Forest Creek - Bush Stream, 25 - 27 October 2014
On Saturday we walked up Forest Creek to the confluence of Butlers Creek, where we visited the site of the historic Butler's 'V' Hut. We then followed the Forest Creek Track up the spur on the true right of Felt Creek and over Bullock Bow Saddle before dropping into Bush Stream and to Stone Hut for the night.
On Sunday, we set off down valley then decided that the weather was going to be good enough for a jaunt over the tops. We climbed Sweeps Stream to Captains Peak (2371m) then traversed the main ridge of the Two Thumbs Range to Mount Pattisson (2313m) before descending to Crooked Spur Hut.
On Monday we walked out Bush Stream to the Rangitata Gorge Road, then biked back to the car at the bottom of Forest Creek.
Party: Aaron Whitehead & 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. For access up the Forest Creek road, contact Ben McLeod Station (phone 03 696 3747).
Erosion flutes in Forest Creek
ForestCreekBushStream001CanterburyForest CreekNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingconglomerateerosionerosion flutefluting
The site of the historic Butler's 'V' Hut, at the confluence of Butlers Creek and Forest Creek. There's only a plaque, nothing else to see.
ForestCreekBushStream003Butler's 'V' HutButlers CreekCanterburyForest CreekNew ZealandPlaqueSouthern AlpsTrampinghistoric site
Erosion flutes in Butlers Creek
ForestCreekBushStream005Butlers CreekCanterburyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingconglomerateerosionerosion flutefluting
Erosion flutes in Butlers Creek
ForestCreekBushStream006Butlers CreekCanterburyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingconglomerateerosionerosion flutefluting
Stone Hut, Forest Creek
ForestCreekBushStream011CanterburyForest CreekNew ZealandSouthern AlpsStone HutTrampinghut
Scree buttercup (Ranunculus crithmifolius). Forest Creek Track, Sinclair Range
ForestCreekBushStream017ButtercupCanterburyFloraForest CreekForest Creek TrackNew ZealandRanunculusRanunculus crithmifoliusSinclair RangeSouthern AlpsTrampingflowerscree buttercup
Scree buttercup (Ranunculus crithmifolius). Forest Creek Track, Sinclair Range
ForestCreekBushStream020ButtercupCanterburyFloraForest CreekForest Creek TrackNew ZealandRanunculusRanunculus crithmifoliusSinclair RangeSouthern AlpsTrampingflowerscree buttercup
View into Bush Stream and the Two Thumb Range from Bullock Bow Saddle. The three peaks at centre image are Braun-Elwert Peak, Mt Hope and Beuzenberg Peak.
ForestCreekBushStream023aBeuzenberg PeakBraunElwert PeakBullock Bow SaddleBush StreamCanterburyMount HopeNew ZealandSinclair RangeSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
View into Bush Stream and the Two Thumb Range from Bullock Bow Saddle. Mount Hope is the prominent rocky peak at centre image, with Braun-Elwert Peak just left of it, and Beuzenberg Peak right.
ForestCreekBushStream024Beuzenberg PeakBraunElwert PeakBullock Bow SaddleBush StreamCanterburyMount HopeNew ZealandSinclair RangeSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
View into Bush Stream and the Two Thumb Range from Bullock Bow Saddle.
ForestCreekBushStream041aBeuzenberg PeakBraunElwert PeakBullock Bow SaddleBush StreamCanterburyCaptains PeakMount HopeMount TobyNew ZealandSinclair RangeSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
View into Bush Stream and the Two Thumb Range from Bullock Bow Saddle.
ForestCreekBushStream041bBeuzenberg PeakBraunElwert PeakBullock Bow SaddleBush StreamCanterburyCaptains PeakMount HopeMount TobyNew ZealandSinclair RangeSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
Braun-Elwert Peak (centre) and Mount Hope (right), Two Thumb Range, from Bullock Bow Saddle.
ForestCreekBushStream042BraunElwert PeakBullock Bow SaddleCanterburyMount HopeNew ZealandSinclair RangeSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
Mount Toby (Two Thumb Range) at the head of Bush Stream.
ForestCreekBushStream043Bullock Bow SaddleCanterburyMount TobyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
On the Forest Creek Track at the head of Bush Stream. Mount Toby and Captains Peak (Two Thumb Range) in the background.
ForestCreekBushStream045Bush StreamCanterburyCaptains PeakForest Creek TrackMount TobyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
On the Forest Creek Track at the head of Bush Stream. Mount Toby and Captains Peak (Two Thumb Range) in the background.
ForestCreekBushStream049Bush StreamCanterburyCaptains PeakForest Creek TrackMount TobyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
Black swans (Cygnus atratus) on a tarn at the head of Bush Stream. The Two Thumb Range in the background.
ForestCreekBushStream052Bush StreamCanterburyCygnus atratusForest Creek TrackNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Rangeblack swan
Travers pimelea (Pimelea traversii). Bush Stream, Canterbury.
ForestCreekBush StreamCanterburyFloraNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingPimelea traversiiTravers pimelea
Tarm at the head of Bush Stream. Mount Toby in the background.
ForestCreekBushStream070Bush StreamCanterburyMount TobyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
View down Bush Stream.
ForestCreekBushStream071Bush StreamCanterburyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTramping
Walking down Bush Stream
ForestCreekBushStream076Bush StreamCanterburyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTramping
Walking down Bush Stream
ForestCreekBushStream078Bush StreamCanterburyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTramping
Stone Hut, Bush Stream.
ForestCreekBushStream082Bush StreamCanterburyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsStone HutTrampinghut
Stone Hut, Bush Stream.
ForestCreekBushStream104Bush StreamCanterburyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsStone HutTrampinghut
Ranunculus gracilipes. Bush Stream, Canterbury.
ForestCreekBushStream114Bush StreamCanterburyFloraNew ZealandRanunculusRanunculus gracilipesSouthern AlpsTramping
Comb sedge (Oreobolus pectinatus) and Euchiton traversii (the small herb with white, hairy leaves). Bush Stream, Canterbury
ForestCreekBushStream120CanterburyEuchiton traversiiFloraNew ZealandOreobolus pectinatusSouthern AlpsTrampingcomb sedgecushion sedge
From Comb sedge
Combe sedge (Oreobolus pectinatus) cushions, Bush Stream.
ForestCreekBushStream121Bush StreamCanterburyFloraNew ZealandOreobolus pectinatusSouthern AlpsTrampingcomb sedgecushion sedge
From Comb sedge
Combe sedge (Oreobolus pectinatus) cushions, Bush Stream.
ForestCreekBushStream123Bush StreamCanterburyFloraNew ZealandOreobolus pectinatusSouthern AlpsTrampingcomb sedgecushion sedge
From Comb sedge
Alpine bog, Bush Stream.
ForestCreekBushStream124Bush StreamCanterburyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingbog
Walking up Sweeps Stream. The summit of Captains Peak is just visible behind the ridge on the skyline.
ForestCreekBushStream126CanterburyCaptains PeakNew ZealandSouthern AlpsSweeps StreamTrampingTwo Thumb Range
The peaks at the head of Two Thumb Stream: Exeter, Tantalus, Electra, Myrmidon, Achilles, The Thumbs. View from Captains Peak, Two Thumb Range.
ForestCreekBushStream128AchillesCanterburyCaptains PeakElectraExeterMyrmidonNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTantalusThe ThumbsTrampingTwo Thumb RangeTwo Thumb Stream
The peaks at the head of Two Thumb Stream: Exeter, Tantalus, Electra, Myrmidon, Achilles, The Thumbs. View from Captains Peak, Two Thumb Range.
ForestCreekBushStream128aAchillesCanterburyCaptains PeakElectraExeterMyrmidonNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTantalusThe ThumbsTrampingTwo Thumb RangeTwo Thumb Stream
Captains Peak, Two Thumb Range: View down Sweeps Stream into Bush Stream. Ranger Spur is on the right; the Sinclair Range on the far side of Bush Stream.
ForestCreekBushStream129Bush StreamCanterburyCaptains PeakNew ZealandRanger SpurSinclair RangeSouthern AlpsSweeps StreamTrampingTwo Thumb Range
View of Lake Tekapo from Captains Peak. Motuariki Island is visible near the southern end of the lake.
ForestCreekBushStream130CanterburyCaptains PeakLake TekapoMotuariki IslandNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
View from Captains Peak, Two Thumb Range, looking south towards the ski fields.
ForestCreekBushStream131aCanterburyCaptains PeakDobson PeakFox PeakMount DobsonMount Dobson skifieldMount MiseryMount TobyNew ZealandSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
On top of Captains Peak, Two Thumb Range. Achilles and The Thumbs in the background.
ForestCreekBushStream132AchillesCanterburyCaptains PeakNew ZealandSouthern AlpsThe ThumbsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
On Mt Pattisson's colourful south ridge. The Thumbs back left.
ForestCreekBushStream134CanterburyMount PattissonNew ZealandSouthern AlpsThe ThumbsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
On Mt Pattisson's colourful south ridge. The Thumbs back left.
ForestCreekBushStream135CanterburyMount PattissonNew ZealandSouthern AlpsThe ThumbsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
On Mt Pattisson's colourful south ridge. The Thumbs back left.
ForestCreekBushStream137CanterburyMount PattissonNew ZealandSouthern AlpsThe ThumbsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
View down valley from Mount Pattisson: Two Thumb Stream flows into North East Gorge Stream, which flows into Macaulay River, which flows into the Godley River... all in the one photograph.
ForestCreekBushStream141CanterburyGodley RiverMacaulay RiverMount PattissonNew ZealandNorth East Gorge StreamSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb RangeTwo Thumb Stream
View from Mount Pattisson into Bush Stream and the Rangitata River.
ForestCreekBushStream145Bush StreamCanterburyMount PattissonNew ZealandRangitata RiverSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
View from Mount Pattisson into Bush Stream and the Rangitata River.
ForestCreekBushStream146Bush StreamCanterburyMount PattissonNew ZealandRangitata RiverSouthern AlpsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
Electra and The Thumbs from Mount Pattisson.
ForestCreekBushStream147CanterburyElectraMount PattissonNew ZealandSouthern AlpsThe ThumbsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
Close up view of The Thumbs' high peak (2546m) from Mount Pattisson.
ForestCreekBushStream148CanterburyMount PattissonNew ZealandSouthern AlpsThe ThumbsTrampingTwo Thumb Range
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