Hooker Hut

Hooker hut, built in 1910, is the oldest hut in Aoraki Mt Cook NP. It has a long and interesting history. It was built as a base for mountaineers crossing the pass from east to west or scaling the peaks in the surrounding area. It has been moved numerous times in order to save it from the harsh and severe alpine weather. In 1948, the hut was moved uphill and rebuilt to prevent losing it to the fragile moraine wall below. The hut was again moved uphill in 1961 and 1994, due to further cracking in the moraine wall. Soon after the move in 1994, heavy rain washed out access to the site, which meant very few people were accessing the hut by foot. Then in 2004, an avalanche struck the hut, causing some damage. in 2020 it was relocated to a new site in the Hooker Valley which I visited last December for the night. It is a magical and picturesque spot and I was so inspired to create an illustration which captured its charm and rich history.