![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/dbd39bb9-600a-4596-ae7e-1d6eb0c658af_rw_3840.jpg?h=c296797d25c91c16512236518a00238d)
Setting out up the Hodder River, many river crossings ahead, but much warmer than last time I was here!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/2477ee02-86cb-4101-aa12-c5a84851bc43_rw_3840.jpg?h=4402974e420c3760370a675f05845961)
Lovely mossy waterfall was a stark contrast to the very rocky Kaikouras
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/279a1e7b-c2fe-47f9-b61c-526350da4f40_rw_1920.jpg?h=35460e5a1eef5ad4e4aa3fd2b62637f2)
Nick crosses the river!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/d8a8f230-040b-446e-a9e9-2e2f184b74d0_rw_3840.jpg?h=b35d31a8c8466ea62c619d3e3dfd34be)
On the track that avoids the gorge in the upper Hodder, not long before Hodder Huts, our destination for the night
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/d8031f07-b88e-4793-95a1-13f238444acd_rw_3840.jpg?h=262a7924b8978756fbab17d3908f76d9)
Dave, Dad, Nick and Henry on the route to Tapi the next morning
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/9e755013-6a4c-4bb9-895a-1f90323d579a_rw_3840.jpg?h=3a3371aede68138b7b5d06988ac60e79)
Dad, Gillian and Ian, on the lower slopes of Tapi
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/f6780680-a0fa-4c3e-8308-15076329b8ce_rw_3840.jpg?h=06a0e7b83e39a253dcbf5a5340295e60)
Dad, Gillian and Ian. Ian has the coolest Ice Axe
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/056e0278-99f7-487d-8f4d-fc5b2c6edfd8_rw_3840.jpg?h=147ad15649c517bc7fe7076713328f52)
Mt Alarm, which is what you can see on the walk in. Looking at it we were a bit concerned about a lack of snow, but the mist soon came and hide it from view. No problem!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/0aa43141-08b7-4137-9919-aee9f9e07463_rw_3840.jpg?h=a56d12c4f83d4e024f2df2aac571d865)
And we did find enough snow to make it worth carrying the crampons and ice axes! And trudge uphill in a big long line. Anna, Henry, Nick, Dad, Gillian and Ian
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/8e27d4d4-21b1-4e05-97cd-457f96cd6b8f_rw_3840.jpg?h=480daae3380cb90869b47212f64d2301)
Nick wants to go up there! Last view we had of the summit!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/0f03b063-007c-47d4-9dce-b4ebda97ff70_rw_3840.jpg?h=20e1d4bfd4ad401f33d5ab49c6801700)
Summit party, thanks to Helen for her very instrumental role in getting everyone to this point (slings in evidence!)
Anna, Dave, Henry, Dad, Helen, Nick and Gillian. Unfortunately Ian broke a crampon, so was not able to join for the final push and Anne decided the saddle not far off made an excellent summit for the day (the view was the same =P)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/cb73fb57-2203-46d7-9881-61baf9e1a2e4_rw_3840.jpg?h=5aee78b82b7b0592eb97c1c758fcbd2a)
Nick is far more intent on this pose than Helen
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/1543ff75-830f-437e-bd29-1f2b4d6df588_rw_3840.jpg?h=6a25aa7b8257a9d1db0627286b0c50e7)
Descending of Tapi with the mist giving the illusion of atmosphere and hard core! Dad, Helen, Gillian, Dave, Henry and at the bottom in the mist, Anna.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/de85b6a2-5f25-4958-b508-403e4c804d59_rw_1920.jpg?h=0340eb044d8a36f1c0534650f22ca495)
Gillian thrilled to have successfully summited Tapi, which she can see from her local mountain, Mt Kaukau in Wellington!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/058957c3-a911-4c05-bf59-6184b16c4377_rw_3840.jpg?h=7cd7c3109a3a6b5da804a5058f76c063)
Nick is sort of thrilled, but would have been more thrilled if we were rock climbing, preferably grade 20+!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/a6f15ed1-ebb0-48cd-931b-8865eb287ae6_rw_3840.jpg?h=41b1c4d0c501c58cb348a0ae2f09d81d)
Each to their own on the descent, Helen is having a chill time with a selfie instead of an ice axe!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/01f3f1bd-54bc-42ce-9dca-1623c8948a40_rw_3840.jpg?h=dec8848198c59c29190a434bc3929f6c)
Hodder Huts, which we divided into Adults Hut (Left) and the Kids Hut (Right). The right one is much cuter!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/099f66a7-bad6-496f-a760-475f82416c5f_rw_3840.jpg?h=f01538abba743032cb9b8fd054335fe1)
Helen and Anne try to act natural for a photo inside the kids hut
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/a914dc1f-2f93-4fa6-bb56-7aa1261e528b_rw_3840.jpg?h=430d1db708f6ee8629400677f9beec14)
Anne and Dave inside the kids hut
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/24dd45dc-ac06-4403-99e0-81eab5778e47_rw_1920.jpg?h=23c630a053bb6f04b11a063908d88ecd)
Dad and I failed to get a summit photo together, so we got one at the Huts instead. Photo credit Nick Dragunow
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/ee02b1ec-3008-475f-9a5d-eed33b9b8387_rw_3840.jpg?h=1eb0c759f72a836e55f850b256bf771f)
Leaving the Huts for the many river crossings to get back to our cars!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/3c353b6d-1dfa-4d66-9e9f-3d00832132b0_rw_3840.jpg?h=e84b042f5b97abfcf35e0d7bc25d9ea3)
Dave crosses the river
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/016be0c0-0a62-4167-b704-c1658f0f5462_rw_3840.jpg?h=6617ad557a7fed838bf3cab79d1d91de)
Nick crosses the river again
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/67968b8c-0992-4615-8483-84899a5d677b_rw_3840.jpg?h=c60e0aba360fa24fa973ecaab0260a92)
Anne and Helen cross the river
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/1fa1e7d6-0dd9-4a88-861b-f6fd480d4ff6_rw_1920.jpg?h=470f74c9c90c850f92351c453e896b68)
Another father daughter photo, I blame the photographer for not alerting me to the fact I have chocolate on my face. Photo credit Nick Dragunow
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/4d51c29a-7a9d-4ea4-a7b2-76da099b1b4b_rw_3840.jpg?h=353bf906cc8b55fc22df990ff8477341)
A view of Tapi as we head away home! Would have been nice to know what this view looks like in reverse.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/601ebdda-0f7a-428e-92bf-a81418d85bed_rw_600.png?h=99c2b7700df0e2e136f2217ca07f70e2)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a0cb73edb43d1329e44146c1f57c542d/a812538d-f266-49b1-9975-9b89e75ec937_rw_1200.png?h=c3aae34ac8a3518f0d94f68ff3d03472)
Maps, we arrived in separate dribs and drabs and walked into Hodder Huts on the Friday, had a civilised start on Saturday, as far as mountaineering goes and returned to the huts for the night and walking out on the Sunday!