Route from Carkeek to Dracophyllum knob/hut
Hi there - planning my next solo trip - Im after some info - if anyone has it - on a route across the Park Valley from the Carkeek Ridge to Dracophyllum. Planning on knocking off a few huts on this trip - Carkeek hut will be my destination for the night, then the next day I may need to backtrack a bit up the Carkeek ridge to trip across to Drac.
I think there is a crossing point across to Nicholls further down the Carkeek ridge/spur, however this is my best chance to knock off Drac. The ridge/spur countours down into Park Valley from point 1285 on Carkeek ridge look like a possibility?
Any views or knowledge on a semi-established route this way appreciated. cheers!
42 comments
Cheers Gaiters. I worked out the other day I've only done 24 Tararua huts - so hence this (and future) missions.
Plus theres the secret ones, I havent even started on them!
I was wondering about 1212 as well, looks like very doable on the topo. I think that one is the go.
Cheers!
I've still got mangahao biv, carkeek and Draco. I've got a few of the secret huts. Wams is good for that. Keen to find thornhills hut. I've got a rough idea where that is.
1
down and around most of those spurs, back in the 60s, 70s.
cant recall some of them now :)
but the spur off point 1212 was ok. theyre all very overgrown now, thanks to much less deer
few of the spurs in the upper park valley up to the main range are bit steep/scrubby.
I'd pick the one up to 1038. stay away from the steep alpine scrub spurs. theyre near impassible, mostly
good luck
1
Cheers Hunter. Now you mention it - I have noticed far less in-bush animal trails in the Tararuas bush - I have done heaps around the Eyres, Takatimus in the South Island off-track, and you can usually always reliably follow deer trails in the beech in those parts.....
That old 'maps past' route from Carkeek Ridge towards Butcher Knob that starts just NW of point 1435 looks possible on paper. And the contours on the modern maps leading up from Park River to just south of point 1158 on the track also look okay. My tuppence worth, I haven't done it myself. I went into Carkeek Hut from McGregor Biv via Park Forks. And if you are thinking of the longer route via Park Forks, Nichols and Kelleher, just be aware when I did it, I didn't see any DOC markings in the river of where the spur up to Nichols starts, so in my experience, GPS is helpful. (Don't get me started on DOC's absurd 'wilderness experience' policy)
What is your planned route? And how long are you planning for this trip? It takes me a long solid day to get to arĂȘte biv via south Ohau hut.
Roughly 5 1/2 - 6 to get to McGregor biv via holdsworth. Its feasible to get to carkeek from holdsworth in one day. But it's a big one and I haven't done it.
Pretty big slog to bag carkeek for your 26th tarry hut.
I slogged it up to Dorset hut in a day from the pines with the intention of getting to carkeek the next day. But I was a bit buggered after the first days effort so called it off, Dorset huts a great spot anyway. Wish I had done it now as it's hard getting three days off these days.
Went into Carkeek from the Kiriwhakapapa roadend in a day. Via Blue Range Hut, Cow Saddle, Bannister, Arete Hut. But do recall stumbling mindlessly down the Carkeek ridge taking in nothing: absolutely buggered.
Back out the next day via Dorset Hut, Tarn Hut, Girdlestone, Cow Crk Hut, Blue Range. Was easier but still long ...
Damn those are some mountain goat legs there madpom.
Wow - going to carkeek from McGregor via Parks Forks looks interesting but those gorgy looking sections in the Waiohine river would put me off that route. Yes the section at 1158 looks good however I dont want to backtrack that much back up carkeek ridge.....
Holy shite Madpom, I'm not doing it your way, thats for sure!
Plan at this stage is a 3-day trip - so plenty of time. Starting Sat AM, go in at Kiriwhakapapa, past Blue Range, stay at Cow Creek. Next day, from Cow Creek, past Arete Forks, to Carkeek over PInnacles, Lancaster, Thompson. Then down Carkeek Ridge. Next day (Monday) backtrack a small amount, up the ridge, find a suitable point to cross Park Valley, up to Drac, then out past Nicholls, Waitewaiwai.
I'm just taking my time on this trip, taking my time.
The last trip was a WTMC that went from Cone Hut, over Cone, Neill, Winchcombe, to Hector, then over the ridge to Alpha. That turned out to be a pretty slog in itself over an almost 12 hour day. So I have a steady pace, just not a really fast one!
Wow - going to carkeek from McGregor via Parks Forks looks interesting but those gorgy looking sections in the Waiohine river would put me off that route. Yes the section at 1158 looks good however I dont want to backtrack that much back up carkeek ridge.....
Holy shite Madpom, I'm not doing it your way, thats for sure!
Plan at this stage is a 3-day trip - so plenty of time. Starting Sat AM, go in at Kiriwhakapapa, past Blue Range, stay at Cow Creek. Next day, from Cow Creek, past Arete Forks, to Carkeek over PInnacles, Lancaster, Thompson. Then down Carkeek Ridge. Next day (Monday) backtrack a small amount, up the ridge, find a suitable point to cross Park Valley, up to Drac, then out past Nicholls, Waitewaiwai.
I'm just taking my time on this trip, taking my time.
The last trip was a WTMC that went from Cone Hut, over Cone, Neill, Winchcombe, to Hector, then over the ridge to Alpha. That turned out to be a pretty slog in itself over an almost 12 hour day. So I have a steady pace, just not a really fast one!
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Forum | Tracks, routes, and huts |
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Started by | si-dog |
On | 5 March 2018 |
Replies | 41 |
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