High Burn - Mount Shrimpton, 17 - 19 December 2015
Day 1: From Cameron Flat up Camerons Creek for lunch at Cameron Hut, then across the river and onto the tops. Sidle under Pt 1866m and Pt 2020m to a scenic campsite on the saddle Pt 1547m above Cascade Creek.
Day 2: Sidling under Pt 1931m, then right over Pt 1940m before a descent to an unnamed lake on the saddle separating Cascade Creek from Camerons Creek. Over the tops south of the lake, then down into the High Burn. The hut was blown over by the wind and is lying on its roof. Across the river and up to a camp above scrub-line, 150m below the High Burn - Big Hopwood Burn Saddle.
Day 3: Up to the saddle above the Big Hopwood Burn, then a long sidle westwards to just under Pt 1960m. I had not intended to climb Mount Shrimpton, but when I saw an elegant snow ramp leading straight to the summit, I could not resist. I then descended the Mount Shrimpton Track to Makarora.
Panorama from Camerons Creek lookout. Mount Birnam and the Blue River are left of centre image, while the ridge of Castle Hill is on the right.
HighBurnShrimpton008aBlue RiverCamerons CreekMakarora RiverMount BirnamNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View up Camerons Creek to Pt 1866m, Young Range - looks like I'm heading into some fresh snow!
HighBurnShrimpton037Camerons CreekNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
Camerons Creek and Cameron Hut. Pt 1866m and Pt 1834m (McKerrow Range) above.
HighBurnShrimpton045Cameron HutCamerons CreekMcKerrow RangeNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
Camerons Creek and Cameron Hut. Pt 1866m (McKerrow Range) above.
HighBurnShrimpton046Cameron HutCamerons CreekMcKerrow RangeNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View down Camerons Creek from Cameron Hut. Pt 1964m (Young Range) is the prominent peak on the right.
HighBurnShrimpton052Cameron HutCamerons CreekNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Rangehut
Cameron Hut. Pt 1886m (McKerrow Range) above.
HighBurnShrimpton060Cameron HutCamerons CreekNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Rangehut
View of Cameron Hut from the west ridge of Pt 1866m, Young Range.
HighBurnShrimpton068Cameron HutCamerons CreekNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Rangehut
View across Camerons Creek to Pt 1886m and Pt 2016m, McKerrow Range.
HighBurnShrimpton071Camerons CreekMcKerrow RangeNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View west from the ridge of Pt 1866m. Camerons Creek and Camerons Hut are at the bottom. Pt 1646m and Pt 1726m (McKerrow Range) are on the skyline.
HighBurnShrimpton075Cameron HutCamerons CreekMcKerrow RangeNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
McKerrow Range panorama across Camerons Creek from the Young Range.
HighBurnShrimpton084aCameron HutCamerons CreekMcKerrow RangeNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View into the head of Camerons Creek South Branch. The saddle at centre image gives access into the High Burn. Mount Constitution is directly above; Triplet Mountain is back left.
HighBurnShrimpton109Camerons CreekHigh BurnMount ConstitutionNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingTriplet MountainYoung Range
Pt 1886m (left, with the diamond-shaped rock face) and Pt 2016m, McKerrow Range, across Camerons Creek.
HighBurnShrimpton112Camerons CreekMcKerrow RangeNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View into the head of Camerons Creek South Branch. The saddle at centre image gives access into the High Burn. Mount Constitution is directly above.
HighBurnShrimpton113Camerons CreekHigh BurnMount ConstitutionNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingTriplet MountainYoung Range
View into the head of Camerons Creek South Branch. The saddle at centre image gives access into the High Burn. Mount Constitution is directly above.
HighBurnShrimpton114Camerons CreekHigh BurnMount ConstitutionNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingTriplet MountainYoung Range
View into the head of Camerons Creek South Branch. The saddle at centre image gives access into the High Burn. Triplet Mountain is back left. Mount Constitution is in the centre; the McKerrow Range continues to the right towards Mount Shrimpton.
HighBurnShrimpton117aCamerons CreekHigh BurnMcKerrow RangeMount ConstitutionNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingTriplet MountainYoung Range
View into the head of Camerons Creek South Branch. Triplet Mountain and Mount Constitution are on the left; Pt 2016m (McKerrow Range) is on the right.
HighBurnShrimpton139aCamerons CreekHigh BurnMcKerrow RangeMount ConstitutionNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingTriplet MountainYoung Range
View into Camerons Creek North Branch. Pt 1964m is on the far right, with Mount Brewster just left of it. The spur in the foreground on the far left is a good route connecting to Stewarts Creek.
HighBurnShrimpton154Camerons CreekMount BrewsterNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View across the Makarora River. Mount Stuart is the flat snowy peak on left. Mount Victor is further left, and the Lindsay Glacier and Mount Nerger are on the left edge of the picture. Mount Cameron (front) and Mount Diomede (back) are perfectly aligned just right of centre image. Further right is the rocky Mount Campbell, then Mount Burke (front) and The Keystone (back).
HighBurnShrimpton155Lindsay GlacierMakarora RiverMount BurkeMount CameronMount CampbellMount DiomedeMount NergerMount StuartMount VictorNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsThe KeystoneTrampingYoung Range
View into Cameron Creek North and East Branches. Mount Brewster is at centre image; Pt 2020m (Young Range) is the rocky peak on the right. Further back and on the left are Mount McFarlane and Shattered Peak.
HighBurnShrimpton164Camerons CreekMount BrewsterMount McFarlaneNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsShattered PeakSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View into Cameron Creek North and East Branches. Mount Brewster is at centre image; Pt 2020m (Young Range) is the rocky peak on the right. Further back and on the left are Mount McFarlane and Shattered Peak.
HighBurnShrimpton165Camerons CreekMount BrewsterNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View into the head of Camerons Creek South Branch. The McKerrow Range is on the right, with Pt 2016m being the most prominent peak. I camped on the sun-lit saddle on left (Pt 1547m), then traversed the sun-lit tops the next morning.
HighBurnShrimpton184aCamerons CreekMcKerrow RangeNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
Looking ahead to the first section of tomorrow's route: Pt 1931m is at centre image; Pt 1940m is back right.
HighBurnShrimpton185aNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
Looking north from Pt 1866m. Pt 1964m is in the foreground at centre image; Mount Brewster is in the background.
HighBurnShrimpton188Mount BrewsterNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
Mount Alba and Mount Awful. Pt 1946m above Leven Stream is in front of the latter.
HighBurnShrimpton204Mount AlbaMount AwfulNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
Pt 2016m, Young Range
HighBurnShrimpton209New ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View north-east from Pt 1866m, Young Range. Mount Huxley is in cloud, right of centre image. Tent Peak is on the far right.
HighBurnShrimpton210Mount HuxleyNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTent PeakTrampingYoung Range
View south-east from Pt 1866m, Young Range. Leaning Mount is at centre image.
HighBurnShrimptonNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung RangeLeaning Mount
View of Mount Constitution, McKerrow Range, from Pt 1866m, Young Range.
HighBurnShrimpton212McKerrow RangeMount ConstitutionNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View of Mount Shrimpton (McKerrow Range) from Pt 1866m, Young Range. It's going to be a fun tops traverse across some rugged country to get there.
HighBurnShrimpton213McKerrow RangeMount ShrimptonNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View into the basin west of Saddle Pt 1547m, Young Range. Mount Shrimpton and Pt 2016m (McKerrow Range) are on the skyline.
HighBurnShrimpton225McKerrow RangeMount ShrimptonNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View into Cascade Creek from Saddle Pt 1547m, Young Range. Pt 1858m is just right of centre image; Pt 2025m is on the left.
HighBurnShrimpton245Cascade CreekNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Rangetarn
View into Cascade Creek from Saddle Pt 1547m, Young Range. Pt 1858m is just left of centre image.
HighBurnShrimpton247Cascade CreekNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Rangetarn
Campsite on the Saddle Pt 1547m at the head of Cascade Creek, Young Range tops.
HighBurnShrimpton254Cascade CreekNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Rangecampcampsitetent
View into the basin west of Saddle Pt 1547m, Young Range. Mount Shrimpton and Pt 2016m (McKerrow Range) are on the skyline.
HighBurnShrimpton267McKerrow RangeMount ShrimptonNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View into the basin west of Saddle Pt 1547m, Young Range. Mount Shrimpton and Pt 2016m (McKerrow Range) are on the skyline.
HighBurnShrimpton268McKerrow RangeMount ShrimptonNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View from the shoulder of Pt 1931m, Young Range. From left to right are Pt 1956m (Leven Stream), Misty Peak, Eyetooth, Mount Actor, Mount Argos, Mount Bertha.
HighBurnShrimpton279EyetoothMisty PeakMount ActorMount ArgosMount BerthaNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
View across Camerons Creek to Mount Shrimpton (far left) and Pt 2016m, McKerrow Range.
HighBurnShrimpton281McKerrow RangeMount ShrimptonNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingYoung Range
Looking south-west over the McKerrow Range from Pt 1940m at the head of Waterfall Creek, Young Range. Mount Aspiring / Tititea is on the skyline on the far right.
HighBurnShrimpton338McKerrow RangeMount AspiringNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingWaterfall CreekYoung Range
View down Waterfall Creek from Pt 1940m, Young Range. Leaning Mount is on the skyline on the far left; Mount Patriarch is the flat mountain on the far right.
HighBurnShrimpton339Leaning MountMount PatriarchNew ZealandOtagoOtago AlpsSouthern AlpsTrampingWaterfall CreekYoung Range
Gallery comments