“On a Mish” #77 A Wild Winter Wander (Part Two). Mt Guy(1319m). Hakatere Conservation Park. 16.9.2014. The blast of a blizzard on your face is an experience to say the least. A wild winter wander in the wonder of wild weather is something I have come to really enjoy. Plenty of extra warm layers. Buff and beanie on. Hood up. Time for action. On a quick trip to Lake Clearwater, I had the option of sitting out the weather in the cosy crib or taking on the storm with a smile…
The Mt Guy Track itself was under snow so it was very good that the way is well marked with poles with very visible orange tips. Normally there is an easily seen groove in the ground from many feet tramping up the mountain, but on this mish the snow made most of the ground look the same. With each upward step the wind and snow turned up the volume. To say the hike had an ‘extreme’ feel to it would be an understatement unless wild winter wanders are something you do often!
The route follows a ridge which is steep in places before it mellows out near the summit. The only real challenge for the hike up Mt Guy is your fitness. There aren’t any places of exposure or any real danger, and because the route with very well marked I suggest it as a good ‘first mountain’ for youngsters and first-time outdoor uphill explorers.
The less steep areas had their own challenges due to the snow building up in places. Plugging steps in snow drifts early-ish in the morning during a blizzard might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m a coffee man myself.
The weather cleared briefly not long after leaving the summit and then beginning my mish back down to the village. It had been an epic morning, and I was only at the halfway point of my morning adventure.
The wild winter weather returned on the way down and I was again in a battle the wind and face stinging snow. Luckily, the way down was obvious thanks to the marker poles sticking out of the snow. This prevented me straying off track, but with that said, all I needed to do was get down to Lake Clearwater level and then the rest of the way would be straight forward.
By the time I got back down to lake level the wetness and chill of the storm had managed to get down to my lowest layer. Even though I was starting to feel the cold I knew I only had a short distance to travel to get back to the cozy crib. Once there it would be nothing but warmth and food, but I had to get there first. With thoughts of being dry and comfortable kept me creeping along until I was back at the place I started.
After kicking off my boots at the crib’s frosty door, I stumbled inside and after shaking off any excess snow I reloaded the fire and began to relax. It didn’t take long for me to warm up in my happy haven of heat. Hotness is appreciated so much more when you have had a day of coldness. I was now showered and wearing dry clothes, this meant it was time to start planning the next wild wilderness wander!
I know plenty of people who would have hated every minute of the mish I just went on, but thanks to my love of a good winter storm I enjoyed every second of it. With all of the warm clothing available these days the only thing stopping you tackling your own wild winter wander is your motivation to get outdoors. Just think of the very cool pictures you will come back with, and also there are very few things that match the feeling of success after you have returned from a wild winter wander!
