It was an ambitious plan: snowshoe through Hummingbird Pass and up to Selous Ridge – then back to the saddle and up Evening Ridge – then down and up to the Whale’s Back – and finally, down and on and up Ecstasy. From there, retrace about half our steps and come down the south face of Evening Ridge.

Ambitious – yes. But we did it! All of us. Not one of us chose to be left behind and that was spectacular in a group of 10 people.

What a glorious day we picked. It was warm, the sun shone down from a bluebird sky and yes, the snow had to be knocked off our snowshoes many, many times but the stickiness worked in our favour up the Whale’s Back – no ice so we had good purchase for kicking steps up alongside the cornices.

The views were amazing. I was thrilled to move on from there and go up the far ridge where we had lunch with the best lunch view I have ever had. (this is saying something when I consider some of my lunch spots).

We had nothing but smiles and bliss all around. How could it have been otherwise?

And yes, coming down the south face was slippy. Falls were inevitable. But we all arrived in one piece. Happiness all around.