Lake Barra - Mount Campbell, 31 October - 1 November 2015

A weekend trip to Lake Barra at the head of MacPherson Creek, a raw and wild piece of country in South-Westland.
On Saturday we dove into the bush off the Haast Pass highway just west of the bridge over MacPherson Creek. It was our intention to follow the river up valley, but near the start we veered too far off the river, and started climbing a spur a couple of hundred meters further north. A ravine next to our spur made all attempts of sidling towards the river vain. At 600m of elevation we gave up on our original plan. Given that our spur had a strong deer trail on it, and given that sidling towards the river was not possible, we adjusted our course and climbed straight up to the open tops. We had lunch just east of Pt 1254m, then sidled under MacPherson Knob and Square Top to a spur just above Lake Barra, where we set up camp. Deep ravines forced us to climb to the main ridge just west of MacPherson Knob - in hindsight it would have been easiest to traverse over the latter.
On Sunday morning we had an early start and reached the West Peak of Mount Campbell before sunrise. From there, I took a short side-trip to the High Peak of Mount Campbell. From our camp above Lake Barra we retraced our steps until underneath Square Top, then descended to the riverbed of MacPherson Creek, which we followed back to the road. The descent to the valley floor was made easy by a strong animal trail through the scrub. Once below the main river flats, on the true left of MacPherson Creek, we found a route marked with pink tape, which led us down to near the Haast Pass highway. Not a particularly good route, which leads through some very thick vegetation and does not make good use of animal trails; it also unnecessarily crosses the river at a poor ford, 1km from the road - but it does avoid bluffs.
Party: Crystal Brindle and 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.
Silver beech / tawhai (Lophozonia menziesii) male flowers. Pleasant Flat, Haast River.
Lake Barra 003 Flora Haast River Lophozonia menziesii MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Pleasant Flat South Westland Southern Alps Tramping silver beech tawhai
From Silver beech
Approaching bushline on the east ridge of MacPherson Knob.
Lake Barra 009 MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
View into MacPherson Creek from bushline on the east ridge of MacPherson Knob. Mount Peaceful and Mount Abrupt are at centre image, right above Mac Saddle. Heave Up is further right, and the East Peak of Mount Campbell is on the far right.
Lake Barra 011 Heave Up Mac Saddle MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Abrupt Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell Mount Peaceful New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
View of the Main Divide of the Southern Alps between the Landsborough, Hopkins and Hunter Rivers, from the east ridge of MacPherson Knob.
Lake Barra 014 Barron Peak MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Awkward Mount Browning Mount Clark Mount Dobson Mount Fraser Mount Hickson Mount Jackson Mount Kitson Mount Maitland Mount Marchant Mount Pearson Mount Trent Mount Ward New Zealand Shingle Top South Westland Southern Alps Tongue Spur Tramping
View of the Main Divide of the Southern Alps between the Landsborough, Hopkins and Hunter Rivers, from the east ridge of MacPherson Knob.
Lake Barra 014a Barron Peak MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Awkward Mount Browning Mount Clark Mount Dobson Mount Fraser Mount Hickson Mount Jackson Mount Kitson Mount Maitland Mount Marchant Mount Pearson Mount Trent Mount Ward New Zealand Shingle Top South Westland Southern Alps Tongue Spur Tramping
At bushline on the east ridge of MacPherson Knob, looking down onto the Haast River. Mount MacFarlane is in the top left corner of the image.
Lake Barra 015 Haast River MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount MacFarlane New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
View of the lower Haast River from the west ridge of MacPherson Knob
Lake Barra 021 Haast River MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
Lake Barra and Mount Campbell East and High Peaks from the west ridge of MacPherson Knob.
Lake Barra 022 Lake Barra MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
MacPherson Knob
Lake Barra 024 MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
Mount Maitland, Mount Pearson, Shingle Top behind the east ridge of MacPherson Knob
Lake Barra 029 MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Maitland Mount Pearson New Zealand Shingle Top South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
The Main Divide of the Southern Alps between the Landsborough, Hopkins and Hunter Rivers from the head of MacPherson Creek. Mount Percy Smith is on the far left. Other prominent peaks are Mount Ward, Mount Jackson, Mount Trent, Mount Maitland.
Lake Barra 030 Barron Peak MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Browning Mount Clark Mount Dobson Mount Hickson Mount Jackson Mount Kitson Mount Maitland Mount Marchant Mount Percy Smith Mount Trent Mount Ward New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
MacPherson Knob
Lake Barra 031 MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
View across MacPherson Creek: Mount Doleful, The Right Bower and The Joker. Mac Saddle is on the far right.
Lake Barra 050a Mac Saddle MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Doleful New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps The Joker The Right Bower Tramping
Campsite above Lake Barra. Mount Campbell in the background.
Lake Barra 055 Astrophotography Lake Barra MacPherson Creek Milky Way Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping camp camping campsite night night photography night sky stars tent
The Milky Way over Lake Barra and Mount Campbell, South Westland.
Lake Barra 066a Astrophotography Lake Barra MacPherson Creek Milky Way Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping night night photography night sky stars
Lake Barra and Mount Campbell at moonrise.
Lake Barra 271 Astrophotography Lake Barra MacPherson Creek Milky Way Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping night night photography night sky stars
Star trails over Lake Barra and Mount Campbell, South Westland.
Lake Barra 400d Astrophotography Lake Barra MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping night night photography night sky star trails stars
Night sky over Lake Barra and Mt Campbell - timelapse. Left click on image to play video.
Lake Barra 466a
Crystal en route to Mt Campbell. Lake Barra below; Mt Brewster back right.
Lake Barra 479 Lake Barra MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Brewster Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
On the West Peak of Mount Campbell, looking towards the High Peak. Mount Brewster is back left.
Lake Barra 484 MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Brewster Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
Siblings on the West Peak of Mount Campbell. The tops of the Thomas Range are in the background.
Lake Barra 487 MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Thomas Range Tramping tripod
Crystal at work on the West Peak of Mount Campbell. Mount Diomede is back left.
Lake Barra 488 MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell Mount Diomede New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping tripod
View of Lake Barra from the West Peak of Mount Campbell. The most prominent peaks on the skyline are Mount MacFarlane, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Hooker, Mount Burns, Mount McKerrow, Mount Hopkins, Mount Ward, Mount Jackson, Mount Trent, Mount Strauchon. MacPherson Knob is in the left foreground above Lake Barra.
Lake Barra 493 Aoraki Lake Barra MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Burns Mount Campbell Mount Cook Mount Hooker Mount Hopkins Mount Jackson Mount MacFarlane Mount McKerrow Mount Strauchon Mount Trent Mount Ward New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
Sunrise on the West Peak of Mount Campbell. Mount Brewster is right of the rising sun; the High Peak of Mount Campbell is in the foreground.
Lake Barra 503 Lake Barra MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Brewster Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping sunrise
Panorama from the West Peak of Mount Campbell, looking south-west.
Lake Barra 506a MacPherson Creek Mount Alba Mount Aspiring Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Attica Mount Awful Mount Campbell Mount Castor Mount Diomede Mount Franklin Mount Kuri Mount Lycia Mount Nerger Mount Turner Mount Victor New Zealand Pegasus Peak Rosy Peak Souter Peak South Westland Southern Alps Tramping Trident Peak
Panorama from the West Peak of Mount Campbell, looking south-west.
Lake Barra 506b MacPherson Creek Mount Alba Mount Aspiring Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Attica Mount Awful Mount Campbell Mount Castor Mount Diomede Mount Franklin Mount Kuri Mount Lycia Mount Nerger Mount Turner Mount Victor New Zealand Pegasus Peak Rosy Peak Souter Peak South Westland Southern Alps Tramping Trident Peak
View from the West Peak of Mount Campbell, stretching from Mount Kuri, Mount Awful and Mount Aspiring (left) to Rosy Peak and Mount Franklin (right).
Lake Barra 510 MacPherson Creek Mount Alba Mount Aspiring Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Attica Mount Awful Mount Castor Mount Franklin Mount Kuri Mount Lycia New Zealand Pegasus Peak Rosy Peak South Westland Southern Alps Tramping Trident Peak
Mount Diomede from the West Peak of Mount Campbell. Mount Aspiring is back right.
Lake Barra 512 MacPherson Creek Mount Alba Mount Aspiring Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Awful Mount Campbell Mount Castor Mount Diomede Mount Kuri Mount Turner Mount Victor New Zealand Pegasus Peak South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
View of the Thomas Range from the West Peak of Mount Campbell. Mount Thomas is on the far left.
Lake Barra 514 MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell Mount Thomas New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Thomas Range Tramping
View east from the West Peak of Mount Campbell. The most prominent peaks on the skyline are Mount MacFarlane, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Hooker, Mount Burns, Mount McKerrow, Mount Hopkins, Mount Ward, Mount Jackson, Mount Trent, Mount Strauchon.
Lake Barra 517 Aoraki MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Burns Mount Campbell Mount Cook Mount Hooker Mount Hopkins Mount Jackson Mount MacFarlane Mount McKerrow Mount Strauchon Mount Trent Mount Ward New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
MacPherson Knob from the West Peak of Mount Campbell. Law Peak (left) and Mount MacFarlane (right) are the two extremities of the long, flat ridge on the skyline. Aoraki / Mount Cook is back right. Mount Cuttance is the sun-lit hill just left of (and behind) MacPherson Knob.
Lake Barra 518 Aoraki Law Peak MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell Mount Cook Mount Cuttance Mount MacFarlane New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
Mount Brewster and the High Peak of Mt Campbell from the West Peak of Mt Campbell.
Lake Barra 521 MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Brewster Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
View of the Thomas Range from the West Peak of Mount Campbell. Mount Thomas is on the far right.
Lake Barra 523 MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell Mount Thomas New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Thomas Range Tramping moon
Panorama from the High Peak of Mount Campbell, looking west.
Lake Barra 540a Burke River Citheron Cowan Creek Howe River Lopside Knob MacPherson Creek Mount Alba Mount Albert Mount Aspiring Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell Mount Diomede Mount Lycia Mount Marks Mount Nerger Mount Stuart Mount Thomas Mount Turner Mount Victor New Zealand Rosy Peak Souter Peak South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
Panorama from the High Peak of Mount Campbell, looking west.
Lake Barra 540b Burke River Citheron Cowan Creek Howe River Lopside Knob MacPherson Creek Mount Alba Mount Albert Mount Aspiring Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell Mount Diomede Mount Lycia Mount Marks Mount Nerger Mount Stuart Mount Thomas Mount Turner Mount Victor New Zealand Rosy Peak Souter Peak South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
View east from the High Peak of Mount Campbell. Lake Barra is directly below. The most prominent peaks on the skyline are Law Peak, Mount MacFarlane, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Hooker, Mount Burns, Mount McKerrow, Mount Hopkins, Mount Ward, Mount Jackson, Mount Dobson.
Lake Barra 543 Aoraki Lake Barra Law Peak MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Burns Mount Campbell Mount Cook Mount Dobson Mount Hooker Mount Hopkins Mount Jackson Mount MacFarlane Mount McKerrow Mount Ward New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
Panorama from the High Peak of Mount Campbell, looking south-east.
Lake Barra 546a Abseil Peak Anita Peak Burnt Top Celtic Peak Dans Knob Euchre Top Glistening Water Heave Up Highlander Peak Leaning Mount Lindsay Peak Lindsay Peaks MacPherson Creek Mount Abrupt Mount Armstrong Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Barth Mount Brewster Mount Campbell Mount Enderby Mount Holdsworth Mount Huxley Mount Kaye Mount Peaceful Mount Saint Mary Mount Strauchon Mount Tole New Zealand Protuberance Peak South Westland Southern Alps The Deuce The Joker The Right Bower Tongue Spur Tramping Young Range
Panorama from the High Peak of Mount Campbell, looking south-east.
Lake Barra 546b Abseil Peak Anita Peak Burnt Top Celtic Peak Dans Knob Euchre Top Glistening Water Heave Up Highlander Peak Leaning Mount Lindsay Peak Lindsay Peaks MacPherson Creek Mount Abrupt Mount Armstrong Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Barth Mount Brewster Mount Campbell Mount Enderby Mount Holdsworth Mount Huxley Mount Kaye Mount Peaceful Mount Saint Mary Mount Strauchon Mount Tole New Zealand Protuberance Peak South Westland Southern Alps The Deuce The Joker The Right Bower Tongue Spur Tramping Young Range
Panorama from Mount Campbell, looking east.
Lake Barra 552a Anita Peak Aoraki Doleful Euchre Top Glistening Water Heave Up Highlander Peak Lake Barra Law Peak Leaning Mount Lindsay Peak Lindsay Peaks MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Abrupt Mount Armstrong Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Barth Mount Brewster Mount Campbell Mount Cook Mount Cuttance Mount Enderby Mount Hooker Mount Hopkins Mount Huxley Mount MacFarlane Mount Solution Mount Strauchon Mount Swindle Mount Tole Mount Trent Mount Ward New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Square Top The Deuce The Joker The Roaring Billy Tramping
Panorama from Mount Campbell, looking east.
Lake Barra 552b Anita Peak Aoraki Doleful Euchre Top Glistening Water Heave Up Highlander Peak Lake Barra Law Peak Leaning Mount Lindsay Peak Lindsay Peaks MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Abrupt Mount Armstrong Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Barth Mount Brewster Mount Campbell Mount Cook Mount Cuttance Mount Enderby Mount Hooker Mount Hopkins Mount Huxley Mount MacFarlane Mount Solution Mount Strauchon Mount Swindle Mount Tole Mount Trent Mount Ward New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Square Top The Deuce The Joker The Roaring Billy Tramping
Panorama from Mount Campbell, looking north-east.
Lake Barra 558a Lake Barra MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Brewster Mount Campbell Mount MacFarlane New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps The Joker The Right Bower Tramping
View east from the High Peak of Mount Campbell. Lake Barra is directly below, The Joker is at centre image and Mount Brewster on the far right.
Lake Barra 560 Lake Barra MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Brewster Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps The Joker Tramping
Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) above Lake Barra.
Lake Barra 561 Lake Barra MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell New Zealand Rupicapra rupicapra South Westland Southern Alps Tramping chamois
View of Lake Barra and MacPherson Knob from the High Peak of Mount Campbell. Our campsite is visible as a small red dot on the shoulder left of Lake Barra.
Lake Barra 563 Lake Barra MacPherson Creek MacPherson Knob Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Square Top Tramping
The West Peak of Mount Campbell
Lake Barra 570 MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Campbell New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping
The slopes at the head of MacPherson Creek are furrowed by numerous ravines.
Lake Barra 580 MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping ravine
Descending into MacPherson Creek
Lake Barra 583 MacPherson Creek Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand South Westland Southern Alps Tramping

Southern Alps Photography

Lake Barra - Mount Campbell, 31 October - 1 November 2015

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