2. Tramping and mountaineering in New Zealand
  3. Haast Pass to Mount Cook

Karangarua-Troyte-Fettes Peak-Makawhio, 7-13 November 2020

Spectacular trip to the wild Makawhio, which we reached via the Troyte branch of the Karangarua, then followed out to SH6 after climbing Fettes Peak as a sidetrip. Team: James Thornton and Nina Dickerhof
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17-20 Nov 2018: We tried to do this trip two years ago and underestiamted the reach of a very strong SE system. Passing the Troyte confluence, we headed for Christmas Flat to dry out.
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17-20 Nov 2018: We tried to do this trip two years ago and underestiamted the reach of a very strong SE system. Passing the Troyte confluence, we headed for Christmas Flat to dry out.

  • 17-20 Nov 2018: We tried to do this trip two years ago and underestiamted the reach of a very strong SE system. Passing the Troyte confluence, we headed for Christmas Flat to dry out.
  • Drying out at Christmas Flat Hut, hoping for the weather to clear.
  • We made it to bushline above the Troyte, where snow was settling on the valley floor and making the route to Highland Pass (centre image) too treacherous.
  • The call was made to turn around.
  • Lame Duck Hut with snow in the scrub above.
  • Heading back down the Karangarua with beautiful fresh snow down to bushline on the Bare Rocky Range above.
  • Two years later, Day 1: Crossing McTaggart Creek - a gatekeeper to the Karangarua valley.
  • Crossing Cassel Flat. The rest of the journey to Lame Duck was in rain.
  • Day 2: Leaving Lame Duck Hut the next day at lunchtime after drying out.
  • Our first glimpse of Fettes Peak from the Troyte/Karangarua confluence (photo - James Thornton).
  • At the Troyte/Karangarua confluence with McGloin and McDonald down the valley.
  • A whio family with three chicks at the Troyte/Karangarua confluence.
  • The Karangarua from the shoulder on the true right of the Troyte, McGloin and McDonald down valley.
  • In the scrub on the true right of the Troyte, Karangarua valley below.
  • Beginning the sidle into the Troyte basin behind, happy at the imposing sight of Fettes Peak above (photo - James Thornton).
  • Sidling across into the Troyte basin. The two cols on the Bare Rocky Range on the right are Highland Pass and Troyte Col, respectively. We crossed Highland Pass, the one closer to Fettes via a snow gully at the bottom, some steep slabs, then a thin snow ledge leading diagonally to the pass.
  • Among Troyte boulders, Fettes and Highland Pass above on the right.
  • A sheltered nook in the Troyte, it was blowing strong and cold from the SE.
  • A sheltered nook in the Troyte, it was blowing strong and cold from the SE (photo - James Thornton).
  • Day 3: Finding a route through bluffs on the way to Highland Pass, Fettes above.
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