French ridge

So attempting it when wet and icy/snowy will be fine

The view from Shovel flats towards Wanaka

The view down the valley  in the morning

The walk was from Raspberry Creek Car park to Aspiring Hut, where we spent the night and then up to French ridge.

 The first days walk to Aspiring hut was quite gentle although I will admit my feet were killing me when we got there as I was wearing big winter boots on a dirt track. Aspiring hut was massive and the fire was teeny compared to the whole room especially as there was only two of us in there.

The sun peeping through the trees

First hint of snow on the track to French ridge hut

 The second day took us from Mt Aspiring hut to French ridge a height gain of 900m seemed easy enough. According to the sign it should take us 3 hours. The track was a little icy and we had to start using ice axes to clear ice and get up scrambles after about 400m (at 900m height above sea level). The track was a little difficult and then once out of the tree line it was knee deep snow. It took us a respectable 5 hours.

Just above the tree line after some exciting scrambling.

Mount Aspiring so close yet so far

The view into Gloomy gully with our shadows.

The view while washing up was good

 When we got the the hut after probably the longest 1.2km ever. it was lovely but cold there are no wood burning stoves in the higher altitude huts (except for the wardens cabin which are left locked) so it can get a bit cold in there. There is clean water and the toilet is on stilts about 100m from the main hut. When we got in I was really tired and couldn't work out why I couldn't get my shoe laces undone. My boot were frozen. The snow on the picture had frozen in place while we were walking and I couldn't shift it. The next day I also had a great time putting them on.

However the no heating in the hut did nothing for my frozen boots.

The hut boasts an array of activities including this hopscotch board on the floor

Nick in front of Mt French trust me it is there behind the clouds.

Yay

Rainbow on the way down

Day three started later than planned as we waited for the weather to calm down a little and we walked up French ridge for as far as we could see a view. Then the clouds came in and we walked down to a beautiful day in the valley floor