Helicopter to Mt. Aoraki (Mt Cook)

Mount Cook National Park is home to many of the ‘Southern Alps’.   The largest mountain was named in 1851 for explorer James Cook.  In Maori, its name is  'Aoraki' , which comes from an ancient myth in which the Gods turned a wrecked canoe into hills (this seems to be the Maori explanation for a lot of natural phenomena). The 'tallest' of the canoers was a child named Aoraki, who was sitting on the chief's shoulders.   Another account says that the mountain was named in honor of Aoraki, the first-born son of the Sky Father.  I would welcome any more detailed information or clarification if anyone is inclined to share it here in comments, or on social media.

Whatever you call them, the mountains are majestic.

Mt. Cook National Park

Our Helicopter

I’ve been in helicopters before--- several times when I went hili-hiking,  and again when I was getting to know the polar bears up close and personal.  I remember the first flight vividly.  I was nervous and really didn’t get how this little thing with the noisy propellers was going to get us up safely into the sky, much less land us on a mountain.  I remember sitting behind the pilot and, (as if this would help) using my hands to create an upward motion, the way you might do to a child who was learning to walk and had stumbled.  ‘C’mon,  up,  up,  you can do it....’  I so desperately wanted helicopter to get us safely above the mountain that was looming directly in front of  us.  

I don’t think the waving helped.  The pilots in all of these flights and the helicopters--they didn’t seem to need my assistance at all.  

heli-happy me

Mt. Aoraki, which has three main peaks, is more than one-third permanent ice and snow.  Aoraki is the highest peak at 11,290 feet (over 2 miles) above sea level. Twenty-two other peaks exceed 9,100 feet including Mt. Tasman, the second highest in the country at 10,490 feet. 

One hundred forty climbers have lost their lives on Aoraki’s slopes-- this is not the place for a novice to try hiking. These peaks have been the training ground for notable New Zealand mountaineers, including Sir Edmund Hillary and his son Peter.

Hell-happy Kate

I don’t know if Kate has been in a helicopter before--I know Gary has.  The headphones you see in the photo above the passenger to hear anything the pilot; that would be impossible otherwise.  Helicopters are very noisy.

We’re going land on a fairly level area of the mountain--no hiking, no records to challenge.  I’m just going to let mountains do what they always do -- mesmerize me  The view and understanding of these natural wonders put everything in perspective. I realize how great the grand scheme of nature is, how small our roles, how insignificant I am.   These peaks are billions of years old.  They shift and change under the weight of ice and snow, the ice thickens and thins with the altering earth and its environment, and here they still are.  Blllions of years old.  
What was it I was worried about?  

Oh, yeah… 

Nothing.

Where clouds meet mountains

We exit the copter and leave our insignificant marks---a few footprints in the snow.  In a matter of days or even hours,  our prints will be obliterated by wind and more precipitation. 

In some areas you can see some of the blue unique to glacial ice.  Compression by the weight of accumulating ice and snow squeezes out air bubbles below; the deeper layers of ice then reflect more blue.   

At some points you can see the blue ice seen only in glaciers

At this point I think the photos of our helicopter excursion speak for themselves, and make clear why we waited so anxiously throughout the trip for the weather to clear so we could fly.

Mt. Aoraki

Really, there is nothing words can add to the beauty of these mountains.

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