Castle River - Dark River, 21 - 30 January 2012
Day 1: I walked from the Eglinton River mouth to Camp Bay, Lake Te Anau. Day 2: Taking advantage of a calm lake, I paddled to Worsley Hut, then walked up Worsley Stream to the Castle River junction. Day 3: Up the Castle River to the head of the valley. Day 4: I climbed through bluffs out of the Castle River cirque, then scrambled up the east ridge of Barrier Peak (wonderful solid granite!) before descending into the head of the Dark River. Day 5: Down the Dark River and into Starvation Creek. Day 6: Wild weather, and a welcome pit day. Day 7: Over Hunter Pass and down into Prospect Creek. Day 8: Out Prospect Creek to Worsley Stream. Day 9: Down the true left of Worsley Stream to Holdaway Memorial Hut (Worsley Hut). Day 10: I paddled to Glade House
View north from the east ridge of Barrier Peak
Barrier PeakCastle MountCastle RiverClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLady of the SnowsLake Te AnauLlawrenny PeaksMoffat PeakMount AspiringMount BalloonMount DangerMount EarnslawMount ElliotMount GraveMount HeadMount MadelineMount PembrokeMount PillansMount TutokoMount UnderwoodMountaineeringNew ZealandNicholas PeaksPyramid PeakThe RemarkablesTrampingCastleDark315a
View north from the east ridge of Barrier Peak
Barrier PeakCastle MountCastle RiverClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLady of the SnowsLake Te AnauLlawrenny PeaksMoffat PeakMount AspiringMount BalloonMount DangerMount EarnslawMount ElliotMount GraveMount HeadMount MadelineMount PembrokeMount PillansMount TutokoMount UnderwoodMountaineeringNew ZealandNicholas PeaksPyramid PeakThe RemarkablesTrampingCastleDark315b
View of Hunter Pass and Starvation Creek from the summit ridge of Barrier Peak
Barrier PeakClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandStarvation CreekTrampingCastleDark322
The east ridge of Barrier Peak - a delightful scramble
Barrier PeakClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandTrampingCastleDark331
Castle River and Castle Mount. The Nicholas Peaks on the far left
Barrier PeakCastle MountCastle RiverClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandNicholas PeaksTrampingCastleDark340a
Route through the bluffs out of the Castle River cirque
Barrier PeakCastle RiverClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandNicholas PeaksTrampingroute topoCastleDark344b
Couloir Peak and the lake at the head of the Dark River
Barrier PeakClimbingCouloir PeakDark RiverFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandTrampingCastleDark350
Unnamed peak 1682m and the lake at the head of the Dark River
ClimbingDark RiverFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandTrampingCastleDark354
Dark River cirque. The descent route from the tops follows a diagonal line from top right to bottom left
ClimbingDark RiverFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandTrampingCastleDark362
Campsite at the head of the Dark River
ClimbingDark RiverFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandTent flyTrampingcampcampsitetentCastleDark374
Campsite in Starvation Creek, where I sat out a violent NW storm
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandStarvation CreekTent flyTrampingcampcampsitetentCastleDark417
View down Starvation Creek, from the slopes below Hunter Pass
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMount HerbertMountaineeringNew ZealandStarvation CreekTrampingCastleDark426
Looking up to the ledge through the second band of bluffs below Hunter Pass
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandStarvation CreekTrampingCastleDark449
View from the ledge south of Hunter Pass: Starvation Creek and Barrier Peak
Barrier PeakCastle MountClimbingDark RiverFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMount HerbertMountaineeringNew ZealandStarvation CreekTrampingTwin SistersCastleDark474a
View down the Dark River. Swan Mere (bottom) and Mt Herbert (top) at centre image
ClimbingDark RiverFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMount HerbertMountaineeringNew ZealandSwan MereTrampingCastleDark484
The bluffs below Hunter Pass. The route climbs the scrub and snow grass fan left of centre image, between the two rock steps
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandStarvation CreekTrampingCastleDark489
Route through the bluffs below Hunter Pass
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandStarvation CreekTrampingroute topoCastleDark489b
Snow showers over Swan Mere, Dark River. Mounte Herbert above
ClimbingDark RiverFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMount HerbertMountaineeringNew ZealandSwan MereTrampingCastleDark498
The bluffs guarding Hunter Pass at the head of Starvation Creek
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandStarvation CreekTrampingCastleDark508a
The saddle between Prospect Creek and Terminus Creek from Hunter Pass
Castle MountClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandProspect CreekTerminus CreekTrampingCastleDark535
Barrier Peak and the Prospect - Terminus Saddle from Hunter Pass
Barrier PeakCastle MountClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessHunter PassLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandProspect CreekTerminus CreekTrampingCastleDark547a
The saddle between Prospect Creek and Terminus Creek from below Hunter Pass
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandProspect CreekTerminus CreekTrampingCastleDark550
Prospect Creek valley head, with the small unnamed lake (bottom left) and Lake Sumor (right). The bluffs in the top left corner guard the Prospect - Terminus Saddle
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake SumorLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandProspect CreekTerminus CreekTrampingCastleDark555
Worsley Stream after a day of steady rain
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandProspect CreekTrampingWorsley StreamCastleDark566
The same view the next morning - but the river was still too big to cross!
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandProspect CreekTrampingWorsley StreamCastleDark571
View across the Worsley from the Terminus Creek junction
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandTerminus CreekTrampingWorsley StreamCastleDark577
The Franklin Mountains from Lake Te Anau
ClimbingFiordlandFranklin MountainsGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandTrampingCastleDark580
View up the Clinton River. The North Branch is the main valley right of centre image, with the peaks above Marshall Pass on the skyline
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandTrampingCastleDark595
View up Worsley Stream, Lake Te Anau
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandTrampingCastleDark602
View up Indecision Creek from the Milford Track boat, Lake Te Anau
ClimbingFiordlandGlaisnock WildernessLake Te AnauMountaineeringNew ZealandTrampingCastleDark606
Neil Sloan
on August 29, 2012Hi Danilo
Those whio pics are so sharp! Beautiful. What camera / lenses do you use in the hills?
Dennis Page
on June 22, 2012Awesome trip, Danilo - Formidable but spectacular country and impressive effort for a solo trip! Quite breath-taking. And great photos too!!