Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The tramp begins at the Hermitage Hotel (near the DOC Visitor Centre) on Kea Point Track,
a very level and well-maintained path that heads up the open scrub of Hooker Valley to-
wards White Horse Hill. Within 30 minutes you pass Foliage Hill; you'll see two lodges and
the campsite shelter near the base of White Horse Hill. The track begins to climb gently,
moves into bush and comes to a signposted junction with Sealy Tarns Track. Kea Point is to
the north (right fork), a 15-minute walk away. The side trip is worthwhile because the view-
point is on moraine above Mueller Glacier, with Mt Sefton looming overhead.
The route to Mueller Hut heads west (left fork) on the Sealy Tarns Track . It's a two-hour
climb to the tarns, which is still a knee-bender at times, even though the track has been re-
cently improved. As soon as you begin climbing you are greeted with excellent views of the
lower Hooker Valley to the south, including Mt Cook Village. Higher still, there are views
of the upper portions of the valley and Mueller Glacier. Sealy Tarns , a series of small pools,
make a natural rest stop because they are on the ridge in a narrow meadow of alpine shrubs,
grasses and herbs. They are also the only sight of water you are likely to pass during the
climb.
Just south of the tarns, look for a huge rock cairn that marks the continuation to Mueller
Hut. It begins as a well-worn track in tussock that involves a lot of scrambling, then eventu-
ally fades out altogether in a large boulder field. Follow the orange markers (every 200m)
through the boulders, and finally up a steep and loose scree slope to the ridge. Take your
time hopping from one boulder to the next to avoid any mishap.
The ridge line is marked by a large orange and black pole - impossible to miss on a clear
day - and once you reach it there are views of the upper portion of Mueller Glacier as it
flows past smaller hanging glaciers, with the peaks of the Main Divide in the background.
Simply magnificent.
At this point, the route turns south and follows the ridge for 20 minutes to Mueller Hut
(1800m), a bright red and orange structure that's easy to spot on a fine day. The boulder-
and-scree slope here is very steep, and is often covered by snow all the way to the hut. This
is where an ice axe may be useful, but whether or not you have one, extreme care is re-
quired.
This hut is a gem - big and roomy, with viewing decks and benches looking out towards
the mountainous scenery. During summer a warden is stationed here, and at 7pm each night
there's a radio call with a ranger providing weather and avalanche forecasts, and asking for
the names of all the parties in the hut.
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