Casey Tarn, 31 May - 2 June 2014

A splendid Queens Birthday Weekend in the mountains inland of Lake Coleridge. We started up the Wilberforce River. Courtesy of a grumpy and impolite Glenthorne Station owner who would not let us walk on their property, we had to take a time consuming detour up the river bed and around Castle Hill. Not only this cost us two hours, it also meant a wet start which is less than ideal in winter. We gained the tops of the Birdwood Range just east of Boundary Stream and camped on the saddle north of Pt 1832m. On Sunday we traversed the tops north to the high point Pt 2140m, which we nicknamed "Antithesis Peak" (see the geeky mountain name just across the Avoca River). We camped on the shore of a wonderful ice skating rink, otherwise known as Casey Tarn. On Monday we walked down Triangle Creek then trudged down the Avoca and Harper Rivers. Party: Penzy Dinsdale, Lydia McLean, Rachael Horner, Jeff Ducrot, Carla Braun-Elwert, 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.
View across the Wilberforce River from the western slopes of Castle Hill
Casey Tarn 0006 Birdwood Range Canterbury Castle Hill Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Wilberforce River
Panorama from The Spurs' west ridge. From left to right are Lake Coleridge, the Wilberforce River, Mount Arrowsmith (in the background), Turret Peak
Casey Tarn 0012a Birdwood Range Canterbury Lake Coleridge Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping Wilberforce River
Lake Coleridge and the Black Hill Range
Casey Tarn 0013 Birdwood Range Black Hill Black Hill Range Canterbury Lake Coleridge Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping
Climbing over Pt 1587m on the west ridge of The Spurs
Casey Tarn 0014 Birdwood Range Canterbury Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping Wilberforce River
Climbing to Pt 1832m west of The Spurs
Casey Tarn 0025 Birdwood Range Black Hill Black Hill Range Canterbury Lake Coleridge Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping
Climbing to Pt 1832m west of The Spurs
Casey Tarn 0031 Birdwood Range Black Hill Black Hill Range Canterbury Lake Coleridge Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping
Climbing to Pt 1832m west of The Spurs
Casey Tarn 0041 Birdwood Range Canterbury Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping Wilberforce River
Climbing to Pt 1832m west of The Spurs
Casey Tarn 0043 Birdwood Range Canterbury Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping
On top of Pt 1832m west of The Spurs
Casey Tarn 0034 Birdwood Range Canterbury Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping
On top of Pt 1832m west of The Spurs
Casey Tarn 0037 Birdwood Range Canterbury Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping
View of Thesis Peak across the Avoca River from our campsite west of The Spurs
Casey Tarn 0038 Avoca River Birdwood Range Canterbury Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Thesis Peak Tramping
Campsite north of Pt 1832m on the west ridge of The Spurs, Birdwood Range. Mount Arrowsmith and Jagged Peak get the first sunlight
Casey Tarn 0045 Birdwood Range Canterbury Jagged Peak Mount Arrowsmith Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping camp campsite tent
Mount Arrowsmith, Jagged Peak, Red Peak, North Peak from our campsite north of Pt 1832m, Birdwood Range
Casey Tarn 0053 Birdwood Range Canterbury Jagged Peak Mount Arrowsmith Mountaineering New Zealand North Peak Red Peak The Spurs Tramping
The Birdwood Range tops north of Pt 1850m. Our route followed the range to the high point on the image and beyond.
Casey Tarn 0054 Birdwood Range Canterbury Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Lake Coleridge and the Wilberforce River from Pt 1850m, Birdwood Range
Casey Tarn 0056 Birdwood Range Canterbury Lake Coleridge Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Wilberforce River
View from Pt 1850m, Birdwood Range: Mount Arrowsmith, Jagged Peak, Red Peak, North Peak (back left), Jacks Hill (at centre image), Mt Whitcombe (far right). Kakapo Stream flows into the Wilberforce River front left
Casey Tarn 0058 Birdwood Range Canterbury Jacks Hill Jagged Peak Mount Arrowsmith Mount Whitcombe Mountaineering New Zealand North Peak Red Peak Tramping
Climbing to Pt 1989m, Birdwood Range. Triangle Creek below
Casey Tarn 0073 Birdwood Range Canterbury Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Triangle Creek
Lydia and Thesis Peak - proof that a 3-day weekend tramping and academic pursuits are fully compatible
Casey Tarn 0061 Birdwood Range Canterbury Mountaineering New Zealand Thesis Peak Tramping
View west-south-west from Pt1989m, Birdwood Range
Casey Tarn 0064b Achilles Bardolph Peak Birdwood Range Blair Peak Boulderstone Stream Canterbury Jacks Hill Jagged Peak Kakapo Stream Lauper Peak Mount Alma Mount Arrowsmith Mount Evans Mount Gideon Mount Goethe Mount Pattison Mount Potts Mount Ramsay Mount Westland Mount Whitcombe Mount Williams Mountaineering New Zealand North Peak Park Dome Red Peak Snow Dome Takahe Stream The Marquee The Thumbs Tramping Turret Peak
View of Lake Coleridge from Pt1989m, Birdwood Range
Casey Tarn 0070 Birdwood Range Canterbury Lake Coleridge Mountaineering New Zealand The Spurs Tramping Wilberforce River
360° panorama from “Antithesis Peak” (Pt 2140m, Birdwood Range)
Casey Tarn 138a
View from the summit of "Antithesis Peak" (Pt 2140m, Birdwood Range). From left to right ar Mt Arrowsmith, Aoraki/Mt Cook, Mt Tasman, Mt Elie de Beaumont, Mt Whitcombe.
Casey Tarn 0139 Antithesis Peak Birdwood Range Canterbury Mount Arrowsmith Mount Whitcombe Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range. Thesis Peak on right
Casey Tarn 0143 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Thesis Peak Tramping
Casey Tarn at dusk, Birdwood Range. Thesis Peak at centre image
Casey Tarn 0159 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Thesis Peak Tramping
The Milky Way over Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range
Casey Tarn 0168 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Milky Way Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping night night photography night sky stars
Star trails over Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range
Casey Tarn 0382a Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping night photography night sky star trails stars
Star trails over Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range
Casey Tarn 1294a Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping camp camping campsite night photography night sky star trails stars tent
Timelapse video: The Milky Way over Casey Tarn
Casey Tarn 1511a
Campsite on the shore of Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range. Thesis Peak on right
Casey Tarn 1513 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Thesis Peak Tramping camp campsite tent
Campsite on the shore of Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range.
Casey Tarn 1515 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping camp campsite tent
Sunrise at Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range.
Casey Tarn 1518 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range.
Casey Tarn 1523 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
At Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range
Casey Tarn 1534 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range. Antithesis Peak (Pt 2140m) above
Casey Tarn 1537 Antithesis Peak Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range. Antithesis Peak (Pt 2140m) above
Casey Tarn 1539 Antithesis Peak Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range. Antithesis Peak (Pt 2140m) top right
Casey Tarn 1547 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range. The previous day we descended the narrow snowy gully just right of centre image. This is the best route to the range tops above.
Casey Tarn 1548 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping camp campsite tent
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range.
Casey Tarn 1550 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range.
Casey Tarn 1552 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping frozen lake frozen tarn ice
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range.
Casey Tarn 1561 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping frozen lake frozen tarn ice
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range.
Casey Tarn 1585 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping frozen lake frozen tarn ice
Who gave these girls sugar? Testing the ice on Casey Tarn
Casey Tarn 1591a
Casey Tarn, Birdwood Range.
Casey Tarn 1601 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping frozen lake frozen tarn ice
Walking across a frozen Casey Tarn
Casey Tarn 1608 Birdwood Range Canterbury Casey Tarn Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
View down the Avoca River from the terraces below Triangle Creek. Mt Fitzwilliam at centre image
Casey Tarn 1612 Avoca River Birdwood Range Canterbury Mount Fitzwilliam Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Triangle Creek

Southern Alps Photography

Casey Tarn, 31 May - 2 June 2014

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