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Sourced from Topo50 Map BX15 Fox Glacier. Crown Copyright Reserved
About the hike to Mueller Hut and Mt. Ollivier
The Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
The hike from White Horse Hill Campsite to Mt. Ollivier in Aoraki / Mount Cook is a challenging day hike (though you can make it a 2-day hike by staying at Mueller Hut).
Actually it is on the same trail which includes three sections, Sealy Tarns Track, Mueller Hut Route and the further hike to Mt. Ollivier. The trail between White Horse Hill Campsite and Sealy Tarns is a straightforward walk on many and many stairs with the net altitude gain of 500 m. After Sealy Tarn, the trail is marked by orange poles and becomes rugged with rocky sections to pass. There will be another 500 m ascent to reach Mueller Hut.
If it is still early and you are energetic, you may consider climbing Mt. Ollivier, which is about half kilometer to the south of the hut. At the elevation 1933 m, this was the first mountain Sir Edmund Hillary ascended. The route leading to Mt. Ollivier is not marked (at least during my hike) and you will need to scramble on boulders toward this prominent peak. The total ascent on the day will be more than 1100 m, a challenging elevation gain if you are not used to hike a lots.
My partner and I did this day hike in March 2014 during our first travel in South Island. As hiking veterans we found that was a strenuous hike but nothing was really tricky. The climb to Mt. Ollivier from Mueller Hut was likely the only section a little bit technical but most of experienced and cautious hikers should be fine to do it. Please be aware that this was just our experience gained on a fine day.
The alpine trail is exposed to elements all the way. You still need to have adequate skill and experience to stay safe especially when the weather is getting worse or the snow / ice is present along the trail. Please read through the web pages and watch the video from DOC to get more information and assess your competence.
The route leading to Sefton Bivouac is another great option for an experienced hiker in this area. You can find more relevant photos from this post.
