Members were entertained last Thursday morning by our very own Mark Hillman who enthusiastically told us about his most recent “extreme” tramping trip where he and an elite group of friends (which didn’t include Simon) “knocked off” the Ball Pass Crossing. 
Mark explained, since 2005 he and a group of mates have been getting together every February with the idea of doing a unique tramp and really getting out there to enjoy NZ’s unique mountain environment. The group mark each year’s tramp with a t-shirt; beanie; their own logo; and to add to the complete the experience, they finish each tramp at a Restaurant. Back in 2005 they started with the Tongariro Crossing and the mates have been doing something like this each year ever since.This year a smaller group decided it was time to “ramp up” the challenge, so they signed up for a ‘real’ Alpine Experience which was to tramp the Ball Pass Crossing. Based in Mt Cook National Park the Ball Pass Crossing is advertised as an “opportunity to learn basic mountaineering skills and summit a peak with the hard, physically demanding challenge of a high alpine crossing”.
As none of the group had mountaineering experience they wisely engaged a guide from “Alpine Recreation”. www.alpinerecreation.com Mark was thoroughly impressed with this service, who provided all the special equipment required (helmets, harnesses, crampons and ice-axes); all meals (including energy bars) and also provided an engaging and knowledgeable guide who taught them how to use the mountaineering equipment and expertly coached them along the way.
Fitness was challenged, with each day starting at 5:00am and finishing around 6:00pm. Covering terrain from the Tasman to the Hooker Valley, the tramp included two nights at the private Caroline Hut. Thankfully the Hut was well equipped with dry food supplies, water and wood for heating, so they only had to backpack a light load of personal supplies (around 12-15 kilos). Mark enjoyed learning how to use the crampon’s; arrest with an ice axe and he also did some abseiling as part of the climb.
Covering a distance of approximately 15km, this 2-3 day hike was definitely not a tramp for the faint-hearted. The mountain terrain required traversing some 60 degree slopes; the climb took them up to the pass (2121m) and for some parts of the tramp the group had to be roped together.
At Caroline Hut there were superb views to relish of the Tasman Valley, Tasman Glacier, Mt Cook and surrounding peaks. Mark reported, despite the possibility of slipping to one’s death just to use the outdoor loo, it was amazing up there! He totally enjoyed the experience: the remoteness; cloud formations; icefalls; and hearing the rumbling of avalanches on Mt Cook some 2-3 km’s away. And, they were blessed with great weather with only mild evening temperatures drops to a bracing 3 degrees!
The success and challenge of this tramp has encouraged the group and they now have Mt Aspiring lined up for their next goal this coming November. Thanks so much for sharing your experience Mark. We look forward to your Mt Aspiring report.
