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  2. Tramping and mountaineering in New Zealand
  3. Aspiring Region

East Matukituki-Waiatoto-Drake-Te Naihi-Wilkin, 23 December 2016 - 2 January 2017

This year's Christmas trip saw us heading to a seldom visited, spectacular corner of Mt Aspiring NP encountering tricky river crossings, thick bush and fickle weather along the way. Team: James Thornton and Nina Dickerhof
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Camp at the Bettne Flats.
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Camp at the Bettne Flats.

  • Camp at the Bettne Flats.
  • Camp at the Bettne Flats, Haast Range above.
  • Arriving in the Waiatoto the next morning. A large rockfall off the Haast Range into the lake in the 70s caused a flash flood and left the valley looking depressingly devastated.
  • Crossing Pearson Stream.
  • A glimpse of Aspiring at the head of the Waiatoto.
  • The flash flood left some extensive gravel flats that made for some easy travel down to Bonar Flats.
  • Lunch at Bonar Flats.
  • Going got very slow and rough above Drake Flats.
  • Drake Hut - waterproof, but we opted to camp regardless.
  • Camp at the Drake confluence looking up our route into Guardian Gorge.
  • Looking down the Drake near the Sundown Creek confluence.
  • Sundown Creek cascades.
  • Reaching a difficult slabby slip in the Drake after a steep bush-bash up Guardian Gorge in the rain.
  • Luckily, it cleared around lunchtime making the next few km up the Drake a little more pleasant if still pretty rough.
  • Looking up into the valley below the Castor-Pollux cirque, Pegasus on the left in cloud.
  • Camp beside a more gentle Drake after a difficult, chest-deep crossing of the Castor-Pollux Creek.
  • At the Spanking Stream-Drake confluence.
  • Upper Drake Flats looking up towards the Drake/Te Naihi Saddle.
  • The upper Drake Flats looking downvalley.
  • How to get though that scrub?
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