6-8th January 2014- Richmond Forest Park

The bus left Nelson Monday morning 8:15 dropping me off at Pelorus Bridge at 9:15. There was a cafe attached to the campsite, so I had coffee and cake before I started. It was very sunny and hot and this lasted all day. I set off down the Maungatapu Road which was about 7-8 miles to the end where the Pelorus Track starts. The tarmac soon gave way to gravel track, a few cars passed in the right direction, but no offer of a lift until I was near the end anyway.


The Pelorus Valley

I came to the road end and started on the Pelorus Track, which took the form of a narrow path with no surfacing but well placed marker arrows on trees. I prefer this to the well surfaced tracks on the great walk tracks. The path followed the Pelorus river and after a few hours walking I came to Emerald Pools a popular swimming spot, where I met 3 guys who we're doing the full Te Araroa Trail (3000km trail from the top to the bottom of New Zealand).

Very Swingy Swing Bridge (1 person only)

After lunch I carried on along the trail, enjoying a few 1 person at a time swing bridges over the river. The trail passed Captains Hut and then I finished for the day at Midday Hut, with 6 beds it was lucky that only 5 other people turned up. The hut was very hot and there were loads of Sandflies around.

Middy Hut

I woke early on Tuesday morning and set off at 6:00, as the weather was meant to turn for the worst in the afternoon. I set off the steep path upto Mount Fell (signs saying it takes 9 hours), following the orange triangle markers.


Chain for the steep bit up Conical Top

The climb was through the forest and went on and on but eventually came to a steep rocky outcrop. The only way was up the steep sides, but there are chain guides to hold onto. I came to the top and I was on a grassy top Conical Top, with the mountain goats. It was clear and I had great views.

On Conical Top looking over towards Mount Fell

After going over the grassy top I followed the markers over a rocky ridge covered in trees, linking Conical Top and Mount Fell, before a steep rocky ascent upto the peak of Mount Fell at 1602m. The views on top were brilliant, but you could see and feel the clouds coming over.

Turn off for Mount Fell

I carried on over the top and down to the junction for Mount Fell Hut but despite the weather turning I carried on to try for Mount Richmond but it soon changed and the lack of visibility meant seeing the markers was so difficult, so using rare common sense, I turned back for the hut.

In Mount Fell Hut

It was still only 12 midday so I had a long time in the Mount Fell Hut at 1280m, luckily I had my book. I hoped the weather might clear after a fews hours but it carried on all night. It was freezing in the hut but I was on my own, so could move around to keep warm.

Poor Visibility on the tops

I woke at 6 Wednesday morning hoping the weather would have changed but it was raining. I got ready and thought I couldn't hang around waiting for the weather as I had a long day ahead. So left at 6:30 and headed up back over Mount Fell, just about following the marker posts.

Brightening Up

It started to clear a little but it didn't make it easier on the steep rocky descents. I followed the markers back down and through the forest but it was very slippy in places especially when crossing over rooty downhill bits. I finally made it back down to Middy Hut at about 11, and had my first lunch and a big drink from the Pelorus River.



Rocks Hut

The weather had improved but there were still occasional showers but with some sun. I carried on back upto Rocks Hut, which took me a couple of hours following the path up through the forest. At Rocks Hut I had lunch 2 and then walked upto a lookout with great views of all the mountains around.

Dun Mountain from The Rocks Hut Lookout

I carried on to Dun Mountain Saddle and then flew upto Dun Mountain as it was sunny and thought there'd be good views from the top. I flew back down as I saw dark clouds coming and hearing thunder. I put a waterproof jacket on and enjoyed some rain including some hail as I descended to Coppermine Saddle. 

Mountain Bikes on the Dun Mountain Trail (Dun Mt in background)

The shower ended and I followed the Dun Mountain Railway path to Windy Point and then went up a steep path upto Wooded Peak where I followed the long path across the ridge before it rejoined the Railway Track and followed it back to Brook Street on the edge of Nelson.


Views from Wooded Peak

 

29-31 December 2013- The Routeburn Track

The Divide Car Park

The bus arrived at The Divide at about 5:45, so I got straight to walking to my first hut. The Lake Howden hut is only 3km but there is a little turning off to go up Key Summit at 919m high which on a sunny day like it was provides brilliant 360 views.

Key Summit

I arrived at the hut at about 7pm, signed in and then made dinner of noodles with tuna. After a long hut talk from the Warden, I went to bed. It rained in the night and was still doing so in the morning, so I got into wet weather gear and started off towards Mackenzie hut.

Lake Howden

There were no views today and as the track went slowly up through the bush, the only decent thing to see was an impressive waterfall, Earland Falls.

Earland Falls

I arrived at the Lake Mackenzie hut after 2 hours walking and in my damp state I entered the hut and made a cup of tea to keep me warm. I checked the weather report, which just said rain and then headed off back into the wet.

Ascending from Lake Mackenzie

I continued on the track and it started to gain in height as I was now above the tree line. It was still raining, but about 30 mins before I reached the high point at Harris Saddle (1255m) the rain stopped and got a break in the clouds so I got dome views at Harris Saddle.

Harris Saddle Shelter

I sat and ate lunch (Camembert pita) and then went on the side trip up to Conical Hill. It is a nice steepish track up Conical Hill, but is worth it for the view on the 1515m peak. I had some breaks in the cloud and managed to get good views to my east.

View from side of Conical Hill

After some time on the top I descended back to Harris Saddle and I continued along the track around Lake Harris and then to my hut for the night, Routeburn Falls hut by three small waterfalls. It was only about 3pm and I could have easily finished the track off that day.

Following the track

The hut at 1000m offered great views into the valleys below but this was soon obscured as it started raining again. I had a long time to kill so read (finished) my book, made dinner then after the hut talk went to bed about 9pm.

Routeburn Falls Huts and valleys below

It was a cold night and on Tuesday (New Years Eve) morning, it was evident that it had snowed as there was fresh snow on the higher peaks. I packed up my things and carried on the last 6 mile section. It started raining so i was in waterproofs again.

Descending to Routeburn Flats

I tried to go on a side trip up the Routeburn North branch past the Routeburn Flats hut, but didn't as there was a river crossing I didn't fancy. So thought I could do a track at the end of the Routeburn to kill time while waiting for my 2pm bus.

View back up the valley from a swingbridge

On the last section I walked with a Swiss guy who was after the 10am bus so I thought I would try and get on this. We just about got to the Routeburn road end in time to catch the 10am bus and I got on this one to get back to Queenstown for 12.

26-29th December 2013- Milford Track

The Start

Boxing day I woke , slipped out the hostel in Queenstown and caught an early bus 6:50am to Te Anau Downs. It was a longish journey and got there for the boat which left a 1pm to Glade Wharf. The boat went down Lake Te Anau providing great views of the mountains around and glacial valleys. The boat arrived at Glade Wharf the start of the Milford Track at about 1:45pm.

Coming into Glade Wharf

The path to the first hut was only a few miles so I slowly walked to the hut across the well made paths to the hut. It was warm and sunny and there wasn't as many sandflys as I expected. I was one of the first at the hut so chose a bunk, meandered round and got to meet the people I would be spending the next 3 nights with. After some reading, playing cards and a nature walk with the hut warden Ross i had dinner and then waited for it to get dark and then walked 100m from the hut to see some glow worms.

Views of the valley

On friday morning I tried to lie in as much as possible as I knew there was only about 10 miles , plus some extra, to do today. I had breakfast and then headed off down the track. Most of this section was in the bush but breaks in the trees provided great views of the valley. It was a dry day with some cloud early on getting sunnier as the day went on. Trying to consume time I did every side trip available including the Hidden Lake (not very hidden) and the smaller (but nicer in my opinion) Prairy Lake.

Waterfall at Priary Lake

I got to the shelter by Pamplona and had some lunch at midday, but I had already done two thirds of the track. I carried on after some brie and made it to the Mintaro Hut at about 2pm. So I decided instead of hanging round the hut, I dropped my bags and decided to go up Mackinnon pass as the weather was good and thought there was the possibility that I may not be good the next day.

Views ascending Mackinnon Pass

I carried on up the track and then the path started to get steeper and gaining height. But still it was a good path and was quite easy to ascend. I made it to the top by the Mackinnon memorial in about 75 minutes and I was rewarded by awesome views over the valleys below.

Views from Mackinnon Pass

I walked a bit further to the actual highest point of the walk to get views of the valley i'd just walked and then I came back down. Back at the hut I went down to the river and took a dip in the very cold water to feel clean again. At the hut had dinner, chatted then read before going to bed.

The Mackinnon Memorial

Saturday morning turned out to be very sunny and hot, so we would get views at Mackinnon pass anyway. I had breakfast while watching the Kea (a noisy NZ bird, that likes to steel things, even boots) put on a show outside the hut.

Kea at the Hut

I left the hut and started up the hill, passing a lot of my fellow trampers on the way. I made it to Mackinnon pass, took more photos and chatted with the other walkers. After a brief stop at the shelter at the top of the pass I continued down the descent towards the Quinton shelter.

Descending from the Pass

The descent was fun as the track was a bit rougher than the other side and provided good views of Mackinnon pass above. I made it to the shelter and met with the two German girls and we had lunch together along with complimentary tea and cake left in the shelter.

Weka

The three of us left our bags at the shelter and went on the side trip to see the magnificent Sutherland falls, which are the highest in New Zealand at 580 metres. We got to about 50 metres from the falls and got soaked, but we dried off in the sun on the walk back to the shelter.

Wet Idiot

From the shelter I continued along the track and it wasn't far to the hut for the night, Dumpling Hut. By the hut is an awesome swimming spot on the Arthur River and there ended up ten or so of us jumping off rocks into the cool water.

Sutherland Falls

Soon after we got in from swimming, the heavens opened and it rained quite a bit in the night. It was our last night and a lot of played cards, dice games and drank whisky until it was time for bed.

The Swimming Hole

On Sunday morning, I lay in a bit but was still walking at about 8:30. The aim was to walk slowly as you didn't want to be waiting around Sandfly Point for long, as you would get eaten alive. The weather again was good. The last section is about 18km long but less eventful as the day before, as most of it just followed the river in the bush with a few decent swingbridges.

Random swing bridge shot

There is a couple of impressive waterfalls, the Mackay Falls and Giant Gate Falls, where I stopped to have lunch.The track then continues along Lake Ada and then the track ends at Sandfly Point. The last couple of miles I finished with another Englishman and the two German girls and we were at the end at about 1:15 with a wait for the boat at 2pm. But at least we had great views of Milford Sound.

Sandfly Point, Milford Sound

The boat picked us up and the 30 minute trip gave us brilliant views of Milford Sound, including an impressive look at the awesome Mitre Peak, when the boat pulled into the Milford Sound boat terminal.With the few hours I had till my bus at 5pm, I joined an American couple (who had been in our group) for a couple of beers and something to eat, at the only cafe in Milford Sound. I was glad I had packed the food for the Routeburn to, as there is nothing else apart from hotels in Milford Sound village. I then caught my bus to The Divide at 5pm.

Mackinnon Pass

22nd December 2013- Dunedin 3 Peaks route

I woke tuesday morning (22 Dec) had breakfast then caught the bus a 9:13am and got off at the George St/Duke St interchange (roughly the start of the Dunedin 3 Peaks race in Woodhaugh). I then ran/walked up the street and then took a footpath up which took me to Cannington Rd (Wrong turn) but I carried on up the road to another turn off and started running following the path whic pretty much looped round (another wrong turn) and I followed this up to a sign pointing to the Pineapple track and so followed this uphill and eventually came to the summit of Flagstaff, the first peak.

Dunedin from Flagstaff

The weather was very on off, warm, cold, windy, rainy and fine, very much like England. It was easy following the Swampy ridge track to Swampy summit, littered with meteorological stations, masts etc. After being satisfied I was at the top I followed the track back and turned onto the Leith Saddle track down to the road. I crossed the road and went down a gravel track till I came to the a reservoir where I followed a path into the bush and then backtracked after several, minutes realizing it was incorrect.

Boring Track on Swampy

 I then found the tricky path upto Mount Cargill following through thick bush. I came out of the bush to a wide track and I followed this and came to the summit of the third peak, which also had a big mast on. It was windy up there so followed the path off and the long decent into Normanby. I did about 19 miles in total (approx 3 more than meant to). I then walked 2-3miles back to the hostel.

Top of Mount Cargill