Length: from 8.0 up to 10.0 days
Distance: 76.8 km (64.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, hard - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 38m to 3114m. Gain: 5322m. Loss: 6842m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Glacier travel required (7/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot, avalanche risk (3/7)


NZTM2000: 1344135, 5161163

Standard Hut

Last updated by: Madpom at 2014-07-18 00:31:07


From Karangarua River to Cassel Flat Hut via Karangarua Valley Route
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Distance: 11.8 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 38m to 295m. Gain: 336m. Loss: 198m . Gradient: 3 deg
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)
GPX info source: Drawn on map

Follow the track on the TL of the Karangarua

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-24

NZTM2000: 1342024, 5170368 (alt: 39m)

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-24

From Horace Walker Hut to Cassell Flat hut via Conical Hill
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Distance: 10.4 km (12.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 177m to 1525m. Gain: 707m. Loss: 1438m . Gradient: 12 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot, avalanche risk (3/7)
GPX info source: Drawn on map

Poled Route

Last updated by: Madpom at 2020-04-19 10:54:18. Experienced: 2017-06-19

NZTM2000: 1361592, 5159134 (alt: 3115m)

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-28


NZTM2000: 1351918, 5158072

Standard Hut

Last updated by: Madpom at 2014-07-18 00:31:07

From Horace Walker Hut to Welcome Pass via Wicks Glacier & Douglas Neve
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Distance: 8.5 km (8.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear
Altitude: 909m to 2372m. Gain: 1575m. Loss: 112m . Gradient: 12 deg
Skills: Glacier travel required (7/7)
GPX info source: Drawn on map

From Horace Walker Hut, climb through a short scrub section to reach the stream draining the Wicks Glacier. It may be possible to avoid the scrub by following the Douglas River to between the first two streams on the TR below the lake and then ascending. Once through the scrub, continue up the tussock slopes to reach the scree and eventually the remnants of the Wicks Glacier. There were some un-crossable crevasses at Xmas 2017 and we had to traverse SE until finding a way through. Once through the icefall, Wicks Col is easily obtained. The descent to the Horace Walker Glacier was straight forward and then the long snow plod to Welcome Pass.

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-27

NZTM2000: 1359155, 5159915 (alt: 2382m)

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-27

From Welcome Pass to Mt Sefton via NW Ridge
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Distance: 2.8 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear
Altitude: 2337m to 3114m. Gain: 777m. Loss: 45m . Gradient: 18 deg
Skills: Mountaineering (6/7)
GPX info source: Drawn on map

Traverse the Douglas Neve and ascend to the base of the summit pyramid on the NW ridge. Climb to summit.

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-28

From Mt Sefton to Welcome Pass via NW Ridge
View
Distance: 2.8 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear
Altitude: 2337m to 3114m. Gain: 45m. Loss: 777m . Gradient: 18 deg
Skills: Mountaineering (6/7)
GPX info source: Drawn on map

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Traverse the Douglas Neve and ascend to the base of the summit pyramid on the NW ridge. Climb to summit.

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-28

From Welcome Pass to Harpers Rock Biv via Douglas Neve & Mt Stephen
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Distance: 8.5 km (12.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, hard
Altitude: 1225m to 2622m. Gain: 593m. Loss: 1750m . Gradient: 16 deg
Skills: Mountaineering (6/7)
GPX info source: Drawn on map

This route involves technical mountaineering. Traverse the Douglas Neve towards the base of Mt Brunner. Choose a gully to climb to reach the slopes NW of Mt Stephen. The gully we chose at Xmas 2017 involved two 30m seemingly vertical ice steps (pack hauling for leader), a 50m rock pitch (easy but wandering) followed by another 80ish metres of steep snow to reach the top of the rock buttress. From the top of the buttress, the snow was easily gained and Mt Stephen was easily reached.

The SE ridge of Mt Stephen to the dip where the snow can be regained is difficult with an exposed traverse on the SW side of the ridge past a gendarme on loose rock (little protection) and with real rock climbing moves. This is probably OK with a day pack, but with full packs, it was extremely difficult. Once past the gendarme, the ridge is straight forward; choose the best spot to descend to the snow.

There was a large schrund at the base of the initial snow slopes however the rock directly below Mt Stephen was easy scrambling and the schrund was crossable at the northern end. Once over the schrund, travel is straight forward past Mt Thomson to reach the slopes above Harper Flat. It is an easy tussock descent to the flats.

Mt Thomson is climbed from the W ridge with a short rocky section that may require belaying depending on conditions.

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-29

NZTM2000: 1356575, 5156342 (alt: 1225m)

The gathering point of many a great pakeha explorer

Created by: Dustyboot on 2017-06-19. Experienced: 2015-03-01

From Harpers Rock Biv to Christmas Flat Hut via The Gladiator
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Distance: 8.5 km (8.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, hard - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 758m to 2102m. Gain: 918m. Loss: 1344m . Gradient: 16 deg
Skills: Snow / ice (5/7)
GPX info source: Drawn on map

Moir's guide provides a good description of the route to Douglas Pass and over The Gladiator, past Mt Howitt and the descent to Christmas Flat. In the mist, the GPS was useful on the descent. There were rough tracks through the scrub past large rocks to reach the Karangarua River proper.

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-30

NZTM2000: 1350900, 5154700

Standard Hut

Last updated by: Madpom at 2014-07-18 00:31:07

NZTM2000: 1359155, 5159915 (alt: 2382m)

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-27

NZTM2000: 1344135, 5161163

Standard Hut

Last updated by: Madpom at 2014-07-18 00:31:07


From Christmas Flat Hut to Cassel Flat Hut via Karangarua Valley Route
View
Distance: 11.7 km (8.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 177m to 846m. Gain: 173m. Loss: 842m . Gradient: 5 deg
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)
GPX info source: Drawn on map

The Karangarua Valley track is well-marked.

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2018-01-01

From Cassel Flat Hut to Karangarua River via Karangarua Valley Route
View
Distance: 11.8 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 38m to 295m. Gain: 198m. Loss: 336m . Gradient: 3 deg
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)
GPX info source: Drawn on map

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Follow the track on the TL of the Karangarua

Created by: Megturnbull on 2021-03-23. Experienced: 2017-12-24


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