Adventure Magazine Issue 220

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"This is one of the most
popular tracks in the
National Park, with
roughly a 100m change in
elevation the walking is
relatively easy."
Hooker Valley Track (easy trail)
Length: 10km one way
Duration: 3 hours return
Season: The track is open year round but the
best time to go is at dawn when the rays creep
over the Southern Alps, including Mt Cook.
The Walk: This is one of the most popular
tracks in the National Park, with roughly a
100m change in elevation the walking is
relatively easy. This track starts from the White
Horse Campground but you can begin from the
information center in the village (just add an
extra 30 minutes each way). The start of the
track will take you through open grassland and
passes close to Freda’s rock and the Alpine
Memorial.
Freda du Faur was the first woman to climb
Aoraki/Mt Cook in 1910 and the rock is where
she had her photo taken on her completion.
Three years later she completed the Grand
Traverse (all three peaks) of Aoraki/Mt Cook
and Freda’s ROck is the site where her now
famous photo was taken just after her first
successful ascent of the mountain.
The Alpine Memorial is dedicated to the lives
lost on Aoraki/Mt Cook. The plaque reads, "I
am not gone – I am in these mountains, I am
in the stars, I am all around you, always near,
never far."
Both are just a stroll off the main trail.
From here the track crosses the first of three
suspension bridges over the Meuller River just
below the Meuller Glacier Lake and continues
to weave back and forth before crossing the
river again, this time above the lake. Here the
track opens to a wide valley where you will
gain your first view of Aoraki/Mt Cook. This
view will be visible for the rest of the trail, so
enjoy.
If you are walking between December and
February you are likely to see large daisies
amongst the foliage and the Mt Cook Lily,
which both flower during these months.
Continue walking up the valley until you reach
the boardwalk, which has been established
where the valley floor becomes swampy.
Continue up the boardwalk until you reach the
final suspension bridge before climbing above
the height of the moraine wall to a picnic area
with views over Hooker Lake. In summer you’ll
likely see icebergs floating in the lake, whereas
in the cold winter months the lake can freeze
over completely.
The lookout point at the end of the Hooker
Valley track is the closest any walking track will
take you to Aoraki/Mt Cook itself.
Return the way you came and enjoy views
down the valley and over the Sealy Range.
Image by Tyler Lastovich