MOUNT COOK (4 full days)

Activities in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

 

Ball Pass Crossing

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 Ball Pass Crossing is a demanding two to three-day alpine route, crossing the Mount Cook Range between the Hooker and Tasman Valleys. The route provides spectacular views of Aoraki/Mt Cook, Mt Sefton, the Copland Pass and the Hooker and Tasman Glaciers.

The trip can be started from either valley but, for safety reasons and in order to gain the best views, the recommended route is to start at the White Horse Hill camping area and travel up the East Hooker, over Ball Pass (sidling around under Mounts Rosa and Mabel) and down the Ball Ridge to the Tasman Valley and Ball Shelter.

Track description

Whitehorse Hill carpark to East Hooker valley camping site

Time: 3 – 4 hr From the carpark follow the Hooker Valley Track to the second swingbridge. Don’t cross this; instead, sidle around on the true left of the Hooker River across the scree slope. Once across the shingle follow the cairned route up the East Hooker valley to the large shingle fan opposite the Hooker Hut and Copland Gut (both in the West Hooker valley). There is good camping available at this shingle fan.

East Hooker valley camping site to the "playing field"

Time: 1.5 hr
From the shingle fan, follow the distinct gully to the north-east. This is snow-filled in Spring. The gully leads to a large shoulder or flat area below Mt Mabel known as the "playing field". This is an ideal camping site. Water or snow melt is often available near the top of the gully. Poo pots are essential for this site.

"Playing field" to Ball Pass

Time: 4 hr
From the "playing fields" ascend the shingle slopes to the east. These slopes form a large Z between bluffs. Once on top of the Z, follow an exposed ledge to the north, to a small shoulder on the ridge north-west of Mt Mabel. There is often a cairn to mark this spot, but be mindful that cairns can be destroyed in winter by avalanches and are not always in place. This is one of the few routes through the bluffs and it is important to gain this point sufficiently high enough.
Traverse from this point in a northerly direction across rock slabs and then descend around the spur, west of Mt Rosa. Once past Mt Rosa ascend the shingle slope (this may be a snow field at certain times of the year) in a north-easterly direction to Ball Pass.

Ball Pass to Caroline Hut 

Time: 2 hr After crossing Ball Pass and taking time to enjoy the views, descend Ball Glacier for approximately 60–70 m (200 feet) before turning south to gain Ball Ridge. Descend Ball Ridge to Caroline Hut.

Caroline Hut to Ball Flat

Time: 2 hr
A good camping site is available 750 m north-east of Caroline Hut at the end of the flat section of Ball Ridge. From this point descend several rock steps, more or less following the ridge crest. Two difficult sections can be avoided by turning around to the eastern side. Follow the track marks and cairns to the level part of the track on the narrow ridge line. Do not follow the historic track further along, as slips have made it impassable. At the last cairn descend the boulder scree to the east and pick up the route through alpine scrub. Follow the road and cut track to slips and boulder scree that lead to the old Ball Hut site and over to Ball Flat.

Ball Flat to Blue Lakes carpark

Time: 2 – 3 hr From Ball Flat head down the Tasman valley following the old Ball Hut road. The road has slumped in several places and climbers need to scramble up and down the moraine to regain the track.
Keep to the track and do not be tempted to go down the moraine wall to the glacier. Loose rock makes this particularly dangerous. Once on flat simply wander down grassy terrace to Ball Flat. Leaving Ball Flat, follow the obvious track to Husky Flat, which changes to a 4WD track down to Blue Lakes carpark. It is an eight-kilometre road drive from the carpark back to Aoraki/Mt Cook village.

CLOSEST CITY: AORAKI

Mueller Hut Route

Mueller Hut makes a mountain experience possible for anybody with moderate tramping ability, so long as care is taken.
At 1800 metres on the Sealy Range (nearly half as high as Aoraki/Mount Cook’s summit), the hut provides a 360-degree panorama encompassing glaciers, ice cliffs, vertical rock faces and New Zealand’s highest peaks. It’s a great site for hearing and viewing ice falls, alpine sunrises and equally unforgettable sunsets.
Climbing to the hut through alpine scrub, herb fields and scree slopes can be an achievement in itself, or the start of further opportunities for the more experienced. Whatever the aim, careful adherence to these instructions will help make your trip safe and memorable.
Distance 5.2 Km