Lochnagar - Centaur Peaks, 8 - 12 February 2011

A solo trip to Lochnagar and the Centaur Peaks. Day 1: Up the Rees River from Muddy Creek car park to Shelter Rock Hut. Day 2: On to Rees Saddle and into Snowy Creek, then up unnamed peak 2182m, and on to Lochnagar Hut via a high sidle at the head of Pine Creek. Day 3: Over Glencairn Spur into the head of Glencairn Creek and up to a lake at 2120m of elevation on the northern slope of the Centaur Peaks. Day 4: I climbed the West Centaur Peak (2525m), then crossed the saddle into Little Devil Creek and descended to Twenty Five Mile Hut. Day 5: Out to Muddy Creek car park again

For access to Lochnagar via Branches Station contact James Murray, phone: 03 441 8421

For access to Little Devil Creek on Rees Valley Station visit the station's website.

Trip map. 1 grid square = 1km. Left click on map then select "Sizes -> Original" in bottom right corner of screen to view full size
Shelter Rock Hut, Rees Valley. The west shoulder of Cleft Peak (1992m) above.
Cleft Peak New Zealand Rees River Shelter Rock Hut Southern Alps Tramping hut Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 002
Tarn on Rees Saddle. Mount Clarke in the background
Forbes Mountains Mount Clarke New Zealand Rees River Rees Saddle Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 010
Tarn on Rees Saddle. Unnamed peak 2234m (centre-left) and Cleft Peak (centre) above
Cleft Peak New Zealand Rees River Rees Saddle Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 036a
Looking into the head of Snowy Creek from Rees Saddle
New Zealand Rees Saddle Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 038
The gorge in Snowy Creek, right below Rees Saddle
Gorge New Zealand Rees Saddle Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 045
The descent into Snowy Creek through the bluffs below Rees Saddle
New Zealand Rees Saddle Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping route topo Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 054
Unnamed peak 2379m and Mount Tyndall at the head of Snowy Creek
Mount Tyndall New Zealand Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 058
The view at the head of Snowy Creek. Headlong Peak on the left, unnamed peak 2379m and Mt Tyndall at centre image, and unnamed peak 2308m to the right
Headlong Peak Mount Tyndall New Zealand Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 067a
Unnamed peak 2182m at the head of Snowy Creek
New Zealand Richardson Mountains Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 072
Looking up the east ridge of unnamed peak 2176m north of Lochnagar
Lochnagar New Zealand Richardson Mountains Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 087
View from unnamed peak 2182m north of Lochnagar.
Centaur Peaks Glencairn Spur Little Lochnagar Lochnagar Mount Lima New Zealand Richardson Mountains Shotover River Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 099a
View from unnamed peak 2182m north of Lochnagar.
Centaur Peaks Glencairn Spur Little Lochnagar Lochnagar Mount Lima New Zealand Richardson Mountains Shotover River Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 099b
Looking west from unnamed peak 2182m north of Lochnagar. Sir William Peak and Mt Head on the skyline, Cleft Peak in front.
Cleft Peak Lochnagar Mount Head New Zealand Richardson Mountains Sir William Peak Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 116
On the Snowy Creek route to Lochnagar. Looking back to the steep snow-grass sidle at the head of Pine Creek.
Lochnagar New Zealand Pine Creek Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 127
Giant speargrass (Aciphylla scott-thomsonii). Lochnagar Hut
Lochnagar New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping hut Centaur Peaks 136
Lochnagar Hut
Lochnagar New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping hut Centaur Peaks 137
Lochnagar Hut
Lochnagar New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping hut Centaur Peaks 145a
Lochnagar Hut
Lochnagar New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping hut Centaur Peaks 153
The lakelet south of Lochnagar
Lochnagar New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 164
Lochnagar, and the lakelet to the south
Lochnagar New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 173
Lochnagar landslide. Notice how the whole mountain top collapsed one piece, and is now sitting in the middle of the valley floor.
Lochnagar New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping landslide slip Centaur Peaks 175
At the head of Glencairn Creek. The Centaur Peaks on the left, Little Lochnagar right
Centaur Peaks Glencairn Creek Glencairn Spur Little Lochnagar Lochnagar New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 184a
Tarn at the head of Glencairn Creek. Little Lochnagar above
Glencairn Creek Glencairn Spur Little Lochnagar Lochnagar New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 200
The slopes below Little Lochnagar, heavily dissected by ravines. The spur at centre image provides the only descent route into Glencairn Creek from the north.
Glencairn Creek New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping
Lake at 2120m of elevation at the head of Glencairn Creek, on the northern slope of the Centaur Peaks
Centaur Peaks New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 234a
Lake at 2120m of elevation at the head of Glencairn Creek, on the northern slope of the Centaur Peaks
Centaur Peaks New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 241
Lake at 2120m of elevation at the head of Glencairn Creek, on the northern slope of the Centaur Peaks
Centaur Peaks New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 252
View from the saddle between the Middle and West Centaur Peaks
Centaur Peaks Glencairn Creek Mount Ian Mount Lydia New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 257
Looking into Glencairn Creek from the West Centaur Peak. Mt Lydia, Mt Edward and Mt Aspiring dominate the horizon.
Centaur Peaks Glencairn Creek Lochnagar Mount Edward Mount Lydia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 259
Panorama from the West Centaur Peak
Centaur Peaks Cleft Peak Dragonfly Peak Glencairn Creek Headlong Peak Little Lochnagar Lochnagar Mount Aspiring Mount Cook Mount Edward Mount Ian Mount Lydia New Zealand Pivot Peak Richardson Mountains Rob Roy Peak Snowdrift Range Southern Alps Tramping Centaur Peaks 267b
Panorama from the West Centaur Peak
Centaur Peaks Climax Peak Destiny Peak Ferrier Peak Forbes Mountains Gable Peak Head Peak Hunter Creek Moira Peak Mount Earnslaw Mount Head New Zealand O'Leary Peak OSONZAC Twins Richardson Mountains Sir William Peak Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 288b
Lake at 2120m of elevation at the head of Glencairn Creek. The West Centaur Peak above
Centaur Peaks Glencairn Creek New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 302a
Centaur Peaks
Centaur Peaks Glencairn Creek New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 320
Difficult saddle at the head of Little Devil Creek. I crossed directly below point A. Points B and C especially may be better crossings
Centaur Peaks Little Devil Creek New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 337b
East Centaur Peak, at the head of Little Devil Creek
Centaur Peaks Little Devil Creek New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 342
Looking down Little Devil Creek. The east peak of Mount Earnslaw above
Little Devil Creek Mount Earnslaw New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 351
Twenty Five Mile Hut and the east peak of Mount Earnslaw
Mount Earnslaw New Zealand Rees River Southern Alps Tramping Twenty Five Mile Hut hut Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 360
Twenty Five Mile Hut
New Zealand Rees River Southern Alps Tramping Twenty Five Mile Hut hut Lochnagar Centaur Peaks 363

Geoff Bradly
on July 6, 2020
With regard to your comment about crossing into Little Devil Creek, we crossed at the point marked 'B' and returned the same way. It was quite loose and you had to be sure of your footing but we managed to scramble it, but one at a time due to the loose rocks. Wasn't easy though. Great trip and photos.
Danilo
on October 22, 2015
I went solo and had no climbing gear, so I guess the route is walkable. The descent into Little Devil Creek is difficult, and I'd be grateful to anyone who can find a better line off that saddle.
Mikalai Dunets
on October 22, 2015
Great photos! Did you have to use any climbing gear or ropes, or the route is entirely walkable?
Lewis Shaw
on August 31, 2014
Can`t believe no one has commented,unless they`re too busy on the hill!Great pics & good motivation.I`ve come across your photography previously;good stuff.We`ve been planning a trip into Lochnagar & didn`t want to turn it into an epic,but now,I`m not so sure.I live in Methven & have done some tramps down your way but we keep exploring near the back door.Inspiring work!

Southern Alps Photography

Lochnagar - Centaur Peaks, 8 - 12 February 2011

Gallery comments

Geoff Bradly

Danilo

Mikalai Dunets

Lewis Shaw