Mueller´s Hut

From Peters Lookout it was just a one hour drive to the lion´s den, to Mordor, where Mount Cook towers majestically over the Southern Alps. Our plan was to ascend to Mueller´s Hut, which is on a Mountain ridge at about 2000m right on the doorstep of Mount Cook. You can get the best views of the highest mountain of NZL and the surrounding steep, black Southern Alps and watch them giving birth to cascading waterfalls below the vertiginous glaciers that stick to their side. Sometimes you could hear the thunder of the crashing ice from the shear zones of the glaciers.


Mueller´s Hut

The hike didn´t start out too well as we took a "shortcut" at the very first fork of the track, whereupon we were forced to turn back and start from scratch (in the broad midday ´s sun) after 2 hours. But as soon as we hurried up the right track we were fascinated by the stunning views of the region we got. I have to admit that I most of the time felt like Hannes Pimperl in the third quarter but the compensation for pain and suffering were views beautiful enough to once again forget the hatred against my sherpa Stevie that always starts to build up during the ascension ;)


Searching for an alternative route to the Mueller´s Hut


Can you hear the drums of Mordor?


Made it!


How vulnerable he sometimes can seem ;)


Wind force: Leggins

Knocking on Mordor´s door at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephan_mittas/sets/72157614337528624/