Mt Cloudsley 

Friday 12 September

With spring arriving it's time to start get fit again for the summer. Apart from Bill, everyone commented on how unfit they felt. So a good day was needed to exercise the muscles! Five club members left the Castle Hill/Hogs Back carpark just after 9.00am on a calm, clear morning. The trip was originally set down for Wednesday but with  better weather forecasted Raymond decided to  delay it  to Friday 12th September. 

The Hogs Back track was free of snow but a little greasy. Onwards and upwards to Long Spur dodging pockets of snow until ice axes were put into use as the snow got deeper. Gary, just back from the UK, decided to stop at Pt 1855 and meet us on the descent.  The rest of us headed up the ridge, The snow was too soft for crampons . At times the snow was knee deep(depending on how tall the tramper!) and a bitter wind picked up with icy snow spindrifts flying around. Despite the great views, it was not pleasant at the summit so we didn't linger,  and retraced our steps down the ridge to have lunch in a sheltered spot. 

No time records were broken as some members were just returning after long breaks or overseas travel, but it was great to be out enjoying our backyard playground. 

Thanks to Raymond for the organization and to those people who  plugged the steps in deep snow. 

Stats for the trip：7hours，12.59kms，1338m climb ，Mt Cloudsley 2107m. 

We were Raymond Ford (leader) , Peter Umbers, Bill Templeton, Gary Huish and Helen Binnie HB