yet these huts are built to take gale force winds up to 400 km/h; a phenomenal feat of engineering.
I have been fortunate enough to visit recently in a hope that one day, with the right weather conditions, the correct alpine gear and training, you may venture to them too to experience a place that simply, we are not meant to exist.
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