Kaimata Range,

Ōtira–Kopara Forest Conservation Area

Tramping with Hanni Hopsu.

Our initial plans for a five-day Christmas tramp in south Westland were scuppered by weather, so we fell back on 2020’s Christmas tramping plan which had also been rained off.

On Christmas Eve we started up the Camp Creek Route to Camp Creek Hut and a lunch stop, before continuing up the steep vegetated ridge to a small tarn next to some rocky peaks. After a spectacular sunset we bivvied overnight, waking up to a bit of a chilly start on Christmas Day.

Following the poled route east we went up and over Pt 1795 (“Little Mt Alexander”) and began the ridge scramble towards the summit. We took a short rope just in case, but the route was great scrambling and we soloed the whole way there and back.

After a bit of a siesta back at the tarn, we packed up camp and descended back to Camp Creek Hut for a well earned soak in the wood-fired bathtub, enjoying the cold beers we’d stashed in the creek. We had the hut to ourselves for Christmas night, and walked back out to the car on Boxing Day.

Hanni making her way up Camp Creek towards the hut

Hanni ascending the steep vegetated ridge to the tussock and rocky tops

There was snow at the summit, so despite growing up in the UK, for the first time in my life I was able to build a snowman on Christmas Day, in the middle of summer