PLBs and Perspective Changes - Ball Pass
Aoraki Mt Cook Resuce Team (Maddy Whittaker) June 2019 Ignorance is bliss huh? Day one was frosty even in the glorious sun. Frozen Hooker Lake, frozen streams, frosty tussock, waterfalls turned into icicles. A wonderfully dynamic land - the awe inspiring Hooker glacier creeping into view, Aoraki rearing up in all its majesty, massive moraine collapses gradually stealing the Ball Pass route away. Prancing joyfully through it all, up to the most incredible campsite up on the Playing Fields. Digging out a pit for our tent beneath the stars, oh so many stars. We had no idea that in 12 hours time we would be activating a PLB. I’ve tried a few times to try and describe what happened but nothing really seems to convey it properly. In short, we were nearing the top of the zig zag and conditions were super icy - I was getting my new sharp front points and sum tec pick in about a cm - can’t imagine how blunt club crampons and walking axes felt. Not everyone in the group felt comfo