Routeburn Track in May for Beginner
1–10 of 17
Page: 12
Original post
Hi everyone.
I'm pretty much a beginner. 28 yo. I started with The Pinnacles in March (ended up going from the hut to the top 3 times over the 12 hours we were there) and then did the Tongariro Crossing in April (which included Mt Ngaruahoe which was totally closed in and sub-freezing at the top).
Had planned a 16-17 May trip of the Routeburn with a friend who ended up pulling out 3 weeks ago but I've decided to push on.
Basically I'm just looking for all and any information and advice I can. Open to learning and taking advice.
I feel confident in my ability and consider myself reasonably steady headed in decision making, however I realise I am still a beginner and don't know as much as I may think I do. I've only just started tramping but was bought up doing outdoor things. I've spent the last month hours each night reading conditions, winter advice for the track, general outdoor skills etc. No this doesn't make up for one day on the trail, but I was bought up to over-prepare for everything so I'm doing what I can.
This was a good discussion (http://tramper.nz/?view=topic&id=8218&offset=1), and I had already read the winter routeburn page 4 or 5 times. I know it's off season but the bridges are still there until the end of May. I'll be hiring a PLB. I have spoken to both DoC Queenstown and the Great Walks in Te Anau and gotten advice. I bought a Silva compass and Topo maps and practiced nagivation during the Tongaroro trip.
Getting advice from people who have actually done this in winter would be great. Are the rivers likely to be unsafe to pass? I wouldn't do this after May as the snow/avalanche risk build but feel ok for now.
With the recent death and weather forecast for the weekend there are some friend/family wondering if I'm safe going. I understand there is risk in going and the decision to go is my responsibility. Any severe turn in the weather between now and next weekend and I'm happy to call it off but at this stage I feel ok with the risk level.
Thoughts?
I have safety-oriented equipment such as gaitors, full first aid back, PLB, emergency blanket, extra food, MSR PocketRocket, knife, beanie, gloves, pack dry-bag, smaller dry-bag, headlamp, micro torch, compass, Topo Maps, full Polypro base layers, mid thermal and hardshell Marmot jacket.
This so much depends on the weather conditions at the time, and any snowfall before your trip.
I have tramped in this area in April and experienced heavy snow conditions. Someone we met was caught up in an avalanche. Then in same area one May, with hardly any snow about.
Which end of the Routeburn are you thinking of going in at?
The Q-town end from Routeburn Shelter should be fine to walk up as far as Falls hut at least. You encounter avalanche routes in the next valley up on the way to Lake Harris. The bluffs above Lake Harris are avalanche routes.
From the Divide end you pass under avalanche routes at Earland Falls and Sunny Creek but should be able to get up to Lake Mackenzie fine. The zigzags above Lake Mackenzie through to Lake Harris is usually the part "closed" by DOC during winter and is the most difficult part.
If you're not feeling confident why not hangout at the Divide end, go up Key Summit, check out some (or all) of the Greenstone track, and maybe just go up Lake Mackenzie as a day trip or an over-nighter.
Yes absolutely all weather dependent. With the current snow fall and current forecast I feel ok.
Going from the shelter end.
I don't feel unsafe or not confident, I think I've just let one person get in my ear and plant a doubt haha.
Based on current snow falls and forecast would you foresee (totally disclaimed, your advice is just that and I take my own responsibility) there being an avalanche issue? That's all I'm really worried about, and swollen rivers....
There are others on here who know far more about avalanches then me but if it hasn't snowed for a day or two before you get there and it hasn't gotten suddenly warmer then there's a lower chance of them happening.
At this time of the year I doubt you'll have problems. There will probably still be plenty of people on the track making the most of the post-Great Walks season where things are cheaper and the real winter conditions haven't arrived yet.
If there are no more snow falls in the next 10 days or while you are on the track there will probably be very little risk of avalanches. Sounds like you are thinking about the right things. Watch out for ice on the track, be ready to turn back if its the sensible choice. Have fun.
topomap - you probably won't need it for the routeburn track but its great practise to stop every half hour and see if you can confidently pin your location within 2mm on the map, then predict what you'll see in the next 30 mins.
http://www.metservice.com/mountain/southern-lakes
keep your eye on this, the last decent snowfall we had was around late April, the hills are very bare right now as you can see:
http://www.skyline.co.nz/queenstown/webcams/
But thats all about to change, and looking at that forecast, I think pretty soon.
Avalanches won't probably be your concern if you did the Routeburn, I haven't personally done it in winter but I think if it does puke your gonna have early season snow conditions to deal with. On this track, that may well be fine, as its virtually wheelchair access anyway...
If you are inexperienced, I would strongly advise against doing anything down here by yourself, especially not this time of year. Having said that, unless you go for a remote spot, your gonna have lots of company :)
If it snows. U must know how to use ice axe and crampons. Subject to severe wind above the bushline. Don't thru walk if you're not confident with the forecast.
Thanks for the advice. Looks like I'm going to need some crampons.
There are gale force winds the next few days so I'm hoping those die down too.
I'm hoping I will make the wise decision when the time comes. But I won't be a happy camper (tramper ;) ) if I have to call it off :(
http://metservice.com/mountain/fiordland-national-park
1–10 of 17
Page: 12
Search the forums
| Forum | Tracks, routes, and huts |
|---|---|
| Started by | EvoSmith |
| On | 7 May 2015 |
| Replies | 16 |
| Permanent link | |
Participation in the forums signifies acceptance of forum rules.
In order to manage spam, new members are limited to 1 post every 10 minutes.
Formatting your posts
The forums support MarkDown syntax. Following is a quick reference.
| Type this... | To get this... | |
|---|---|---|
| Italic | *Italic text* | *Italic text* |
| Bold | **Bold text** | **Bold text** |
| Quoted text | > Quoted text | > Quoted text |
| Emojis | :smile: :+1: :astonished: :heart: | :smile: :+1: :astonished: :heart: |
| Lists |
- item 1 - item 2 - item 3 |
- item 1 - item 2 - item 3 |
| Links | https://tramper.nz | https://tramper.nz |
| Images |  URL/of/image |
 |
| Mentions | @username | @username |