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DOC Land
Altitude: 618m to 1610m. Gain: 919m. Loss: 1030m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6)
From Young Hut follow the track as it climbs relentlessly up through bush and then alpine scrub to reach the upper flats in the valley head. Cross on the foot bridge and follow markers up to where the markers begin the steep 500m climb to Point 1574. As you can see from the map the track doesn't actually cross Gillespie Pass proper anymore (it used to). There's a fantastic view from Point 1574. The track then climbs even high up onto Peak 1629 before beginning the long knee jangling descent down into Gillespie Stream. There's usually snow patches up here into April although with the foot traffic the Gillespie Pass Circuit gets there's always a good trail across them. Down by Gillespie Stream there are small flats with good sheltered camp spots. The track carries on down above a gorge and then drops down zig zags through bush to the extensive flats of the Siberia Stream. Follow markers and the obvious ground trail though knee high grass down valley to eventually reach the Siberia Hut.
The route as described here takes about 7 hours. Fit parties can save a day over the whole Gillespie Pass Circuit by going up to Crucible Lake on the same day as crossing Gillespie Pass. Doing this adds about 3 hours making for a 10+ hour day if you are travelling right down to Siberia Hut. If you do this then I suggest carrying a tent as during the busy summer months Siberia Hut will almost certainly be full to over capacity by the time you get there. There is good camping outside the hut, but the whole Siberia is great for camping in. Camping up in the Crucible Lake valley is not permitted.