For those that would prefer to take a photo tour of the 3 Passes route over the NZ Southern Alps, heading west from Arthurs Pass village.
Enjoy….
The flats and tarns just before dropping down to Morpeth Hut
After so many stream and river crossings, snow fields and peat bog it is good to abee to take the boots of for the last time!
Looking south from Browning Pass down the Wilberforce River. Morpeth hut is located on the side stream centre of the image
Carrington HUt
Just about to start up to Browning Pass. The router is to the left of the image with the exit onto the pass though the scree slope that can be seen in the top left corner.
Surprised, us an them! It was all I could do to get several slightly blurry photos before they were gone.
This is an awesome partnership that we were able to see the benefits of when we came across the family of 9 Blue Duck on the Styx River
A rare sight – Blue Ducks on the Styx River
Blue Ducks on the Styx River
My favourite – another waterfall, another stream crossing
Just west of Klondyke corner, on the Waimakariri river – the 3 Passes Route all ahead of us!
There were many waterfalls on th climb up to Harman Pass .
Moss covered rocks on the walk out along the Styx River
Standing on Browning Pass looking north over Lake Browning
So many waterfalls on the side streams as we headed down the Styx River
NZ Fantail
Lake Browing
The lush green of a NZ West Coast Bush
A typical NZ swing bridge – just a few minutes out from Harman hut.
Just starting the climb to Harman Pass.
Looking “down” the climb up to Browning Pass.
West Coast “sludge”
Heading down into the Cronin Valley from Whitehorn Pass
Rest day wandering on flats above Morpeth Hut
Dropping down to Morpeth Hut with the Marshal range behind
Heading into the mist as we climbed higher to Harman Pass
On the “Waimak”, about an hour out from Carrington hut.
The West Coast track team cut this track as they surveyed a route to me with the team coming West from Canturbury
Lunch spot on Browning Pass. Not a bad place to take a break
Heading down from Browning Pass as we head for Harman Hut.
End of the day, end of the walk. It’s all over as we wait for a ride back into Hokitika for a cold beer
With Whitehorn Pass in the back the Croning Valley is a rocky route down to valley floor and through to the hut.
Eager to get going – first river crossing only 50 metres away from the car park. The first of many to negotiate over the next 5 days.
