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

Trip map. 1 grid square = 1km. Left click on map then select "Sizes -> Original" in bottom right corner of screen to view full size
At the start of Scott Creek Track, Routeburn Road
New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping stile Scott Death Kay 006b creeping lawyer
Scott Creek Track, in the bracken below the forest
Dart River New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping bracken bracken fern Scott Death Kay 009a creeping lawyer
View into Scott Creek North Branch from the main forks
New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 018a creeping lawyer
New Zealand bluebell or harebell (Wahlenbergia albomarginata) flower. Scott Creek, Wakatipu
Flora New Zealand New Zealand bluebell Otago Scott Creek Tramping Wahlenbergia albomarginata harebell Scott Death Kay 028a creeping lawyer
New Zealand bluebell or harebell (Wahlenbergia albomarginata) flower. Scott Creek, Wakatipu
Flora New Zealand New Zealand bluebell Otago Scott Creek Tramping Wahlenbergia albomarginata harebell Scott Death Kay 030a creeping lawyer
New Zealand bluebell or harebell (Wahlenbergia albomarginata) leaves. Scott Creek, Wakatipu
Flora New Zealand New Zealand bluebell Otago Scott Creek Tramping Wahlenbergia albomarginata harebell Scott Death Kay 031a creeping lawyer
Approaching the saddle between Scott Creek and Kay Creek. Pluto Peak, Mount Earnslaw (in cloud) and Turret Head in the background
Mount Earnslaw New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Turret Head Scott Death Kay 036a creeping lawyer
Forest shield bug (Oncacontias vittatus) on Scott Creek / Kay Creek Saddle.
Fauna Kay Creek New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping beetle insect shield bug Scott Death Kay 048a creeping lawyer
Forest shield bug (Oncacontias vittatus) on Scott Creek / Kay Creek Saddle.
Fauna Kay Creek New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping beetle insect shield bug Scott Death Kay 056a creeping lawyer
Pluto Peak, Mount Earnslaw (in cloud) and Turret Head from Scott Creek / Kay Creek Saddle
Kay Creek Mount Earnslaw New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Turret Head Scott Death Kay 059a creeping lawyer
Wetland below Scott Creek / Kay Creek Saddle. The Forbes Mountains in the background
Kay Creek Mount Earnslaw New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Turret Head tarn wetland Scott Death Kay 077a creeping lawyer
Pt 1552m near Scott Creek / Kay Creek Saddle
Isengard Kay Creek New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tower of Orthanc Tramping Scott Death Kay 084a creeping lawyer
Pt 1552m near Scott Creek / Kay Creek Saddle
Isengard Kay Creek New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tower of Orthanc Tramping Scott Death Kay 090a creeping lawyer
Pt 1552m near Scott Creek / Kay Creek Saddle
Isengard Kay Creek New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tower of Orthanc Tramping Scott Death Kay 105a creeping lawyer
Mount Bonpland (on the far right) and the range north of it from the slopes above Scott Creek / Kay Creek Saddle
Humboldt Mountains Kay Creek Mount Bonpland New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 121a creeping lawyer
At the head of Scott Creek, climbing to the saddle leading into Death Valley
Kay Creek New Zealand Otago Richardson Mountains Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 123a creeping lawyer
Mount Bonpland (on the far right) and the range north of it from the slopes above Scott Creek / Kay Creek Saddle
Humboldt Mountains Kay Creek Mount Bonpland New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 140a creeping lawyer
Climbing out of Scott Creek and to the saddle into Death Valley
Death Valley Kay Creek New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 144a creeping lawyer
On the saddle between Scott Creek and Death Valley
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 148 creeping lawyer
On the ridge between Scott Creek and Death Valley
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 151b creeping lawyer
On the ridge between Scott Creek and Death Valley. Mount Bonpland stands out at centre image
Death Valley Humboldt Mountains Mount Bonpland New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 153a creeping lawyer
On the ridge between Scott Creek and Death Valley
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 158a creeping lawyer
View east from the ridge between Scott Creek and Death Valley
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 162 creeping lawyer
On the ridge between Scott Creek and Death Valley
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 164a creeping lawyer
Descending into Death Valley
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 167a creeping lawyer
Mount Bonpland (right) from the ridge between Scott Creek and Death Valley
Death Valley Humboldt Mountains Mount Bonpland New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 173a creeping lawyer
The very long north ridge of Mount Bonpland
Death Valley Humboldt Mountains Mount Bonpland New Zealand Otago Scott Creek Tramping Scott Death Kay 177a creeping lawyer
Descending into Death Valley
Death Valley Humboldt Mountains New Zealand Otago Tramping Scott Death Kay 184a creeping lawyer
Approaching the tarn at the head of Death Valley - our first campsite
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Tramping tarn Scott Death Kay 189a creeping lawyer
The tarn at the head of Death Valley
Death Valley Humboldt Mountains New Zealand Otago Tramping Scott Death Kay 193a creeping lawyer
Our campsite at the head of Death Valley. Pt 1848m above
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Tramping camp campsite tent Scott Death Kay 225a creeping lawyer
Our campsite at the head of Death Valley. Pt 1933m above
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Tramping camp campsite tent Scott Death Kay 228a creeping lawyer
Our campsite at the head of Death Valley
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Tramping camp campsite tarn tent Scott Death Kay 241 creeping lawyer
The tarn at the head of Death Valley. Pts 1933m, 1915m and 1960m above
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Tramping tarn Scott Death Kay 247a creeping lawyer
Looking down Death Valley
Death Valley New Zealand Otago Tramping Scott Death Kay 260a creeping lawyer
Walking down Death Valley. The pass leading into Double Barrel Creek is at centre image, between pt 1951m (left) and pt 1933m (right)
Death Valley Double Barrel Creek New Zealand Otago Tramping Scott Death Kay 271a creeping lawyer
Kay Creek
Kay Creek New Zealand Otago Tramping Scott Death Kay 274a creeping lawyer
Kay Creek Hut
Kay Creek Kay Creek Hut New Zealand Otago Tramping hut Scott Death Kay 279a creeping lawyer
Lunch at Kay Creek Hut
Kay Creek Kay Creek Hut New Zealand Otago Tramping hut Scott Death Kay 281a creeping lawyer
Kay Creek Hut. Richard's first hut in New Zealand!
Kay Creek Kay Creek Hut New Zealand Otago Tramping hut Scott Death Kay 290a creeping lawyer
Kay Creek Hut
Kay Creek Kay Creek Hut New Zealand Otago Tramping hut Scott Death Kay 293a creeping lawyer
Crossing Kay Creek
Kay Creek New Zealand Otago River crossing Tramping Scott Death Kay 295 creeping lawyer
Kay Creek
Kay Creek New Zealand Otago Tramping Scott Death Kay 299a creeping lawyer
Crossing Kay Creek
Kay Creek New Zealand Otago River crossing Tramping Scott Death Kay 312a creeping lawyer
Crossing Kay Creek
Kay Creek New Zealand Otago River crossing Tramping Scott Death Kay 314a creeping lawyer
Kay Creek river flats
Kay Creek New Zealand Otago Tramping Scott Death Kay 322a creeping lawyer
Swingbridge over the Caples River
Caples River Caples Track New Zealand Otago Tramping bridge swingbridge Scott Death Kay 329a 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!