Mahitahi/Zora/Landsborough/Karangarua feat. Mts Strachan and Townsend, 19-29 December 2015

This year we resisted the temptation to go back to the Olivines for our big Christmas trip and headed into the Hooker/Landsborough Wilderness area instead. Slogging nearly two weeks of food and climbing gear up the wild Mahitahi, we were rewarded with unbelievably good weather, which enabled us to befriend Mt Strachan, Dent Noire and Townsend on our way into the Zora, upper Landsborough and Karangarua. Day 1: Up the true right of the Mahitahi to camp by the stream draining Mt Stratford. Day 2: To camp near Uaroa Creek crossing the Mahitahi a couple of times and encountering easy travel through silver beach as well as thick tangly west coast bush. Day 3: Moved camp a few km upvalley to sit out a front. Day 4: To Mueller Pass via a route below bluffs on the true right of the valley to avoid thick scrub in the main river. Day 5: Climb of Mt Strachan and descent to Zora Creek. Day 6: Climb to within 15m of Fettes Peak via saddle 1874m and Dent Noire (Pt 2190m). Day 7: Descent the Zora to the confluence with the Landsborough. Day 8: Travel up the Landsborough to Fiasco Creek. Day 9: Over Douglas Saddle and the Gladiator to Karangarua Saddle. Day 10: Climb of Mt Townsend and descent to Lame Duck Hut. Day 11: Walk out to the road. Team: James Thornton and Nina Dickerhof