We spent the last week on a glacier travel and rope practice course, part of which was at Plateau Hut, immediately below Aoraki-Mt Cook. I could write about all sorts of things:
- How I feel like I’ve come home when I get to the big mountains (or any mountains).
- How I feel like crying when I leave precipitately, as is the case when your transport is a helicopter.
- How one feels hugely compromised flying in a helicopter to see the rate at which glaciers are retreating, but walking in is now close to impossible because of glacial retreat.
- How satisfying it is to learn new skills that make you feel more competent in mountain environments.
- How humbling it is to realise that your skills are not up to some of the things you might want to do.
- How much fun it is to share time in the mountains with other people.
- How going offline for several consecutive days gives you back your brain and a whole lot of time.
That’s enough writing for now. I’ll let pictures tell the rest of the story.
