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….
Just west of Klondyke corner, on the Waimakariri river – the 3 Passes Route all ahead of us!
Rest day wandering on flats above Morpeth Hut
Blue Ducks on the Styx River
Surprised, us an them! It was all I could do to get several slightly blurry photos before they were gone.
On the “Waimak”, about an hour out from Carrington hut.
The flats and tarns just before dropping down to Morpeth Hut
Heading down into the Cronin Valley from Whitehorn Pass
A rare sight – Blue Ducks on the Styx River
Looking south from Browning Pass down the Wilberforce River. Morpeth hut is located on the side stream centre of the image
Heading down from Browning Pass as we head for Harman 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.
There were many waterfalls on th climb up to Harman Pass .
Looking “down” the climb up to Browning Pass.
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.
With Whitehorn Pass in the back the Croning Valley is a rocky route down to valley floor and through to the hut.
Moss covered rocks on the walk out along the Styx River
The West Coast track team cut this track as they surveyed a route to me with the team coming West from Canturbury
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
So many waterfalls on the side streams as we headed down the Styx River
NZ Fantail
My favourite – another waterfall, another stream crossing
The lush green of a NZ West Coast Bush
Dropping down to Morpeth Hut with the Marshal range behind
Carrington HUt
Lunch spot on Browning Pass. Not a bad place to take a break
Lake Browing
Just starting the climb to Harman Pass.
Standing on Browning Pass looking north over Lake Browning
Heading into the mist as we climbed higher to Harman Pass
A typical NZ swing bridge – just a few minutes out from Harman hut.
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
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!
West Coast “sludge”
