Harper Pass vs Hawdon Edwards in January

I am trying to decide between these 2 tramps in January. Transport is not a problem but I would prefer to do the one that has easier route finding/better track conditions. Suggestions?

chalk and cheese! Both are great trips but difficult to compare. Harper Pass - longer, less traveled but obvious landscape features, big river on the taramakau end. Hawdon Edwards - via Tarn Col I presume, popular at this time of year, mostly well marked where needed, easier (climbing up steep slope) from the edwards to the hawdon. Maps and some route finding definitely needed on both.

Fording the Taramakau and the Otehake can be an issue after rain. With the Hawdon/Edwards, you can get the main river crossing over with on the first day and then not have to worry about it coming up again. If the Mingha and Bealey are up, it's possible to sidle on slopes through low scrub on the true left of the Bealey to the railway bridge.

I've just got back from the Hawdon-Edwards (saw your name in the Edwards hut book, Hugh, missed you by about 8 hours I guess!). Managed to sneak it in between West Coast rain fronts. Great trip, I enjoyed it immensely. My first foray into Arthur's Pass. There was definitely some route finding required (particularly in the climb up from Otehake East to Tarn Col) but nothing overly strenuous. I went down the scree on the Falling Mountain side of Tarn Col, fairly straight forward but I was slightly concerned about some of the larger rocks coming down on top of me. If you can time the weather right I'd suggest carrying a tent and camping either on Tarn Col or Walker Pass.

Hi yarmoss, shame to have missed you. Did you pass an exBrit couple heading Edwards to Hawdon?

@Hugh Yup. I was lunching on top of Tarn Col about 1pm when they reached the top. What route down from Williams Saddle did you take? Do you go to Point 1560 and drop west from there?

dropping from williams saddle - sidle 400m sw to where on the map the bush edge meets the 1300m contour (more of a knob and leading spur on the ground) and down the face tending left (south). In the first 120m vertical from the bush edge there is a key gully that must be crossed to the true left, then follow on down tending left. The last 50m into the river bed can be steep but there are breaks. One of the sweeter bits of off track bush in the area.

good to know the exBrits were going well. We shuttled their vehicle for them.

Cool, thanks Hugh. I was tempted to pop up to Williams Saddle in the morning but decided against it as I wasn't sure how long it would take to walk to Arthur's Pass village (5 hours in the end). I bet the Brits appreciated having their vehicle moved. It looks a long slog between the Edwards and Hawdon mouths!

Watch the Hawdon if it is raining as it can also become impassable, especially down near the shelter. The course of the river has condensed in the lower reaches it is deeper than it was in early 2014, knee deep in low flow now.