Mount Cook and Lake Pukaki, the Tallest Mountain in New Zealand (~13,000 ft.) and one of the 9 Very Deep Lakes Carved by the Glaciers in the Last Ice Age
The Cook Range as Seen from the Hermitage Hotel in the Town of Mt. Cook
The Hooker River, Formed by Runoff from the Hooker Glacier. You can See the Avalanche Damage.
Horseback Riding on Mount St. Mary, above Double Stream. I am riding Mouse, a retired racehorse famous in new Zealand Because he is in all of the Speight's Beer Commercials. There is a 300m Sheer Drop Immediately Behind Us.
Visitor's Center at the Town of Mount Cook
Main Dining Room at the Famous Hermitage Hotel at Mount Cook
Hooker Morraine, Created by the Action of the Hooker Glacier
Mount Cook as Seen from the End of Lake Pukaki, which is formed by the Tasman River, which Runs off the Tasman Glacier
Closer View of Mount Cook, with the Cook Range in Front
This This is a Statue of Sir Edmund Hillary, the First Climber of Mount Everest. We just missed Sir Edmund in early July, 2003, when this statue was erected to honor not only his scaling of Everest but his achievement of the first ascent of Mount Cook from the south (others had climbed it from other approaches in the late 19th century). Sir Edmund, in his biography, gives credit to the dangerously rugged mountains of New Zealand for preparing him for the Himalayas.
On a Hiking Trail Along the Hooker River
Mount Cook as Seen from Lake Pukaki. Mount Sefton is to its left and Mount Tasman is to its right.
Margaret Bushnell at the Mt. Cook Visitor's Center
The Hooker River as it Joins the Tasman River
Mount Cook Covered in Clouds
Megan and Dad Reading the New Zealand Map
Another View of Mount Cook
Clouds Over the Hooker River
"The Bridge of Death." This is a bridge over the Hooker River to its glacial morraine on the other side.
Another View of the Dam at the End of Lake Pukaki, Looking Toward the Oahu Range
View of the Grand Traverse on the top of Mount Cook
A View of the Hooker Trail as it Heads Towards Mount Sefton. On this day, we constantly heard avalanches booming at the Top of Mount Sefton (3rd highest mountain in New Zealand, after Mt. Cook and Mt. Tasman).
Amy Bushnell at the lake at the end of the Hooker Glacier. We are at Kia Point. The Kia is the world's only alpine parrot, unique to the Southern Alps. It is a very mischevious and intelligent bird, known for its habit of shredding vinyl tops of cars.
Megan Bushnell at the Dam. This dam and others along the river that flows from it generate a significant portion of the South Island's hydropower.
Another Mountain View
A Closeup of the "Bridge of Death"
The Eastern Side of Lake Pukaki
Clouds Forming Over Mount Cook (and hiding it)
The Alpine Memorial to over 100 people who have lost their lives climbing Mt. Cook, Mt. Tasman, and Mt. Sefton (7 more died during our last week in New Zealand). God rest their souls.
Mount Cook in the Distance