MacKay Creek to Transit River, 14 - 22 January 2014
Day 1: We paddled across Deepwater Basin in Milford Sound, then walked the Milford Track as far as the MacKay Falls. We climbed on the true right of the waterfall to a campsite in the river-bed of MacKay Creek.
Day 2: A painful 12 hours bush-bashing up MacKay Creek to cover 2km to the lake outlet.
Day 3: We wated out the morning for the rain to clear, then paddled across the MacKay Lake and travelled up dry creek beds to a campsite at the head of the valley. In the evening, I scouted the route for the next day.
Day 4: We climbed a system of chimneys and ledges leading out of the MacKay Creek headcirque to "The Watchtower" (Pt 1674m). Presumably the first ascent of the mountain, and what a wonderful all-round view! After traversing the tops to Pt 1632m (another great viewpoint), we descended to Lake Liz, where we found the old kakapo workers biv in a derelict state.
Day 5: We climbed back over the shoulder of Pt 1632m then traversed shelves towards "Disgusting Saddle" (Pt 1024m) in an attempt at reaching Mt Danger. The descent to the saddle proved too airy, and the climb out of the saddle on the opposite side looked daunting also, so we retreated to Lake Liz and started on our descent to the Transit River valley floor. We camped two thirds of the way down next to a beautiful rata tree.
Day 6: Pit day, sitting out a decent rain storm.
Day 7: Down to the Transit River and on to a hunters' camp in the river flats below the non-existent Hoani Falls. In the evening, Max found the warm springs, which we all inspected the next morning.
Day 8: I paddled down the Transit River to the coast then walked to the western end of Transit Beach, while the rest of the party walked down the valley. Great campsite on the true right of the river mouth.
Day 9: Over the hill to Anita Bay, where we had launch on the rocky coastline. While sidling to the nearby beach, I broke my left humerus and required evacuation by helicopter - only 50 metres from our boat pick-up! A very painful way to end a wonderful trip. The rest of the party took the boat to Milford Sound.
Party: Max Olsen, James Thornton, Peter Wilson, Danilo Hegg
At Transit Beach, we were lucky enough to observe the moult of a cicada. Click here to see the images
Kea (Nestor notabilis) and "The Watchtower" (Pt 1674m), on the tops dividing Poseidon Creek and MacKay Creek
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The Llawrenny Peaks, Lake Terror and Terror Peak, with Terror Falls (the highest waterfall in New Zealand) at centre image
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Lake Terror and Terror Falls at the head of Poseidon Creek
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First view of Lake Liz at the head of the Transit River
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Mount Danger, Unnamed Peak Pt 1811m, "Safe Mountain" (Pt 1634m) and Unnamed Peak Pt 1714m from Pt 1632m above Lake Liz.
Mount Danger (left) and "Mount Tusk" (Pt 1633m, in the foreground) from Pt 1632m above Lake Liz, Transit River
View across Poseidon Creek from Pt 1632m: Llawrenny Peaks, Lake Terror and Terror Peak. Mount Tutoko and Mount Madeline stand out in the background
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View across Poseidon Creek from Pt 1632m: Terror Falls (the highest waterfall in New Zealand), Lake Terror and Terror Peak. Mount Tutoko and Mount Madeline stand out in the background
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View across Poseidon Creek from Pt 1632m: Lake Terror, Terror Falls and Terror Peak. Mount Tutoko and Mount Madeline stand out in the background. The sheer faces of Terror Peak are one of the biggest unclimbed challenges in the country
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Lake Liz and the old kakapo bivvy
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The old kakapo bivvy near the outlet of Lake Liz - in a derelict state unfortunately! We were able to repair it just enough for it to shelter us from the cold wind
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The old kakapo bivvy near the outlet of Lake Liz
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Mount Danger, Unnamed Peak Pt 1811m and "Safe Mountain" (Pt 1634m) from the shelves above the MacKay Creek headcirque
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Mount Danger, Unnamed Peak Pt 1811m, "Safe Mountain" (Pt 1634m), "Sharks Fin" (Pt 1642m) and "Mount Tusk" (Pt 1633m) from the shelves above the MacKay Creek headcirque. All unofficial names were bestowed by Rhys Buckingham during his trip to Lake Moreton in 1973
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View into MacKay Creek from the shelves above the headwall
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Our route out of the MacKay headcirque
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A close-up view of the weakness through the MacKay Creek headwall, which allowed us to climb to the tops. The MacKay Lake below
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Our route through the MacKay Creek headwall
And yet another view of our route through the MacKay Creek headwall
View down MacKay Creek from the bluffs above "Disgusting Saddle"
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"Matawai Falls", draining Lake Moreton at the head of the Transit River. Pt 1542 above
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View into the head of the Transit River from the bluffs above "Disgusting Saddle"
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Looking down onto "Disgusting Saddle" and into the head of MacKay Creek
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Kea (Nestor notabilis) and Mount Danger
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View down onto Lake Liz and Kakapo Castle (top left). The Transit River below
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Lake Liz and "Mount Tusk" (Pt 1633m), Transit River
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A weatherproof hut for sure!
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Descending steep slopes below Lake Liz
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View into the Transit River from the slopes below Lake Liz. Kakapo Castle is in the top left corner of the image
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Max contemplates the steep descent from Lake Liz into the Transit River. Kakapo Castle is right above
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Steep terrain on the descent from Lake Liz into the Transit River
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Cloud building up the night before the storm. Transit River, on the slopes below Lake Liz
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Cloud building up the night before the storm. Transit River, on the slopes below Lake Liz
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Southern rata (Metrosideros umbellata). Transit River, Fiordland
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Where there's flat ground there's water - Transit River valley floor
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Transit River. "Mount Tusk" (Pt 1633m) and Kakapo Castle above
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Marcus Sinclair
on March 28, 2015Great trip and photos!
Crystal Brindle
on August 27, 2014Impressive trek and fantastic photos! Your detailed descriptions of climbs in the Southern Alps are the best I've seen. Thank you!
Peter O'Neill
on February 15, 2014Congratulations on a very interesting trip. Great photos of some hard to reach places.