Matakitaki to Blue Lake, 1 - 8 January 2010

Eight days in Nelson Lakes National Park, only three of fine weather, but some very pretty alpine scenery nonetheless. "Happy New Year" was one minute north of Ashburton - we just drove through it all, and didn't stop until 3am. Three hours of sleep foillowed by more driving, then Day 1 saw four zombies climb to a lovely campsite on the Ella Range. Day 2 saw us over the range to George Lyon Hut: thick fog and rain, a most interesting piece of navigation, but not a single photograph. Day 3: pit day, and a minor flood in the D'Urville River. Day 4: over Moss Pass to Blue Lake. Day 5: Mount Franklin, then around Lake Constance and over Waiau Pass. Day 6: Thompson Pass and D'Urville Pass to East Matakitaki Hut. Day 7: a pleasant walk down valley to Downie Hut, then more rain. Day 8: walk out and drive back to Dunedin. Party: Ben Hepp, Jaz Morris, Nina Dickerhof, 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
Ella Range: peaks m1931 and m1972 at the head of the unnamed stream flowing into the Matakitaki River at the top of Windfall Flat
Ella Range Matakitaki River Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Matakitaki Station river flats from Ella tops
Ella Range Matakitaki River Matakitaki Station Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Mt Watson, Ella Range
Ella Range Mt Watson Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Campsite on the Ella Range
Ella Range Matakitaki River Matakitaki Station Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping campsite
Rock cushion (Phyllachne colensoi). Ella Range, Nelson Lakes NP
Flora Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping rock cushion Phyllachne colensoi
Rock cushion (Phyllachne colensoi). Ella Range, Nelson Lakes NP
Flora Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping rock cushion Phyllachne colensoi
Ella Range - hogback cloud over Mt Watson
Ella Range Mt Watson Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hogback cloud weather
Ella Range - hogback cloud over Mt Watson
Ella Range Mt Watson Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hogback cloud weather
Ella Range sunset
Ella Range Mt Watson Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hogback cloud weather
Ella Range sunset
Ella Range Mt Watson Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hogback cloud weather
Ella Range sunset
Ella Range Mt Watson Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hogback cloud weather
Ella Range - hogback cloud over Mt Watson
Ella Range Mt Watson Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hogback cloud weather
Ella Range sunset
Ella Range Mt Watson Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hogback cloud weather
Ella Range sunset - hogback cloud over Gloriana Peak
Ella Range Mt Watson Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping hogback cloud weather
View from the window of George Lyon Hut: D'Urville River in flood
D'Urville river Ella Range George Lyon Hut Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
D'Urville River on a wet day, Ben after doing the dishes (thanks!)
D'Urville river Ella Range George Lyon Hut Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
George Lyon Hut, D'Urville River
D'Urville river Ella Range George Lyon Hut Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
On the way to Moss Pass
Mahanga Range Moss Pass Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Blue Lake, West Sabine Valley
Blue Lake Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
On top of Mt Franklin, the highest point in Nelson Lakes National Park
Mt Franklin Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
View from Mt Franklin: Mt Cupola (front) and Mt Hopeless (back), perfectly aligned behind each other on the left, and Travers Peak (right)
Mt Cupola Mt Franklin Mt Hopeless Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping Travers Peak
Panorama from the summit of Mt Franklin
Emily Peaks Faerie Queene Gloriana Peak Mt Burn Mt Ella Mt Franklin Mt Maling Mt Princess Mt Una Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
Panorama from the summit of Mt Franklin
Emily Peaks Faerie Queene Gloriana Peak Mt Burn Mt Ella Mt Franklin Mt Maling Mt Princess Mt Una Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
Moss Pass and the Mahanga Range from Mt Franklin
Mahanga Range Moss Pass Mt Franklin Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
Descending Mt Franklin's western slopes
Mt Franklin Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
Mt Franklin west face
Mt Franklin Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
Blue Lake from the slopes of Mt Franklin. Blue Lake Hut is visible at the top-right corner of the image.
Blue Lake Mt Franklin Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Sabine River Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
Blue Lake and West Sabine River. Moss Pass and the Mahanga Range above
Blue Lake Mahanga Range Moss Pass Mt Franklin Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Sabine River Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
Lake Constance and Waiau Pass from the western slopes of Mt Franklin
Lake Constance Mt Mahanga Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping Waiau Pass
Lake Constance and Waiau Pass from the western slopes of Mt Franklin
Lake Constance Mt Mahanga Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping Waiau Pass
On the track above Lake Constance
Lake Constance Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping Waiau Pass
Lake Constance and Franklin Ridge
Franklin Ridge Lake Constance Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
Lake Constance and Franklin Ridge from the slopes below Waiau Pass
Franklin Ridge Lake Constance Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
Campsite on the southern slopes of Waiau Pass
Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Waiau Pass Waiau River campsite
Lake Thompson
Lake Thompson Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping
Mt Mahanga and Waiau Pass from near Lake Thompson
Lake Thompson Mt Mahanga Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Tramping Waiau Pass Waiau River
Nina on Thompson Pass. D'Urville Pass is straight above her head.
D'Urville Pass Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Spenser Mountains Thompson Pass Tramping
East Matakitaki valley head. The obvious scree ramp through the bluffs gives access to D'Urville Pass.
D'Urville Pass Matakitaki River Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
East Matakitaki Valley.
Matakitaki River Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
East Matakitaki Hut.
East Maktakitaki Hut Matakitaki River Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
3-wire bridge on the East Matakitaki River
Matakitaki River Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand River crossing Southern Alps Tramping three wire bridge
East Matakitaki side creek
Matakitaki River Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Downie Hut
Downie Hut Matakitaki River Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Downie Hut
Downie Hut Matakitaki River Nelson Lakes National Park New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping

Southern Alps Photography

Matakitaki to Blue Lake, 1 - 8 January 2010

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