Lake Unknown to Serpentine Range, 3 - 11 January 2011

A wonderfully relaxed, scenic trip through the Otago Alps. Day 1: Drive from Dunedin, then over Sugarloaf Pass into the Rock Burn. Day 2: Theatre Flat, then Minos Peak, and a superb campsite perched above the bluffs overlooking Lake Unknown. Day 3: Over the shoulder of Mt Chaos into the basin between Amphion, Minos and Chaos. Day 4: Pit Day. Day 5 started with a storm that nearly destroyed our tents. As soon as the weather eased, I set off for an enjoyable scramble up Mt Chaos. Later in the afternoon we attempted the north ridge of Amphion Peak, but were turned around by a rock step we were not equipped for. Day 6: Park Pass Glacier to the low peak of Poseidon, then down to Park Pass. Day 7: Along the ridge to Lake Nerine, then North Col and onto the Serpentine Range. Day 8: Along the Serpentine Range to Mt Erebus and down to the outlet of Lake Wilson. Day 9: Out via the Valley of the Trolls to Harris Saddle and the Routeburn Track. Party: George O'Sullivan, Raphaëlle Brin, Danilo Hegg

Park Pass Glacier and Poseidon Peak
Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Park Pass Glacier Poseidon Peak Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 452
Descending to Park Pass
Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Park Pass Rock Burn Somnus Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 458
The Bryneira Range reflects in a tarn on Park Pass
Bryneira Range Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Park Pass Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 467
Climbing the ridge south of Park Pass, on the high-level route to Lake Nerine. Hidden Falls Creek and the Bryneira Range to the left; Park Pass Glacier above
Bryneira Range Cow Saddle Hidden Falls Creek Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Park Pass Park Pass Glacier Poseidon Peak Sarpedon Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 475a
The Bryneira Range and Cow Saddle from the ridge south of Park Pass
Bryneira Range Cow Saddle Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Park Pass Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 476
Hidden Falls Creek and the Darran Mountains from the ridge south of Park Pass
Darran Mountains Hidden Falls Creek Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Park Pass Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 482
On the high level route from Park Pass to Lake Nerine. We scrambled along the jagged ridge to 1650m of elevation, then descended the scree gully near the left edge of the picture to gain the high shelves east of unnamed peak 1744m
Lake Nerine Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Park Pass Park Pass Glacier Poseidon Peak Sarpedon Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 486
Stunning views from unnamed peak 1740m. Lake Nerine, Somnus and Nereus Peak.
Lake Nerine Mount Aspiring National Park Nereus Peak New Zealand Rock Burn Somnus Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 490a
The Darran Mountains from the ridge west of Lake Nerine
Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Madeline Mount Tutoko New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 506
Lake Nerine and the Forbes Mountains
Forbes Mountains Lake Nerine Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Earnslaw New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 512a
Looking south along the Serpentine Range. Mount Erebus at centre image
Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Erebus New Zealand Routeburn Serpentine Range Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 518
On the Serpentine Range. Somnus to the left, Mount Erebus to the right
Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Erebus New Zealand Routeburn Serpentine Range Somnus Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 524a
The lake at the head of Swamp Creek
Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Serpentine Range Southern Alps Swamp Creek Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 526
On the Serpentine Range.
Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Serpentine Range Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 529
On the Serpentine Range. From left to right are unnamed peak 1796m, North Col and Nereus Peak
Mount Aspiring National Park Nereus Peak New Zealand North Col Serpentine Range Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 532
North Routeburn and Mount Erebus
Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Erebus New Zealand North Col Routeburn Serpentine Range Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 537
Mount Erebus and Lake Wilson from unnamed peak 1807m, Serpentine Range
Lake Wilson Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Erebus New Zealand Serpentine Range Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 547a
View into Moraine Creek from unnamed peak 1807m, Serpentine Range. Mount Gifford is on the far left. Mount Elliot stands out above Adelaide Saddle, just left of centre image.
Darran Mountains Moraine Creek Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Elliot Mount Erebus Mount Gifford New Zealand Serpentine Range Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 550
View up Cleft Creek. The Central Darrans above, from Mt Mahere (left) to Mt Tutoko (right)
Cleft Creek Darran Mountains Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Erebus Mount Mahere Mount Milne Mount Syme Mount Tarewai Mount Tutoko New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 551
Harris Saddle and Lake Wilson from unnamed peak 1807m, Serpentine Range. Lake Gunn is visible in the distance, right above the summit of Conical Hill
Conical Hill Harris Saddle Lake Gunn Lake Wilson Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Erebus New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 557
Cushion forget-me-not (Myosotis pulvinaris). Mt Erebus
Flora Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Erebus New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 569
View from Mt Erebus: Lake Wilson and the Darran Mountains
Conical Hill Darran Mountains Lake Wilson Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Christina Mount Erebus New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 573
Looking into the North Routeburn from Mt Erebus: Somnus at centre image; Nereus Peak on the far left.
Humboldt Mountains Momus Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Erebus Nereus Peak New Zealand North Col Routeburn Serpentine Range Southern Alps Tramping Upper Peak Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 583
Panorama from Mt Erebus, stretching from Martins Bay (left) to Upper Peak (right)
Humboldt Mountains Momus Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Erebus Nereus Peak New Zealand North Col Routeburn Serpentine Range Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 597a
Mount Xenicus from Mount Erebus
Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Erebus Mount Xenicus New Zealand Serpentine Range Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 599
Lake Wilson
Lake Wilson Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 609a
Descending from Lake Wilson into the Valley of the Trolls
Lake Wilson Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Valley of the Trolls Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 617
Descending from Lake Wilson into the Valley of the Trolls
Lake Harris Lake Wilson Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Valley of the Trolls Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 622a
At the head of the Valley of the Trolls
Lake Wilson Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Valley of the Trolls Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 625
Lake Harris and Harris Saddle
Harris Saddle Lake Harris Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Routeburn Southern Alps Tramping Valley of the Trolls Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 631
Back to civilization - Harris Saddle shelter. Mt Lyttle, Mt Christina and Mt Gunn in the background
Harris Saddle Mount Aspiring National Park Mount Christina Mount Gunn Mount Lyttle New Zealand Routeburn Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 637
Routeburn Falls village
Mount Aspiring National Park New Zealand Routeburn Routeburn Falls Hut Southern Alps Tramping Lake Unknown Serpentine Range 642

Southern Alps Photography

Lake Unknown to Serpentine Range, 3 - 11 January 2011

Gallery comments

Eifel Walder

Kate Chaston