Douglas - Karangarua, 6 - 10 April 2012

Another sunny Easter trip in Westland! Day 1: Karangarua River to Cassel Flat, then up Regina Creek and to the saddle just east of Conical Hill. Day 2: A high sidle above the Douglas River to Horace Walker Hut. Day 3: Across the Douglas River then up to The Gladiator and Mount Howitt, before descending the infant Karangarua River to Christmas Flat Hut. Day 4: Karangarua River track to Lame Duck Hut and Cassel Flat Hut. Day 5: Out to the Karangarua Bridge, and home. Party: Aaron Whitehead, Claire McElwain, Kat Manno, Jen MacLeod, Lara Wilcocks, 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
In the lower Karangarua River
Karangarua Karangarua River New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas 002
Cassel Flat Hut, Karangarua River. McGloin Peak and the Bare Rocky Range above
Bare Rocky Range Cassel Flat Hut Karangarua Karangarua River McGloin Peak New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park hut Douglas 004
Cassel Flat and the Bare Rocky Range, Karangarua River. Jagged Spur is to the left of centre image; McGloin Peak on the far right
Bare Rocky Range Cassel Flat Cassel Flat Hut Jagged Spur Karangarua Karangarua River McGloin Peak New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas 015a
The cableway over the Karangarua River at Cassel Flat. Conical Hill above
Cassel Flat Conical Hill Karangarua Karangarua River New Zealand Regina Creek Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park cableway Douglas 025
The cableway over the Karangarua River at Cassel Flat.
Cassel Flat Karangarua Karangarua River New Zealand Regina Creek Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park cableway Douglas 027
The cableway over the Karangarua River at Cassel Flat.
Cassel Flat Karangarua Karangarua River New Zealand Regina Creek Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park cableway Douglas 030
The cableway over the Karangarua River at Cassel Flat.
Cassel Flat Karangarua Karangarua River New Zealand Regina Creek Sierra Range Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park cableway Douglas 031
The Bare Rocky Range above Cassel Flat, Karangarua River. Jagged Spur on the left; McGloin Peak right
Bare Rocky Range Cassel Flat Jagged Spur Karangarua Karangarua River McGloin Peak New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas 038
Crossing the 3-wire bridge over Regina Creek, Karangarua River
3wire bridge Karangarua Karangarua River New Zealand Regina Creek Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park bridge three wire bridge wire crossing Douglas 044
View up the Douglas River from the saddle east of Conical Hill. Pioneer Peak is on the far left; the Main Divide of the Southern Alps between Mt Thomson and Mt Isabel in the back
Conical Hill Douglas River Eagle Peak Maunga Ma Mount Isabel Mount Thomson New Zealand Pioneer Peak Southern Alps The Gladiator Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 057
Conical Hill (front) and the Bare Rocky Range (back), Karangarua River. Mt Glower and McGloin Peak are just left of Conical Hill; Mt McDonald is on the right
Bare Rocky Range Conical Hill Karangarua Karangarua River McGloin Peak Mount Glower Mount McDonald New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas 076a
On the ridge above Conical Hill, Douglas River
Conical Hill Douglas River New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 082
On the ridge above Conical Hill, Douglas River
Conical Hill Douglas River New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 088
Douglas River panorama
Conical Hill Douglas River Eagle Peak Maunga Ma Mount Burns Mount Isabel Mount Mirk Mount Peculiar Mount Sefton Mount Thomson New Zealand Pioneer Peak Southern Alps The Gladiator The Helmet Tramping Vampire Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 101a
Douglas River panorama
Conical Hill Douglas River Eagle Peak Maunga Ma Mount Burns Mount Isabel Mount Mirk Mount Peculiar Mount Sefton Mount Thomson New Zealand Pioneer Peak Southern Alps The Gladiator The Helmet Tramping Vampire Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 101b
Conical Hill (front) and the Bare Rocky Range (back), Karangarua River. Mt Glower and McGloin Peak are just left of Conical Hill; Mt McDonald is at centre image
Bare Rocky Range Conical Hill Karangarua Karangarua River McGloin Peak Mount Glower Mount McDonald New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas 104a
On the ridge above Conical Hill, Douglas River
Conical Hill Douglas River New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 114
Mt Sefton (left) and Pioneer Peak from the west
Conical Hill Douglas River Mount Sefton New Zealand Pioneer Peak Sierra Range Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 118
Mt Isabel and Mt Burns from the high sidle above the Douglas River
Douglas River Mount Burns Mount Isabel New Zealand Southern Alps The Gladiator Tramping Vampire Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 123
Route topo Douglas River to The Gladiator
Douglas River Mount Burns Mount Isabel New Zealand Southern Alps The Gladiator Tramping Vampire Westland Westland National Park route topo Douglas Karangarua 123a
Pioneer Peak
Douglas River New Zealand Pioneer Peak Sierra Range Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 131
On the high sidle above the Douglas River. Pioneer Peak dominates the scene
Douglas River Mount Burns New Zealand Pioneer Peak Sierra Range Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 136
On the high sidle above the Douglas River.
Douglas River Mount Burns Mount Isabel New Zealand Pioneer Peak Sierra Range Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 141a
View into the Horace Walker and Douglas Rivers from the eastern end of the high sidle above the Douglas
Douglas River Horace Walker River New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 152
On the high sidle above the Douglas River
Douglas River New Zealand Pioneer Peak Sierra Range Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 162
Looking down into the Horace Walker River, at the end of the high sidle above the Douglas River
Douglas River Horace Walker River Mount Burns Mount Isabel New Zealand Pioneer Peak Sierra Range Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 172
Looking down into the Horace Walker River, at the end of the high sidle above the Douglas River
Douglas River Horace Walker River New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 179
Looking down into the Horace Walker River and Mt Burns
Douglas River Horace Walker River Mount Burns New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 188
Descending towards the Horace Walker River
Douglas River Horace Walker River Mount Burns Mount Isabel New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 192
Sierra Range: Mt Glorious and Pioneer Peak from the Douglas River just below Horace Walker Hut
Douglas River Mount Glorious New Zealand Pioneer Peak Sierra Range Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 202a
Horace Walker Hut, Douglas River. Mt Thomson, Eagle Peak and Maunga Ma above
Douglas River Eagle Peak Horace Walker Hut Maunga Ma Mount Thomson New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park hut Douglas Karangarua 215
Crossing the Douglas River
Douglas River New Zealand Pioneer Peak River crossing Sierra Range Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Wicks Glacier ford Douglas Karangarua 219
Crossing the Douglas River
Douglas River New Zealand River crossing Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park ford Douglas Karangarua 220
En route to The Gladiator. The impressive cliffs of the Pommel above
Douglas River New Zealand Southern Alps The Gladiator The Pommel Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 234a
Douglas River and Lake from the slopes of The Gladiator
Douglas Lake Douglas River Gladiator Horace Walker River New Zealand Sierra Range Southern Alps The Gladiator Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 241
Douglas River and Lake from the slopes of The Gladiator
Douglas Lake Douglas River Gladiator Horace Walker River New Zealand Sierra Range Southern Alps The Gladiator Tramping Westland Westland National Park Wicks Col Wicks Glacier Douglas Karangarua 253a
Climbing towards The Gladiator. The Pommel in the background
Douglas River Gladiator New Zealand Southern Alps The Gladiator The Pommel Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 254
Climbing towards The Gladiator. The Pommel and the Douglas River in the background
Douglas Lake Douglas River Gladiator Horace Walker River New Zealand Sierra Range Southern Alps The Gladiator The Pommel Tramping Westland Westland National Park
Climbing towards The Gladiator. The Douglas River and Lake in the background
Douglas Lake Douglas River Gladiator Horace Walker River New Zealand Sierra Range Southern Alps The Gladiator Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 268
Douglas Lake from the top of The Gladiator
Douglas Lake Gladiator New Zealand Southern Alps The Gladiator Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 275
View down the infant Landsborough River below the McKerrow Glacier from The Gladiator. Karangarua Saddle is on the right
Gladiator Karangarua Saddle Landsborough Landsborough River McKerrow Glacier New Zealand Southern Alps The Gladiator Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 286
Douglas River panorama from The Gladiator
Douglas River Gladiator Horace Walker River New Zealand Sierra Range Southern Alps The Gladiator The Pommel Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 304a
Lunch spot on the ridge connecting The Gladiator and Mount Howitt
Gladiator Mount Howitt New Zealand Southern Alps The Gladiator Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 307
Descending the north west ridge of Mt Howitt towards the impressive cliffs of The Pommel. The Douglas and Horace Walker Rivers below
Gladiator Mount Howitt New Zealand Southern Alps The Gladiator The Pommel Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas Karangarua 331
Karangarua River panorama from the slopes of Mt Howitt. Mt Townsend and the Bare Rocky Range on the left
Bare Rocky Range Karangarua Karangarua River Mount Howitt Mount Townsend New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas 345a
Christmas Flat Hut, Karangarua River, from the slopes of Mt Howitt
Christmas Flat Christmas Flat Hut Karangarua Karangarua River Mount Howitt New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park hut Douglas 348
View down the Karangarua River from the slopes of Mt Howitt
Bare Rocky Range Karangarua Karangarua River Mount Howitt New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Westland Westland National Park Douglas 350

Southern Alps Photography

Douglas - Karangarua, 6 - 10 April 2012

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