Day 12: Caol Air – ‘a thin place’

We got up and out really early in the morning. We’d been to the grocery store the night before and picked up bread, cheese, tomatoes and apples. Barry drove like a crazy guy getting us back to the helicopter place. We stuffed a bunch of bread and cheese in while in the road- breakfast of champions.

The wind had died down. It was a glorious day. We hopped into the chopper with our packs and off we went with all the splendour of Mt Cook in front of us…..we flew in to Caroline Hut.

Caroline Hut was built by Elke‘s father. It is almost 35 years old. It was built in sections and brought up by helicopter. The first place they put it was too low and it kept getting snowed In. In fact, one time her father had to dig it out with a chainsaw, removing massive blocks of snow to find the hut. It was then repositioned to where it’s now. All I can say is the view is unparalleled.

We got up to the hut and immediately put crampons on, and Barry led Suneet and I off. Glacier followed by Alpine rock, more glacier, climbing, climbing, false summits, glacier, more rock with crampons on. Up and up. At one point as we were on a long ridge we looked over and we could see the rest of our team, they’d  already summitted and were on their way down back to the hut. Tim left them in Elke’s capable hands and literally ran up the ridge to join us. Tim took Suneet, and Barry led me, and we continued on. Higher and higher. And finally, we were there, at the summit. We did it. All of us made it to the top of Kaitiaki Peak, although at different times in the day.

Long descent back to the hut and the team was reunited!! Hugs and tears all around. We have done the Summit to Sea to Summit successfully!!!!!