Raspberry Creek to Cascade Saddle
I am planning to visit NZ in May and will be around Wnaka around 20 May.I planned to trek to Cascade Saddle from Raspberry Creek.I was hoping to do a retun walk on the same day.I guess that is not a good idea?Failing that I would walk to and stay at Aspiring Hut and do a walk up to the Saddle in the mornig and back all the way down to the carpark.Anyone can comment if these options are feasible?Also would like to know if it is safe to leave a rental car at the Raspberry Creek carpark overnight.I am an experienced trekker,mainly in the Himalayas and Asia (but not very fit anymore).Thanks.
Cascade Saddle return from Raspberry Hut would be a very long day for anyone. It is a 1300m climb from the valley floor to the pylon and then a good 3kms from there to the saddle itself.
However a trip to the Pylon my be sufficient, or even just to bushline, might be sufficient for the purposes of getting a view of Aspiring.
What ever you do, I suggest spending the night at Aspiring Hut as it is about 3hours (from what I recall) up the valley to there, then you can begin the steep climb while fresh in the morning.
I see you propose to do this in May. If so there will probably be snow above bushline. In that case it will be too dangerous to proceed beyond bushline. This route is steep and bluffed and notoriously dangerous in snow, there have been a number of fatalities.
Whatever you do, don't go up there if there is any snow around.
I just saw Azza's photo at http://www.tramper.co.nz/?3498 go past on my screen saver. At the top of the photo you can see the sort of bluffy country that the track goes through. Not a good place to be if there is snow on the ground.
Hey,thanks very much for the very helpful comments.Will definitely note and take these comments into serious comsiderations.BTW are there any great views at the bushline only?
It's a long time since I have been there but I had a look a the angles using Google Earth. I expect you would get a worthwhile view of Aspiring from bushline, as well as other mountains across the valley.
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Forum | Tracks, routes, and huts |
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Started by | block306 |
On | 20 April 2009 |
Replies | 4 |
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