During my first period travelling in New Zealand I was lucky enough to spend a few weeks as a volunteer hut warden between the two huts of the Mount Somers Walkway. I was keen to return after a few years to explore the area again

Day 1

We walked the short track up to Pinnacles hut from the eastern end of the walkway and left our overnight kit there. We could then continue up towards the saddle for an explore with minimal baggage. Cloud was moving in across the plains and the hut was enveloped but it never rose further up the valley.

a track leading down into cloud with mountains beyond

From the saddle we scrambled steeply up to the Mount Somers plateau. From there we could cross to the summit itself.

2 people on a mountain top

I enjoy the rocky and tussock colours of the plateau and we had some good views to the west, up the Ashburton basin.

a person at the top of a mountain valley

Moving westwards off the plateau to hook up with the main track, we descended gentle tussock slopes as the clouds thickened above and below.

a hiker walking down a tussock slope

We descended into the cloud to meet the track.

mountain side with cloud below

Turning north on the track, we cross this swing bridge and soon reach Woolshed Creek hut. I spent much of my wardening time in this area.

hiker crossing a swing bridge over a narrow gorge

From the hut the cloud is thickening but the track back up over the saddle and down to Pinnacles is well marked and easy going. With only small packs we make quick time and get back to Pinnacles for dinner just as a steady rain sets in.

Day 2

The evening rain had persisted into the night. I remember waking sometime in the early morning before light and thinking it must have stopped as I could no longer hear it falling on the roof. You can imagine our surprise when we saw in daylight that it had in fact turned to snow and come down heavily through the night.

snowy covered trees and bushes viewed from a balcony

It was still falling in big flakes as we set off back down to the road end.

2 hikers standing in a snowy landscape beside a sign

What a change from the day before!

a snow covered backcountry hut

Considering how much had fallen at the hut, it could have been slow going for anyone attempting to cross the saddle that morning, at least without snowshoes.

a hiker on a very snowy trail

We were happy to enjoy the spectacle as we made our way back down to the road end. The amount hanging off the trees and bushes was impressive, causing them to bend under the load.

a hiker in snowy trees

The day felt relatively warm and it must have been just on the temperature limit for snow to fall. The snow continued, heavy and wet.

a hiker crossing a snowy creek

As we descended further, the depth of snow lying decreased quickly.

a hiker at the edge of a small creek

By the time we neared the road end, it was just another soggy spring day.

a narrow swing bridge over a river with trees beyond

I believe the snow didn’t last long after this fall as the temperature continued to rise through the afternoon. It was a real added bonus for the weekend. Wrapped up warm as we were, the landscape’s overnight transformation into a winter wonderland was pretty special.