Routeburn in 1 day
Original post
Hi all, hope everyone has recovered from the latest quake ok
Wondering if anyone has attempted Routeburn in a day? Don't know if I'm being ridiculous considering it but that seems to be the consensus from people I've asked who've walked it in 2-3 days. There seem to be plenty on the interweb who do it in a day with small packs.
I am booked to come to Glenorchy mid-Dec and was initially just going to meander around Greenstone/Caples as suggested by a few on here but I'm now hoping to add Routeburn for some elevation.
- Routeburn Shelter to Greenstone Saddle: 30km ?? 7am-8pm ??
- Greenstone Saddle to Steele Creek Hut: 20km
- Steele Creek Hut to Greenstone/Caples carpark: 20km
It seems relatively easy to have a Plan B for weather in the Gr/Caples and I wouldn't attempt to do Routeburn in bad weather but my concern would be getting stuck somewhere in the middle of it if caught unawares. If I start then I have to commit to finishing it in one day as Lake Mac is fully booked. My pack is 12kg and I'm carrying my own tent and all the emergency essentials.
My other option would be to reverse it without Steele Creek
- Greens/Cap carpark to Greenstone Saddle 30km
- Saddle to Routeburn Flats 23km
- Flats and out 7km
Appreciate any advice either way! Thanks
A few years ago a group of people in a club called Ridge Runners took a long weekend and ran the Milford on the Saturday the Routeburn on the Sunday and attempted the Kepler on the Monday but bad weather saw them drop out half way. They did it in May at the end of the season and believe it or not had time to take photos
For normal people that equates to madness
the routeburn is a benched track with 800m of altitude gain, the only limitation on how fast you can go in summer is your fitness and adverse weather..
Lots of people do the entire Routeburn in one day. Routeburn Shelter to Howden hut is only 30km. It should take about 8-9 hours to Greenstone Saddle (or to the Divide).
These are my average times with a 20-25kg pack on (I often use the Routeburn to access more interesting country off track).
Shelter-Routeburn Flats: 2 hours
Flats-Falls hut: 1 hour
Falls-Harris Saddle: 1 hour
Harris-Hollyford corner: 1 hour
Hollyford corner-Lake Mackenzie: 1 hour
Mackenzie-Earland Falls: 1 hour
Eastland Falls-Howden hut: 30 minutes
Howden hut-Greenstone Saddle: 20 minutes
(Howden hut-McKellar hut: 2 hours)
Add 1.5 hours for Conical Hill
Steele Creek is way better country then the boring Greenstone, it's a gorgeous valley with a cute little hut. Do a side trip up Peak 1611 if you get the chance.
Ok thanks guys, feeling reassured. Sticking with my plan but have booked the Flats campsite so I can double back if I'm desperate for shelter.
@Yarmoss thanks for the breakdown although I suspect I'll need to add at least 3hrs to your day. Hoping for Saddle-Caples-Steele Creek-Greenstone-carpark. Will definitely add on 1611 if my legs are still functioning
No worries. So you're going north-south over Steele Creek? That'll be a big day from Greenstone Saddle to the hut then. When I did Steele Creek I started at the upper Caples hut (it was still a DOC hut) and it took about 8 hours to Steele Creek hut. It's a big climb followed by a bit of scrub bashing in the upper valley, and then I lost the track in the bush. Keep to the true right, some maps show the track on the true left but it's not there.
I've been double checking the times on Madpom's website (routeguides.co.nz) and I don't think you'll be able to do a crossing of Steele Creek in your time frame.
You'll be looking at about 12.5 hours from Greenstone Saddle to Steele Creek hut if approaching from the north. Going up Steele Creek from the south its only about 8 hours to the hut, but then on day three its 5.5 hours down the Caples from Upper Caples hut AFTER you've gone over Steele Creek Saddle... maybe 6 hours down from Steele hut to Upper Caples if its 8 hours up, making an 13.5 hour day?
You really need an extra day for Steele Creek. I would suggest picking either the Caples or Greenstone for your day 2 and 3. Maybe stay at Slip Flat hut instead of soulless Greenstone Hut. Maybe take a side trip up Kay Creek and stay at Kay Creek hut (it had restoration work done on it back in April and is now habitable again).
Ok thanks @Yarmoss, I had wondered about timing with Steele Creek. My plan was to climb up from the north, stop wherever I had got to about 1pm for lunch with a view and then re-assess. If I hadn't made it far enough I'd just go back down the way I came and camp somewhere between the upper and mid Caples huts. Day 2/3 is more flexible so I can just see how I go - will check out Kay Creek if Steele Creek makes me tired just looking at it. Thanks again! Will stop worrying so much now
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| Forum | Tracks, routes, and huts |
|---|---|
| Started by | SianS |
| On | 17 November 2016 |
| Replies | 7 |
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