Day 1. Klondyke Corner to Carrington Hut 15km
Looking down the Waimak Valley
I began the walk with a long haul up the huge valley and braided river system of the Waimakariri River. Being Scottish, I managed to keep my feet dry all the way - Kiwi trampers like to take the straightest, easiest line and don't fear wading. In fact, river crossings are an integral part of tramping in NZ. They're also one of the most dangerous aspects. Today however, the weather was perfect and the rivers low. I shared the hut with two hunters. Noodles and cous-cous for tea (not for the last time...)
The mountain buttercups were flowering
Day 2. Carrington Hut to Park Morpeth Hut 13km
Early morning - looking down the gorge
This was potentially a hard day as the route up to Harman Pass (1321m) lay up a dramatic gorge filled with snow and ice avalanche debris. The Ranger at Arthur's Pass had warned me against it, and the hut book noted that two trampers had failed only days before (IMPASSABLE, DANGEROUS!!...). It turned out not too bad, only a little intimidating in the chill early morning, but care was required, and careful route-finding to avoid dropping into the rushing stream below. Whitehorn Pass (1753m) was next, a dazzling alley of glaring white permanent snow, but it was the descent that was tricky, soft, steep and probably prone to avalanche later in the day (I was up and over by 10am, before the sun had done its work). Earlier in the day I'd waded across the White River - up here in the snow my feet were turning to blocks of ice. Down below the snowline I stopped for an hour and warmed them up, and enjoyed a leisurely brew. The Cronin river was hard going down to the Park Morpeth Hut, a lovely remote spot near the head of the Wilberforce River. The hut book indicated the last people here were 4 months ago!
At the Harman Pass, looking towards the high-point of the tramp, the Whitehorn Pass in the background
Trudging up the snow to the Whitehorn. The snow got softer and softer as the morning wore on, and the descent over the other side was tricky on steep slidy snow - very dangerous later in the day when it would have been avalanche prone.
At the wonderfully situated Park Morpeth Hut. I was the first visitor for nearly 4 months.
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