Very Windy Indeed

We are up early this morning and excited about the prospect of another kayaking adventure, so it was a real disaster when we got the phone call from the kayaking people to say today's trip was cancelled due to strong winds (especially as it didn’t feel very windy at all in the camp site).

We decide on a plan B for the day and pack a lunch ready for some of the short tramps around the base of Mt Cook.  As make it along the road to Mt Cook Village we can feel the wind getting stronger and stronger and in the DOC visitors centre the weather report has the wind gusting up to 140kmh later today so maybe it was best not to be kayaking after all.

We head off on our tramp and immediately notice the effects of the wind with huge clouds of fine silt from the moraines being blown about the valley.  As we make our way to Kea Point the dust clouds get worse and it feels like we are being sandblasted.  As we make it to the look-out a Kea Point we manage a few  minutes of taking pictures then beat a hasty retreat to a sheltered spot for lunch.

A windy Kea Point

Sheltered lunch spot

Then it’s a very short, wind assisted walk back to the village.  We opt out of any more walks today but spend a very enjoyable hour looking round the Mt Cook visitors centre which has loads of great displays about the history of climbing in NZ including plenty about Sir Edmond Hillary.  We also rebook onto the kayaking trip and hope the wind dies down tomorrow.

Mr M