Castle Hill, 11 - 12 May 2013

First proper snow-plod of the year, and a lovely campsite at the top of Castle Hill, above the Blue and Makarora Rivers. Party: Penzy Dinsdale, Tiffany-Ann Stephens, Erwin Testard, Danilo Hegg

Trip map. 1 grid square = 1km. Left click on map then select "Sizes -> Original" in bottom right corner of screen to view full size
Early morning frost at Cameron Flat, Makarora Valley
Blue River Cameron Flat Castle Hill Makarora River New Zealand Tramping frost Castle Hill 0004
Flammula 'Matawai' (Family Strophariaceae). Blue River track, Makarora.
Blue River Castle Hill Cortinarius collybianus Flora New Zealand Tramping mashroom Castle Hill Strophariaceae fungus mushroom gilled mushroom Flammula Flammula 'Matawai'
Flammula 'Matawai' (Family Strophariaceae). Blue River track, Makarora.
Blue River Castle Hill Cortinarius collybianus Flora New Zealand Tramping mashroom Castle Hill Strophariaceae fungus mushroom gilled mushroom Flammula Flammula 'Matawai'
Lunch on the SW ridge of Castle Hill, still below bushline
Castle Hill Mount Shrimpton New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0017
View down the Makarora River and Lake Wanaka from the SW ridge of Castle Hill
Castle Hill Lake Wanaka Makarora River New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0021
On the SW ridge of Castle Hill. The Makarora River behind
Castle Hill Lake Wanaka Makarora River New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0030
Makarora River trops from the SW ridge of Castle Hill. Mt Brewster on the far left
Castle Hill Makarora River Mount Brewster New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0034
Approaching Castle Hill (at centre image). Powder Flask Peak on left
Castle Hill New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0046
Sussing out the tricky ridge separating Castle Hill from Powder Flask Peak (right). No go without a rope! Mt Cameron on the far left.
Castle Hill Mount Cameron New Zealand Powder Flask Peak Tramping Castle Hill 0052
Mt Brewster
Castle Hill Mount Brewster New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0060
Mt Hooker, Mt Dechen and Mt Cook (the latter is in cloud)
Castle Hill Mount Dechen Mount Hooker New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0065
Makarora River and Lake Wanaka
Castle Hill Lake Wanaka Makarora River New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0071
Blue River valley head
Blue River Castle Hill Eyetooth Mount Alba New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0076
Haunted Spur and Eyetooth
Castle Hill Eyetooth Haunted Spur New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0079
Makarora River and Lake Wanaka
Castle Hill Lake Wanaka Makarora River Mount Shrimpton New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 0092
Makarora River and Lake Wanaka
Castle Hill Lake Wanaka Makarora River Mount Shrimpton New Zealand Tramping night photography night sky stars Castle Hill 0111
Star trails over the Makarora River
Castle Hill Lake Wanaka Makarora River Milky Way Mount Shrimpton New Zealand Tramping night photography night sky star trails stars Castle Hill 0404a
Milky Way over the Makarora River and Lake Wanaka
Castle Hill Lake Wanaka Makarora River Milky Way Mount Shrimpton New Zealand Tramping night photography night sky stars Castle Hill 0577
Milky Way time lapse, on the top of Castle Hill
Castle Hill 1267
Campsite on top of Castle Hill. Mt Stuart and Mt Cameron behind
Castle Hill Mount Cameron Mount Stuart New Zealand Tramping camping campsite tent Castle Hill 1274
Mt Brewster and Mt Armstrong at sunrise
Castle Hill Mount Armstrong Mount Brewster New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1283
Mt Hooker, Mt Dechen, Mt Cook, Mt Sefton
Aoraki Castle Hill Mount Cook Mount Dechen Mount Hooker Mount Sefton New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1287
Noctuid moth (Family Noctuidae) caterpillar in the snow, on the summit of Castle Hill.
Castle Hill Fauna New Zealand Tramping caterpillar Castle Hill insect noctuid moth Noctuidae
Noctuid moth (Family Noctuidae) caterpillar in the snow, on the summit of Castle Hill.
Castle Hill Fauna New Zealand Tramping caterpillar Castle Hill insect noctuid moth Noctuidae
Noctuid moth (Family Noctuidae) caterpillar in the snow, on the summit of Castle Hill.
Castle Hill Fauna New Zealand Tramping caterpillar Castle Hill insect noctuid moth Noctuidae
View of the Makarora Valley from Castle Hill
Castle Hill Lake Wanaka Makarora River New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1321
Blue River from Castle Hill
Blue River Castle Hill New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1334
Panorama from Castle Hill, looking south
Blue River Castle Hill Makarora River New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1338a
Young Peak, Misty Peak and Eyetooth
Castle Hill Eyetooth Haunted Spur New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1344
Panorama from the summit of Castle Hill, Makarora River. Music: Soft Curtains, by Shanel Cuthbert
Castle Hill 1364a
On the summit of Castle Hill. Mt Cameron and Powder Flask Peak behind
Castle Hill Mount Cameron New Zealand Powder Flask Peak Tramping Castle Hill 1367
On the summit of Castle Hill. Mt Stuart behind
Castle Hill Mount Cameron Mount Stuart New Zealand Tramping camping campsite tent Castle Hill 1378
Panorama from Castle Hill, looking south
Castle Hill Lake Wanaka Makarora River Mount Shrimpton New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1381a
Mt Stuart (right) and the head of the Blue River
Blue River Castle Hill Mount Stuart New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1391
Descending the east ridge of Castle Hill
Castle Hill Makarora River New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1396
On the east ridge of Castle Hill
Castle Hill New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1403
Bum sliding on the east ridge of Castle Hill
Castle Hill Makarora River Mount Brewster New Zealand Tramping Castle Hill 1406