Waiau Pass crossing -- Nelson Lakes over to Canterbury, Day 5, the last day

Cold morning on the flats near Caroline Creek Biv. Looking down the Waiau where our route took us.

Lu walks out of the morning ground mist across the Caroline Creek flats. Waiau Pass is to the left of the far skyline. The left hand valley head is the east branch of the Waiau River.

Crossing a side flow of the Waiau still a bit chilled from the morning.

But it does warm up! Stopped for a snack and for some amongst us to have a refreshing dip in a nearby pool of the river.

The parting of the fellowship! From here Lu, Soph, Ana and Meek left for the long haul down the Waiau, up the Henry and the Anne to stay in the Anne Hut, the Boyle River and the Lewis Pass highway, while Jacq, Josh, Kay, Ez and Col headed east (left in this pic) for Malings Pass and the car at Lake Tennyson.

Change of transport mode: Packing the single speed for the trip down the Rainbow Valley back to St Arnaud by bike to pick up the vehicle we'd left there, while the other four drove back to Christchurch via Hanmer.

Meanwhile, the walkers check their core strength en route to the Lewis Pass road at Boyle Village.

Waiau Pass crossing -- Nelson Lakes over to Canterbury, Day 4

Rugged up and ready to leave Blue Lake Hut on the off chance that the weather clears enough for us to get over Waiau Pass (1870,).

Looking north and back down the West Sabine as we climb the moraine above Blue Lake. The hut is just inside the bush edge at the far end of the lake.

Starting the climb to get around Lake Constance which is on the right of the photo. Blue from where we have come is over the edge of the moraine to the left.

Why are they called spaniards? A bluff which runs right down into Lake Constance makes it necessary to climb a hundred metres above the lake to get to the head of the lake. Waiau Pass in the cloud above our heads.

Traversing above Lake Constance.

 

Waiau Pass is up there somewhere?? Doesn't look very nice.

Head of the lake and the gully which is our route back down to the shoreline.

On the edge of the lake.

Snack stop behind a big wind-stopping rock. The beach was littered with excellent skimming stones.

Above the lake and at the bottom of the final ascent to the pass which is out of view to the right of the picture. We've just had a shower of cold rain/sleet  -- what's the weather going to do? The dot in the middle distance is the tent of an Auckland Te Araroa walker who camped there the night snug in her tent. She was zooming along with an 8kg pack, travelling light but well equipped.

And up valley it doesn't look much good either. Figured we would climb up the hill and keep assessing the weather.

Hmmm, is it going to go?

The slope up which we must climb, up the two tussock bands and on up to the right.

Ah ha, the weather's playing the game. Most of the way up the scree slope with Lake Constance in the background. The route had bought us around the left hand shore of the lake, above the visibly dark bluff before we dropped on to the mini-fan sticking into the lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Made it to the bench at the top of the scree -- Yah!!

And it's time for a rest and a snack. The pass is up around the rock outcrop in the centre background.

Up the final push!

Made it! Resting on the top! The weather pulled back and we basked in some sun and a huge sense of satisfaction as we took our last look into Nelson.

Heading down into the Waiau which can be seen at far left. The stream seemingly dropping out of the cloud centre right drains Lake Thompson at the head of the west branch of the Waiau.

What some called a scramble, and others called rock climbing turned out to be pretty reasonable when we got to it. Involved a bit of down climbing over slabs for a few metres.

Lunch time with pic taken by speedy 8kg-pack carrying Te Araroa walker. All feeling very pleased with ourselves for having got over the crux of the trip and now safely into the Waiau River.

But there's still a few rivercrossings to be done. Here a threesome forward the east branch of the Waiau just above the forks campsite.

Some hours later pitching camp and establishing a heat source near the Caroline Creek Biv.

In which we discover the delights of instant mashed potato! All pitched and ready to feast.

Waiau Pass crossing -- Nelson Lakes over to Canterbury, Day 3

West Sabine Hut with enough sun to make departure for Blue Lake easier.

Like mother, like son. What are they doing: blissed out or communing with the mountain gods?

Blue Lake, evidently the clearest water in the world. It's possible to see 70 metres through the water which is just short of the theoretical maximum of 73 metres for distilled water. It's so clear because there is no over land inlet to it: all the water percolates through the moraine in the background which hold Lake Constance.

Shelter from the...  Blue Lake Hut with a wet wood fire going and to the west the cloud sitting on the tops above the route to Moss Pass in the background.

Will it clear and be fine enough for us to cross Waiau Pass on the morrow? In the evening light, a skiff of fresh snow deposited on the tops to the east of Blue Lake Hut by the southerly.

Waiau Pass crossing -- Nelson Lakes over to Canterbury, Day 2

Day 2: Yesterday's stunning sunshine morphed into cloud and the developing drizzle as we left Travers heading for Travers Saddle -- hard to decide how many layers of clothes are needed as we climbed to the pass.

Near the top and there's no doubt parkas are necessary.

Descent into the East Sabine. From a height and in the mist it's difficult to figure out where the river runs as the confluence with the West Sabine, which is in the centre distance, seems too high for the water to flow out. But it has cut a gorge through. Half way down the valley there is a fantastically short bridge (well less than 10 metres long??) across the East Sabine with the river running about 60 or 70 metres below.

Rest and relaxation in the West Sabine Hut after a damp few hours from the Travers.

Waiau Pass crossing -- Nelson Lakes over to Canterbury, Day 1

Planning meeting at Deb's wonderful abode, St Arnaud, checking out the route on the map.

Josh, how can you eat your museli dry, and without a spoon on the jetty??!!! You should get up earlier!!
About to board the water taxi for the trip to the top of Lake Rotoiti.

The Total Team: Standing on the jetty at the lake head, having collared an unsuspecting passing walker to take our photo. Jane and Mart included as they took the day out to boat up lake with us and walk back to St Arnaud. Pic has been manipulated to counter bad light having been taken into bright sunshine reflecting off lake.

 Shadowy figures: The three sisters above the Travers.

Valley head at Upper Travers Hut at end of major day. Josh jogs back to relieve a member of the older generation of their pack in the dying rays of sun. Hut is in shadow in bang in the middle of the pic.