“On a Mish” #204 It’s Not Going to Snow, It’s Summertime (Part Three). Upper Wye Creek. Remarkables Conservation Area. 17.12.2016. On many occasions I have faced a storm head on and returned to tell a tale about it. There is something so satisfying about showing Mother Nature you can handle (nearly) anything she throws at you. Whether it be the heat from a hot day or the rain when wet, and even sometimes you might experience snowfall during the summertime. There will be times when you and your outdoor gear will get tested, and hopefully what you have is up to the challenge…
As the evening rolled on, the skies finally cleared and we were treated to the twinkle of frost on the ground and the twinkle of stars above. The peace made it hard to think that only a few hours before it was nearly blizzard conditions. We also left the crowds of happy tourists back in Queenstown and the location couldn’t have been any different to the hustle and bustle which was happening only a few kilometres away.
An early-ish start the next day was greeted with a glorious sunrise on an iced-up and snow-covered Single Cone(2319m). Starting the day with a mountainous view brought a smile to our faces a mile wide. We were now getting the rewards for our effort to get up here.
After some breakfast the plan was to head back to our car via a climb of Peak 2050m, located east of Wye Creek Saddle. We shook the frost off the tent before jamming it into our bags with the rest of our semi-frozen gear and made sure we didn’t leave any pegs buried in the snowy ground. We both thanked the rock that had sheltered us from the worst of the weather, and then we set off on our upward adventure towards what we hoped would be the cherry on top of what had been a very memorable mish.
The climb up the soft, partly frozen snow was incredible, and the crunch was very grippy. No need to get our crampons out as we found a way around the deeper drifts, and sticking to stony areas helped get us to the summit with relative ease. With one last push we reached our high point, and the view was amazing!
From the top of Peak 2050m we looked down on Lake Alta and Curvy Basin, and could see all of the peaks of the Tapuae o Uenuku/Hector Range. On the other side was Upper Wye Creek and the location of our night out in the summer snow sheltered by a big rock. A truly epic view to match our wild experience up above the Remarkables Ski field and down into Wye Creek.
As we descended, we noticed how much of the snow on the mountains had disappeared during the morning. The skifield looked completely different from the day before with mostly exposed rocks. I know a few people who might have a go at skiing in these conditions, but it would be a death sentence for your skis!
We jogged back down the field, and in no time were back at our car. The weird thing was the fact that there was a car there from the day before and we hadn’t seen anybody the whole time we were out. Someone was out there, but all we saw was snow and sensational views. Thankfully we didn’t read anything about lost souls on the Remarkable Mountains when we got back home!
The experience, while highly enjoyable, was a real reminder of the unpredictable mountain weather in Aotearoa New Zealand. It really reinforced why it is always important to be prepared for anything when going on a mish in the New Zealand mountains. You might end up thinking “It’s not going to snow, it’s summertime” and be totally wrong like us. If so, I hope you packed some extra warm clothing!
