Wanted: Tramping partner on Routeburn Track

Seeing your views, and having checked the weather forecasts, I'm now inclined to do just that and attempt a 2pm finish. Not quite sure about Conical Hill though. I tend to walk fast, conditions on the day permitting, so I'll have to be quite lucky. Thanks, guys, for the tips. This forum has been extremely useful. Bob

Update after the walk: (21-22/11/2013) The weather turned out to be dry and sunny, temperature in mid 20's. I spent the first night at MacKenzie Lake Hut, which I reached at 8pm after starting out at 3.45pm. I set out the next day at 5, so I had time to walk up the Conical Hill which was still partially closed due to avalanche risk. The views of the mountains at sunrise were spectacular. I liked the cries of the kea in flight. I managed to catch the 2pm bus at the Routeburn Shelter, but I needed to hurry walking the last three km as I had spent more time taking pictures because of the clear sky, and the extra hour spent at Conical Hill. Overall, a fantastic hike, one that rivals, if not surpasses, the Milford Track.

Thanks for the after walk report. Was there much snow around Harris Saddle or above Lake Harris?

On the way up Conical Hill, I was passing small patches of melting ice, but upper slopes of peaks around Harris Saddle were still covered although in patches. If you could access Google+, I've uploaded pictures there: https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream?source=appredir