Forest Creek - Bush Stream, 25 - 27 October 2014

Dodging the weather east of The Divide on a 3-day Labour Weekend trip.
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

Panorama from Mount Pattisson (Two Thumb Range), looking west.
Forest Creek Bush Stream 153a Canterbury Godley River Macaulay River Mount Pattisson New Zealand North East Gorge Stream Southern Alps Tramping Two Thumb Range Two Thumb Stream
Haasts buttercup (Ranunculus haastii). Bush Stream, Two Thumb Range. An amazing plant capable of growing on dry, mobile scree slopes.
Forest Creek Bush Stream 156 Bush Stream Canterbury Flora Haasts buttercup New Zealand Ranunculus haastii Southern Alps Tramping Two Thumb Range
From Haast's buttercup - Ranunculus haastii
Our descent route from Mount Pattisson (Two Thumb Range) into Bush Stream.
Forest Creek Bush Stream 159 Bush Stream Canterbury Mount Pattisson New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Two Thumb Range
Crooked Spur Hut, Bush Stream.
Forest Creek Bush Stream 164 Bush Stream Canterbury Crooked Spur Hut New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hut
Crooked Spur Hut, Bush Stream.
Forest Creek Bush Stream 165 Bush Stream Canterbury Crooked Spur Hut New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hut
Crooked Spur Hut, Bush Stream.
Forest Creek Bush Stream 168 Bush Stream Canterbury Crooked Spur Hut New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hut
Crooked Spur Hut, Bush Stream.
Forest Creek Bush Stream 172 Bush Stream Canterbury Crooked Spur Hut New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hut
Crooked Spur Hut, Bush Stream.
Forest Creek Bush Stream 177 Bush Stream Canterbury Crooked Spur Hut New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hut
Wire-netting bush / korokio (Corokia cotoneaster). Bush Stream, Canterbury.
Forest Creek Bush Stream 180 Bush Stream Canterbury Corokia cotoneaster Flora New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping korokio wirenetting bush
From Wire-netting bush - Corokia cotoneaster
Wire-netting bush / korokio (Corokia cotoneaster). Bush Stream, Canterbury.
Forest Creek Bush Stream 183 Bush Stream Canterbury Corokia cotoneaster Flora New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping korokio wirenetting bush
From Wire-netting bush - Corokia cotoneaster
Bush Stream - one of many river crossings
Forest Creek Bush Stream 188 Bush Stream Canterbury New Zealand River crossing Southern Alps Tramping ford