Scott Creek - Death Valley - Kay Creek, 22 - 24 December 2012

A wonderful pre-Christams jaunt in Aspiring country. We walked up Scott Creek to the saddle with Kay Creek then over a low ridge into Death Valley, where we camped next to a lovely tarn. We then descended into Kay Creek and into the Caples River, to a second campsite (in beech forest) just downstream of Upper Caples Hut. Here, I had a lot of fun photographing the inhabitants of a silver beech tree - click here to see the pics. On the third day we walked past Mid Caples Hut and out via the lower Greenstone River. Party: Emily Cross, Richard Ramsey and Danilo Hegg

Upper Caples Hut
Caples River Caples Track New Zealand Otago Tramping Upper Caples Hut hut Scott Death Kay 331a creeping lawyer
Campsite near the Caples River, downstream of Upper Caples Hut
Beech forest Caples River Caples Track New Zealand Nothofagus menziesii Otago Tramping camp campsite silver beech tent Scott Death Kay 343a creeping lawyer
Caples River
Caples River New Zealand Otago Tramping Scott Death Kay 371a creeping lawyer
Caples River and Mount Bonpland in the last evening light
Caples River Mount Bonpland New Zealand Otago Tramping Scott Death Kay 376a creeping lawyer
Caples River and Mount Bonpland at night
Caples River Mount Bonpland New Zealand Otago Tramping constellation night photography night sky orion starry sky stars Scott Death Kay 471a creeping lawyer
The constellation of Orion in a starry sky above Mount Bonpland
Caples River Mount Bonpland New Zealand Otago Tramping constellation night photography night sky orion starry sky stars Scott Death Kay 478 creeping lawyer
Caples River and Mount Bonpland at night
Caples River Mount Bonpland New Zealand Otago Tramping constellation night photography night sky orion starry sky stars Scott Death Kay 479a creeping lawyer
Caples River
Caples River Caples Track New Zealand Otago Tramping Scott Death Kay 486a creeping lawyer
Emily shows a different way of walking the Caples Track
Caples River Caples Track New Zealand Otago Tramping handstand Scott Death Kay 488a creeping lawyer
Mid Caples Hut
Caples River Caples Track Mid Caples Hut New Zealand Otago Tramping hut Scott Death Kay 503a creeping lawyer
Just downstream of Mid Caples Hut, the Caples River flows through a beautiful chasm
Caples River Caples Track Gorge New Zealand Otago Tramping canyon chasm Scott Death Kay 540a creeping lawyer
In the lower reaches of the Caples River. Tooth Peak above
Caples River Caples Track New Zealand Otago Tooth Peak Tramping Scott Death Kay 547a creeping lawyer
Caples River and Tooth Peak
Caples River Caples Track New Zealand Otago Tooth Peak Tramping Scott Death Kay 551a creeping lawyer
Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) flowers and seed capsules. Caples River
Caples River Caples Track Flora Leptospermum scoparium Manuka New Zealand Otago Tramping seed capsule Scott Death Kay 492 creeping lawyer
Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) flower and seed capsule. Caples River
Caples River Caples Track Flora Leptospermum scoparium Manuka New Zealand Otago Tramping seed capsule Scott Death Kay 495a creeping lawyer
Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium). Caples River
Caples River Caples Track Flora Leptospermum scoparium Manuka New Zealand Otago Tramping seed capsule Scott Death Kay 496 creeping lawyer
Matagouri / Wild Irishman (Discaria toumatou), with flowers. Notice the size of a thorn for comparison. Mid Caples Hut, Caples River
Caples River Caples Track Discaria toumatou Flora New Zealand Otago Tramping Wild Irishman matagouri Scott Death Kay 510 creeping lawyer
Matagouri / Wild Irishman (Discaria toumatou) leaves and fruit. Mid Caples Hut, Caples River
Caples River Caples Track Discaria toumatou Flora New Zealand Otago Tramping Wild Irishman matagouri Scott Death Kay 512 creeping lawyer
Matagouri / Wild Irishman (Discaria toumatou). Mid Caples Hut, Caples River
Caples River Caples Track Discaria toumatou Flora New Zealand Otago Tramping Wild Irishman matagouri Scott Death Kay 520 creeping lawyer
Creeping lawyer (Rubus parvus). Mid Caples Hut, Caples River
Caples River Caples Track Flora New Zealand Otago Rubus parvus Tramping Tātarāmoa bush lawyer prickle tataramoa thorn thorns Scott Death Kay 522 creeping lawyer
Creeping lawyer (Rubus parvus). Mid Caples Hut, Caples River
Caples River Caples Track Flora New Zealand Otago Rubus parvus Tramping Tātarāmoa bush lawyer prickle tataramoa thorn thorns Scott Death Kay 527 creeping lawyer
Creeping lawyer (Rubus parvus) tangle on mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) shrub. Mid Caples Hut, Caples River
Caples River Caples Track Flora Leptospermum scoparium Manuka New Zealand Otago Rubus parvus Tramping Tātarāmoa bush lawyer prickle tangle tataramoa thorn thorns Scott Death Kay 528 creeping lawyer

Ronald Chen
on January 13, 2013
You are 2 days after us. We walked in from Scott Creek late afternoon on 20th December 2012. Over the saddle to camp behind Kay Creek Hut next day. Then Upper Caples Hut, Fraser Creek Rock Bivy. Back out to Mid-Caples Hut on 24th and Greenstone carpark on 25th. We were only 2 in our group therefore gave up Fraser Col attempt. We heard from hut warden that a group walked in 2 days after us via Death Valley to Kay Creek. Now I know that is your group. You got very good photos. Good on ya, mate!