Aspiring Park Traverse

Hello everyone, A few questions about a trip we'd like to do this summer (late January to mid February) that will take us through much of Aspiring Park. Our plan is to start up the Young River, and link to the Wilkin (Gillespie Pass), East Matukituki (Rabbit Pass), Dart (Cascade Saddle), and exit via the Rees. Obviously a big undertaking, so we've got our fingers crossed for good weather. 1) Has anyone been up that way yet this season or know about current conditions? Or, for that matter, know what "typical" conditions are like in that area by early February? 2) Thoughts on crossing the Makarora to the Young? A jet boat ride sounds like a fine way to start the trip, but is it worth it? (Also, if anyone else is heading up the Young around that time and is considering the boat, it's a better deal if you've got 3+ people; let us know and we can go in on it together!) 3) We haven't found any details on the Wilkin River ford at Kerin Forks - which could mean it's either very easy or next to impossible. Or just that no one talks about it. Has anyone done it? 4) Being a one-way trip, we'll be doing some hitching to get to and from trailheads. Has anyone had good, bad, or other luck with hitchhiking from Wanaka to the Young trailhead? Or from the Rees trailhead to Queenstown? Thanks in advance for any input. - Orla & Liam

Jealous! I've daydreamed about something very similar. I would start up at Fantail Falls and go up the Brewster track and over to the Makarora then down to the Blue Pools and along from there. I've also wondered about starting at the Okuru and heading up the Ngatau and over Siberia saddle. But anyway... 1, Feb is traditionally quite dry. It's probably your best weather window for getting across Rabbit Pass and Cascade Saddle. 2, Theres 3 places to cross depending on what the Makarora is doing. Theres usually a very good braid at about BZ12 996996, (trace a line west from where Brady Creek points westwards at the Makarora). I've crossed there in less then ankle deep water. Option 2 is the normal crossing point just upstream from the Young/Makarora confluence. Its not a difficult crossing under normal conditions. Option 3 is to head up the road to the Blue Pools and cross the bridge there and come down the link track. Adds 1-1.5 hours to your distance walked from the Pools. 3, Yup, again you have options. There's something odd about the river on the map. It doesn't look right. Generally there's a strip of normal flow river at about BZ12 835941. Crossing there is about the same as crossing at the Young/Makarora confluence although slightly deeper. Theres then a stretch of rapids at about BZ12 836(ish)941 which you dont want to be crossing at. At BZ12 842(ish)941, at the foot of the rapids, is a big deep pool which is as far as the jet boats operate to. I have seen people cross there, wading across the pool. Virtually no current but the water can be chest deep or deeper. Google Earth has a good view of the area. You can see the upper crossing area if you trace a line from Kerin Forks hut, running through the edge of trees north of the hut to the river. The rapids run from there down to the pool east of the gravel island on the true right, opposite where the top of the grass flats begin on the true left. You can try your luck further up river at BZ12 828938... you'll need to cross the Siberia to get there though. Otherwise theres usually a braid down at Dans Flat. Or the jet boats will ferry you across for a fee. They dont run if the river is in flood however. I got stuck at Kerin Forks for 3 nights 4 New Years ago due to flooding! 4, You shouldnt have many problems hitching to Makarora. That's a busy road through the Haast Pass. The Rees to Queenstown is a different story. Not many people drive up the Rees. The tramper shuttle is only there about 10am. There would be more drivers in the vicinity of the Dart at Chinamans Bluff due to Lord of the Rings tourists visiting Paradise. Your options are to camp somewhere (say at 25 Mile Hut which is derelict) from where its only a couple of hours to Muddy Creek and catch the bus, or have a very early start from Shelter Rock hut. Or flag the Rees and go down the Dart to Chinamans. Another option would be to go up to Kea Basin in the Rees and follow the Moirs Guide North route over Lennox Pass to the Earnslaw Burn. Would add a days travel but will deposit you in the thick of the LoTR hitch hiking country. Good luck!

Wow - thanks for the excellent information, Yarmoss. That's pretty much exactly what we were hoping to find out. Really appreciate the effort you went to, finding all those lovely grid references. Cheers!

Hi. I did exactly this trip in April 2009. I caught the bus from Wanaka as I wanted to make sure I got going nice and early. It dropped me at sawmill flat and it was an easy wade across the river there, this would be rain dependant of course. I had a rained out day at Young Hut and crossed Gillespie Pass the following day - was in poor weather. Was planning to camp at Crucible Lake but gave that away. Spent the night camped across the river from Kerrin Forks Hut, crossed 3 out of 4 braids ok but the last one was flowing too high, there had been quite a bit of rain, so I would think in normal flows it would be doable. The next morning, with levels still up I walked up the true left of the Upper Wilkin and eventually crossed at Jumboland, a slow crawl. Had a rest day at Top Forks and walked up to Lake Castalia, well worth it. Rabbit Pass is fine in good weather, just need to take care on the steep bits, especially the drop off to the East Matukituki. Camped at Ruth Flat that night. Rest of the trip is pretty straight forward, well marked. There have been plently of warnings here about Cascade Saddle, I have been lucky enough to only strike it on good weather. Enjoy your trip.

Did this trip as part of a much longer route many, many years ago. It was early winter and we finished up descending the Waterfall section in the Wilkin late in the day, wet snowgrass and poor light. I took a very scary slide for about 5m before my mate's exceedingly flaky belay (the tip of his iceaxe poked a few cm into the sod) eventually stopped me. Given he was half my size and weight I remain eternally impressed and grateful that he managed so well. Not something you ever forget. But overall that section between the Dart and Makarora remains in my memory as one of the greatest trips ever. But bear in mind the weather can impact conditions substantially - and if in any doubt at all you need to be ready to wait things out for several days. Best wishes - and take lots of pics.