Nelson Lakes NP (Late Jan.)
Hi people!
I'll be arriving in New Zealand at the start of January. I hope to do some nice tramps around the south island during the summer, starting off at Nelson Lakes NP.
So far I'm all alone, it would be great to have some company during the tramping.
If anyone is interested, I'll do a 9-10 day tramp (though i'm preparing for 12days) starting either 20th or 27th of January (depending on weather and work).
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Day 1: Mt Robert Carpark - Hinapouri tarn
..........(via pinchgut track and robert ridge)
Day 2: Hinapouri tarn - (John Tait Hut) Upper travers hut
..........(via sunset saddle with possible sidetrip to Angelus peak)
Day 3: (John Tait Hut) Upper travers hut - Lake Constance
..........(via Travers Saddle)
Day 4: Lake Constance - Lake Thompson
..........(via Waiau Pass)
Day 5: Lake Thompson - Downies hut (or camping earlier)
..........(via Thompson pass and upper D'urville Pass)
Day 6: Downies hut - Mole tops (camping at tarns near summit)
..........(via Watson Creek track)
Day 7: Mole tops tarns - D'urville hut
..........(via Bull Creek track)
Day 8: D'urville hut - Sabine hut (Mt. Misery)
..........(side-trip to Mt. Misery, maybe camping near the summit)
Day 9: Sabine hut - Mt Robert carpark
..........(via Speargrass hut track)
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*I hope to camp out at most days, but if weather turns foul I'll make use of the hut.
*Day 10 = Resting day (can be anywhere on the track, depending on fitness, possible side-trips and weather)
* 2 days included to wait out weather
* "Escape" plans for the first 5 days or start the loop in other direction if weather is bad at the start.
No exact times for each day yet, still working on that but I expect the shortest day to be 6h and the longest to be around 11-12h.
I'm not going lightweight, I take enough time for breaks and will not be rushing. Tent will allow bivouac and extra days allow for time.
btw, any additional info on conditions, track times (other than DOC) or trip reports is welcome!
If anyone is interested please reply or send an e-mail to:
ward(dot)hoefnagel(at)gmail(dot)com
Cheers!
Wow! You must be fit!!!! I don't know all these trips but your 'day 3' sounds incredibly ambitious. That would be a very long day for anyone. Trouble is I am now getting on in years but I remember that day's trip from when I was fit and there would have been no way I could have done that with all the food and gear for a long trip! Its not exactly running country, and why would you want go that fast anyway? Spending an hour or two on the Travers Saddle and up the side ridges aways is well worth doing. Always used to amuse me when I read "Came over from U. Travers in 5 hours!" - what a waste of a slower more appreciate trip!
I admit that the DOC times around that area are a bit slower than I used to do (probably not these days though!) They say 3 hours St Arnaud to Lakehead which is ludicrously slow. Have done it in 1hr 50, partly running (with full pack - ah, those were the days! lol ) Even now I would do it in around 2 15.
Sounds like a great trip! I just love Mole Tops, lots of tarns to camp by. Enjoy!
Just a word of warning! Be prepared for wasps! Not sure if they will be really throbbing by then but they can be horrendous up the Travers. I've given up going up there in Feb. March because of them. Mind you I'm a bit allergic and getting stung up there once has put me off. We estimated one nest every 30m on the track!!!
Thanks for the advice, Deepriver! I don't plan to rush anything really, taking my time, I usually break up camp at sunrise and settle down late in the afternoon/evening. I've got my spare days to use so, I'll be moving at a pace that feels comfortable.
Spending some time at the ridges sounds like a good idea, will consider that ^^
I've been looking at madpoms notes for the track (times) between upper traverse and East Matakitaki hut, sounds reasonable, but it leaves room for big differences in time.
That's quiet a few wasps! Will take care around there, might take some anti-allergic stuff with me, just in case. Been stung by wasps in Europe, never had any problems, but than, they might be a little different over there.
When I was there one February there was at least one wasp crawling around per square foot of ground at Sabine Hut, other places weren't nearly as bad though
That will be a nice trip.
IMO, you have a very long Day 3 and a quite short Day 4 – south of Lake Constance is a pleasant camp but I’d suggest camping at Blue Lake (the campsite is close to the lake, well away from the hut). That would even out both days.
Day 5 is a very long day indeed. I reckon Lake Thompson to E Matakitaki Hut would pull most people up (and that’s assuming good weather).
.... and, yes, the wasps are nasty b**tards.
Hi people,
Returned from this track a couple of weeks ago, still working on making a decent trip report out of it.
But in response to the people who answered some of my questions and gave some tips and tricks. And also some of my own findings along the track
1. The wasps weren't nearly as bad as I had expected them to be after the comments, either it was still to cold or their population has diminished. (though there were quite a few around Downies hut)
2. Crossing sunset saddle to hopeless hut was fairly easy, was marked by cairns and down in the hopeless valley with the DOC orange markers.
3. Like people said, the 3rd day was a big one, actually to big for comfort (took me just over 12h) from hinapouri tarn to upper travers hut.
4. I found crossing from Thompson pass to Upper D'urville pass a little bit scary on the steep scree slopes even in good conditions (used madpoms tripreport) wouldn't recommend it. but navigation was easy there (good weather)
5. The well traveled path as described in madpoms tripreport was pretty much gone in most places, still sections left but most of it washed away by some floodings. Same for the DOC track further down the (East) Matakitaki valley all the way to Downies Flats. The track is also very overgrown in some places and lots of windfall (meaning markers have been gone) make following the track difficult.
It was a great trip, beautifull weather and thanks for the help from the responses earlier on. I'll try to add my trip report here soon.
Cheers
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Forum | Tramping partners |
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Started by | WardH |
On | 16 December 2013 |
Replies | 6 |
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