Current Routeburn conditions 26/10/20 ?.

Nasty windy and rainy up there at the moment. Could be stuff coming off the higher bluffs as rain saturates the snow. Not too much snow below 1500 m any more, it might be a goer later in the week, next week if the weather clears and stabilises? I emphasise the question mark at the end of the last sentence, you’d have to evaluate things from above Falls at the time before considering proceeding through the Lake Harris bluffs. Freezing level above 2000 m so it should only be rain on the slopes above the track, no new snow to worry about. Keep an eye on https://www.avalanche.net.nz/region/12 From McKenzie through to the divide is still closed due to slips/track damage from last summer? The part of the track that would probably give me the most pause would be the zigzag section from Ocean Peak Corner down towards Lake McKenzie. (Directly south/below point 1310) It's south facing, completely shaded, could be filled with snow, some of it is steep with nasty bluffs below. You can't evaluate it till you get there, and it's hard to turn back at that point as you're most of the way to McKenzie. I do wonder if it's possible to bypass that section by heading down the spur south of Ocean Peak Corner and then bush bashing east from about the 1000 m contour? https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-44.766054,168.164592&z=15&pin=1

The zig-zag would be that last bit before McKenzie Hut, below point 1310 ?. Can probably day-trip to Conical Hill from The Divide when it's open over Xmas . Thanks for the info Ian_H. Been watching the forecasts for a few weeks. Glad the -14 deg day didn't eventuate this week (McKenzie Hut/Conical Hill). Just going for a nosey before it gets expensive. Cheers !.

In summer conditions, a good alternative to doing the standard Routeburn is to go to Routeburn Shelter, leave a bike there, go back and park at the bottom of Scott Creek. Go up to Scott Basin and over to Kay Creek, either direct or via Death Valley, down Kay Creek into the Caples and then up to McKellar Saddle. From there stay high, heading due north to the West of pt 1449, aim to camp near [here](https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-44.817433,168.150644&z=15&pin=1). From there head north past pt 1197, rejoin the route burn [just before Earland Falls](https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-44.804615,168.152232&z=15&pin=1). Then you've just got the rest of the Routeburn to do, get on your bike back to the car. Scott Creek has a bit of an unpleasant tree fall area that I don't think has been cleared, the very top of Kay Creek is steep and probably a snow filled gully beside a waterfall at the moment, but once the snow's gone it's good.

https://www.metdata.net.nz/doc/harris/cam3/live.php

Also warned : ""Harris bluffs area before the Harris saddle. It has not been assessed by the avalanche ranger yet. We don't manage these hazards or risks until the Great Walk season beginning 2nd November. Conical hill track is usually filled with snow into November/December as a lot of the track faces south and the snow sits in a gut where the track is during summer."" The Harris Saddle cam looks encouraging when not clagged in cloud !. Thanks Wayno.

snows been sporadic enough to melt off in between dumps.. a lot better so far than previous years. DOC will advise on the routeburn site that a helicopter is needed to get around harris bluffs if its still an issue

Yes, less snow about than previous years, but still quite unevenly spread. I went up to [Hawke Pass](https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-45.136221,168.81566&z=14&pin=1) last Friday (from Wye Creek, to pass overlooking Lake Hope). Bare tussock and only a few small patches of snow all the way to the pass on the western side. The eastern side down to Lake Hope was a different story - shaded by pt 2090 and the other points north of the lake, the basin sides had plenty of hard snow and a cornice/very steep snow at the top, Lake Hope was still frozen. My thoughts would be that the Routeburn to McKenzie is probably possible at the moment, provided the weather stays stable, but I'd be taking an ice axe and crampons in case there were some isolated hard snow gullies/slopes in shaded corners that needed to be crossed.

Confirmed. No snow on the track apart from a chunk smaller than an ironing board beside the track approaching Harris Shelter. Poked it with a finger to see if it was real. Zilch avalanche hazard Harris Bluffs. Poor Winter for snow they reckoned. Some people got wet socks from hiking Conical Hill snowy approach. Didn't go McKenzie Hut this time. Very warm most times. 16deg at car park on day out. 19 deg by time got to Glenorchy General Store. Recommend the Salmon & Bacon pie. :)

Good to hear back from you. So you went from Routeburn Shelter to McKenzie and back with a night at Falls Hut? Any indication if people are going through to Howden or as far as Earland Falls? Thanks.