The trip details are now being settled, with limited scope for any change in the party from the beginning of December.
Trip full and bookings closed
Feb 5th and 6th – ATC Bus travels to the South Island, via a pickup in Chch airport on Feb 6th. Stay Omarama.
Feb 7th – helicopter into Albert Burn on the western side of Lake Wanaka
Feb 7-10 – explore the valley, cross over to the East Matukituki via Albert Burn Saddle.
Feb 10-15 – Kitchener Flats, with optional side trip to Sisyphus Peak (1300m climb), possible side trip up Glacier Burn, exit to Cameron Flat.
Feb 15 – option 1 – travel out to Wanaka to meet up with the ATC bus party, return to Christchurch airport Feb 16th.
Feb 15-19 – option 2 – having been reprovisioned, spend a short time in the upper West Matukituki valley, possible visits to French Ridge and Liverpool Huts, then up to Cascade Saddle (1200m steep ascent), Dart Hut, Dart Valley and out to Queenstown airport.
Details and costs are now being finalised
Overall the trip is rated as Medium to Medium Fit – Sisyphus Peak is optional and weather dependent. To reach West Matukituki, the aim is not to have long days – 6-7 hours max. Some sections of off track travel. Mostly in valleys with tracks to follow. The Cascade - Dart section involves three possibly longer days, especially the Cascade Saddle to Dart Hut section.
All plans as usual subject to change based on the conditions at the time.
Maximum party size 6 people. To be considered you must have participated capably in several multi day trips in the last couple of years.
If you are keen, please contact Tony Walton before the end of November - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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