Routes
Huts / campsites
Roadends
Summits
Passes / crossings
Scenic features
Junctions
DOC Land
Altitude: 274m to 2566m. Gain: 5475m. Loss: 5060m . Gradient: 7 deg (Steep)
Skills: Mountaineering (6/7) - Prolonged rivers (4/6)
Hopkins to Elcho Pass, Mt Jackson, Mt Ward. Descend Ward Stream and McKerrow Creek to Landsborough. Down Landsborough to Creskwicke Flat, then Brodrick Pass and Mt McKenzie. Descend Huxley to Hopkins.
Warning: this route segment has been merged into Huxley Lodge roadend to Monument Hut via 4WD track (Road).
You are viewing a historic version of this route.
Altitude: 554m to 612m. Gain: 70m. Loss: 12m . Gradient: 1 deg (Flat)
Skills:
4WD track
Altitude: 609m to 717m. Gain: 118m. Loss: 10m . Gradient: 1 deg (Flat)
Skills:
Hopkins Valley
Altitude: 397m to 2566m. Gain: 2972m. Loss: 3293m . Gradient: 15 deg (Steep)
Skills: Mountaineering (6/7) - Streams (2/6)
Elcho Pass. Ridge to Mt Hickson. Descend and traverse to base Mt Jackson. Climb buttress and abseil back down. Traverse back to Elcho Pass. Traverse to Baker Ridge, ridge to Mt Baker.
Descend Baker Ridge until possible to descend to McKerrow Creek. Climb moraine wall to ridge off Mt Ward. Climb Mt Ward and abseil down. Descend stream draining Mt Ward to left branch of Ward Creek. Descend to junction with right branch and top of waterfall. Traverse on true left until scree slope is reached and descend to reach Ward Creek below the waterfall. Descend creek to the gorge on true right of pt 1074. Initially take true left on animal track in bush to avoid first waterfall then cross to true right. Descend and traverse into bush on true right when possible. Make a traversing descent in bush until the slope eases, then head back to McKerrow Creek. Descend McKerrow Creek to Landsborough.
Altitude: 274m to 419m. Gain: 242m. Loss: 121m . Gradient: 2 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)
This describes the wet weather route on the south bank. In dry conditions crossing the river will make for an easier tirp.
Head up the airstrip from Fraser Hut, heading upriver. The Landsborough soon undercuts the true left bank, and the DOC triangles plunge cheerfully into the torrent to appear on the far side. I travelled this after 2 days of heavy rain, and crossing was impossible. So we sidle low on the south face: steep slopes, creeper, windfall and bluffs all adding to the fun. The 2km to the beginning of Toetoe flats takes over an hour and is slow, steep, and probably wet going.
Dropping to narrow terraces opposite Toetoe flat, the biv across the river at Toetoe Flat looks in good condition, though the water prohibits any recce’s to investigate further. It's a biodiversity biv and stories differ on whether it is open or locked.
Beyond here things get easier. The southern face of the Landsborough becomes more gentle, and sidling easier. We climb to river terraces on the way to Ford Flat, dropping back to the river later for Kea. Sidling close to the water pick up another marked DOC track above Kea Flat. Just before McKerrow Creek the track swings uphill and away from the Landsborough - bound for Elcho Pass.
Leaving the track drop into McKerrow just above the confluence. On the opposite bank is a good terrace of sparse beech with great, dry flat campspots. Near the river, well above the water and well drained and sheltered.
Though you cross several small creeks that can flood after extreme rain, McKerrow is probably the only one to pose a risk in normal-heavy conditions. This was knee deep and easy 6hrs after the end of 2 days of continuous rain - it seemed to have dropped rapidly.
Altitude: 277m to 2131m. Gain: 2003m. Loss: 1309m . Gradient: 18 deg
Skills: Snow / ice (5/7) - Prolonged rivers (4/6)
Brodrick Pass track, Mt McKenzie via remnants of glacier and rocky summit ridge. Descend to Huxley via Brodrick Pass track then Huxley track and riverbed to Hopkins.
Warning: this route segment has been merged into Huxley - Dobson confluence to Main Huxley Forks Hut via river or track (Unmarked route, clear).
You are viewing a historic version of this route.
Altitude: 608m to 911m. Gain: 0m. Loss: 303m . Gradient: 1 deg
Skills: Snow / ice (5/7) - Prolonged rivers (4/6)
Brodrick Pass track, Mt McKenzie via remnants of glacier and rocky summit ridge. Descend to Huxley via Brodrick Pass track then Huxley track and riverbed to Hopkins.
Warning: this route segment has been merged into Huxley Lodge roadend to Monument Hut via 4WD track (Road).
You are viewing a historic version of this route.
Altitude: 554m to 612m. Gain: 70m. Loss: 12m . Gradient: 1 deg (Flat)
Skills:
4WD track