The weather in Fiordland
I’d been living in New Zealand for several years, but I hadn’t yet been to the Darran Mountains. Mainly because of the weather. This is New Zealand’s wettest region. Average annual precipitation reaches seven metres. For comparison, the Tatras, Poland’s wettest region, receive just under two metres a year.
Five days of high pressure in the forecast
I kept a close eye on the weather maps for Fiordland. In the meantime, I met Willi, a Bavarian who was also interested in this part of New Zealand. We both wanted to climb on solid rock. The Darran Mountains offered the prospect of diorite, a hard rock similar to granite, with excellent friction. After years of climbing on the schist that makes up the vast majority of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, it would be a welcome change.
At last, the long-awaited forecast arrived. A strong high-pressure system was heading for Fiordland. Five whole days of good weather were forecast. This was a window we had to use. We set off straight away.
It was still raining when we arrived. The rivers were swollen and running high. The rain was due to stop overnight.
We stayed at Homer Hut, a hut belonging to the New Zealand Alpine Club. This was where we’d set out on our Tutoko mission.
