McBride Burn to Beans Burn, 3 - 7 April 2010

An epic Easter trip in poor weather and conditions. Day 1: Up the Dart Track to Daleys Flat Hut in steady rain. Day 2: Across the Dart River, then up the McBride Burn. Tough bush-bashing! Day 3: Across the McBride Ice Plateau and around Mallory and Irvine Peaks to the Merkl Glacier. In rain and poor visibility! Day 4: Down the Beans Burn to the river mouth. Day 5: Out to Lake Sylvan. Party: Jaz Morris, Nina Dickerhof, 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
Dart River and Daleys Flat Hut
Climbing Daleys Flat Hut Dart River Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Dart River across from Daleys Flat Hut
Climbing Dart River Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
In the McBride Burn
Climbing McBride Burn Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
At bushline in the McBride Burn
Climbing McBride Burn Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
At bushline in the McBride Burn
Climbing McBride Burn Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
At bushline in the McBride Burn
Climbing McBride Burn McBride Ice Plateau Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
At bushline in the McBride Burn. The red line shows our route to the McBride Ice Plateau.
Climbing McBride Burn McBride Ice Plateau Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Nina and Jaz on the way to the McBride Ice Plateau. The gorge of the McBride Burn below, with the Dart River and Mt Alfred behind.
Climbing Dart River McBride Burn McBride Ice Plateau Mountaineering Mt Alfred New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
McBride Ice Plateau
Climbing McBride Burn McBride Ice Plateau McBride Peaks Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Looking down the 430m waterfall flowing out of the McBride Ice Plateau
Climbing McBride Burn McBride Falls Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
The 430m waterfall flowing out of the McBride Ice Plateau
Climbing McBride Burn McBride Falls McBride Ice Plateau Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
The 430m waterfall flowing out of the McBride Ice Plateau
Climbing McBride Burn McBride Falls McBride Ice Plateau Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Preparing to abseil at the base of the south face of Irvine Peak
Climbing Irvine Peak Merkl Glacier Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling
Jaz abseiling off Irvine Peak
Climbing Irvine Peak Merkl Glacier Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling
In the schrund at the top of the Merkl Glacier
Climbing Irvine Peak Merkl Glacier Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping bergschrund schrund
The ice fall at the top of the Merkl Glacier. The 'standard' route to Irvine Peak climbs the far left of the ice fall. In bad weather, we decided to force an alternative route around the north face of Irvine Peak, then cross the west ridge and abseil the southern aspect.
Climbing Irvine Peak Merkl Glacier Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
On the Merkl Glacier at the head of teh Beans Burn
Beans Burn Climbing Merkl Glacier Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Cloud bow over Irvine Peak and the Merkl Glacier
Beans Burn Climbing Cloud bow Irvine Peak Merkl Glacier Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Descending the Merkl Glacier. Irvine Peak above.
Beans Burn Climbing Irvine Peak Merkl Glacier Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
The Cosmos Peaks from the north
Beans Burn Climbing Cosmos Peaks Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Sunset over Terminal Peak
Climbing Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Sunset Creek Terminal Peak Tramping
Sunset over Mt Tutoko
Climbing Darran Mountains Mountaineering Mt Tutoko New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Sunset over Mt Tutoko
Climbing Darran Mountains Mountaineering Mt Tutoko New Zealand Southern Alps Sunset Creek Tramping
The tops between the Beans Burn and the McBride Burn from the Merkl Glacier
Beans Burn Climbing Cosmos Peaks Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Looking into Sunset Creek and the Northern Darrans from our campsite north of Brenda Peak
Climbing Darran Mountains Mountaineering Mt Tutoko New Zealand Southern Alps Sunset Creek Tramping
In the Beans Burn above the Split Rock Biv. The Cosmos Peaks above.
Beans Burn Climbing Cosmos Peaks Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Split Rock Bivvy Tramping
Approaching the Split Rock Bivvy in the Upper Beans Burn
Beans Burn Climbing Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Split Rock Bivvy Tramping
Beans Burn ghost
Beans Burn Climbing Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
South Island robin (Petroica australis), Beans Burn
Beans Burn Fauna New Zealand Petroica australis Southern Alps robin south island robin wildlife
South Island robin (Petroica australis), Beans Burn
Beans Burn Fauna New Zealand Petroica australis Southern Alps robin south island robin wildlife
South Island robin (Petroica australis), Beans Burn
Beans Burn Fauna New Zealand Petroica australis Southern Alps robin south island robin wildlife
South Island robin (Petroica australis), Beans Burn
Beans Burn Fauna New Zealand Petroica australis Southern Alps robin south island robin wildlife
South Island robin (Petroica australis), Beans Burn
Beans Burn Fauna New Zealand Petroica australis Southern Alps robin south island robin wildlife
Rock Burn Hut
Climbing Dart River Mountaineering New Zealand Rockburn Hut Southern Alps Tramping