This coming Wednesday at club, Lorraine Johns will talk about surviving 10 days on the loose in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Just like Freda, before her, Lorraine was surrounded only by the company of men and very large spiders. On such a trip, she needed to be able to fend for herself, which included estimating the minimum amount of chocolate required to retain the appearance of sanity, conducting stealth raids on the hut food boxes (and discovering the culinary delight that is instant mash), learning Swahili, exploring the range of cellphone reception around the Tasman Valley, and managing to exist in the same clothes for just a little too long…

When they weren’t busy lazing in the hut and beating south island climbers at cards, Lorraine and her team also climbed the Anzac Peaks, Vancouver, Glacier Dome, Cook, Elie De Beaumont, Alymer, Hochstetter Dome, Green, Walter, and The Footstool. Lorraine will focus on Mount Cook and Elie De Beaumont, but be prepared for gratuitous shots of other mouthwatering alpine vistas. For those who haven’t already climbed these peaks – but would love to – Lorraine will also talk about how you might prepare for such a trip.