Over Easter I went for a three day tramp with the Alpine club, around Cass Hill near Arthur’s Pass. It rained the first day and was foggy throughout the six hour hike, so it was a lovely surprise when the second day dawned sunny and blue skies. It turned out that we were staying in a beautiful twenty person hut surrounded by mountains (Hamilton Hut). We took it fairly easy the second day, only hiked for about an hour, then spent the afternoon swimming in a river (snow fed, brrr) and relaxing. The second nights hut was hand built in 1975 and quite shack like, but it was fun for a night! I do like the huts, it’s really nice to know you can find shelter for a night. However we were a long way from the pub lunches I take for granted in England, being in a beautiful, unspoilt, remote mountain region has its’ downsides!
The scenery was really lovely <http://flickr.com/photos/smidgley> and the company was fun, the Alpine club are a nice bunch. My hiking muscles were surprised to be used again after about a year off from serious walking, but I think a few more long walks and they’ll be back up to full speed…I hope so anyway!
