We had planned to do a 108km, 9 day circuit starting at the Lake Ohau roadend and follow the Hopkins, Huxley, Ahuriri, Hunter and Landsborough rivers. But the summer of 2012 had been wet and cloudy and this weather dominated our trip, making tops travel a mission. We ended up exploring the South Branch of the Huxley to just below Vee Notch Pass and then up the Huxley north branch over Brodrick pass and into the Landsborough, returning the same way.
- View north up the Lake Ohau road from near the gateDSC05634.resized
- Lake Ohau roadDSC05635.resized
- Looking south down to confluence of the Hopkins and Dobson riversDSC05636a.resized
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Monument Hut
- View NE from the swingbridge over the Huxley riverDSC05639.resized
- View west up the Huxley riverDSC05640.resized
- Sally and Dennis closing in on Main Huxley Forks HutDSC05641.resized
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Main Huxley Forks Hut
- Looking north from the entrance of the south branch of the Huxley to Boanerges peak and the Blair GlacierDSC05645.resized
- Looking south down the start of the south branch of the HuxleyDSC05646.resized
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- Negotiating the side stream that flows from the west around Solosit PeakDSC05648.resized
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- Descending back down to the Huxley south branchDSC05650.resized
- Looking up to the South Huxley Biv with Mt Huxley in the backgroundDSC05651.resized
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South Huxley Biv (has now been refurbished)
- Camp site in the Huxley souh branchDSC05654.resized
- Ascending into the gloom of the headwaters of the Huxley south branchDSC05655.resized
- Starting the sscent of the creek leading south up to V Notch pass (big mistake) but as we had no view couldn't ascertain a better routeDSC05656.resized
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- Scrambing up the creek bed towards V Notch passDSC05658.resized
- Finally on the tussock slopes below V Notch PassDSC05659.resized
- View north down spur to valley floor of Huxley south branchDSC05660.resized
- View into the creek we had ascended to get to spurDSC05662a
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Highest point reached below Notch pass before turning back
- Descending spur to scree fan further up valley from the dreaded creekDSC05665.resized
- View up to a mist shrouded V Notch pass.DSC05666a.resized
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- Looking NW into the head of the valley under Stevenson PeakDSC05670a.resized
- Looking north down the Huxley south branchDSC05672.resized
- Looking up the creek bed we climbed up, doesn't look a good option when you have no low cloudDSC05673.resized
- View up the creek to V Notch passDSC05675.resized
- The preferred route to V Notch from the Huxley south branchDSC05676.resized
- View back down to the South Huxley BivDSC05677.resized
- South Huxley BivDSC05678.resized
- Looking west down the Huxley to the HopkinsDSC05679.resized
- Dusk at Main Huxley Forks hutDSC05680.resized
- The start of our climb into the north branch of the HuxleyDSC05681.resized
- Crossing over one of the side streamsDSC05682.resized
- Heavily eroded side streamsDSC05683.resized
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- Looking south down the Huxley north branchDSC05685.resized
- Climbing up towards Brodrick hutDSC05686.resized
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- Panarama of the Huxley north branch from near Brodrick hutDSC05688a.resized
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Brodrick Hut
- View up thru the cloud towards Brodrick passDSC05692.resized
- The cloud clears to reveal the route to Brodrick passDSC05693.resized
- Leaving the hut to get to the start our scent to Brodrick passDSC05694.resized
- View down to the Brodrick hut as we start climbing up the spur to Brodrick passDSC05695.resized
- There be a track hereDSC05696.resized
- Looking back down towards Brodrick hut from higher up the spurDSC05697.resized
- Navigating around to the Brodrick passDSC05698.resized
- The views weren't anything special as we approach Brodrick passDSC05699.resized
- Ascending a ramp up to Brodrick passDSC05700.resized
- The east side of Brodrick passDSC05701.resized
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Approaching Brodrick Pass
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Descent into headwaters of McKenzie Creek
- Best route down was into the creek bedDSC05704.resized
- Approaching the bushline and the start of the route downDSC05705.resized
- The Landsborough valley floor is sighted thru the cloudDSC05706.resized
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Creswicke Flat Hut (now replaced thank goodness. The rats will have to find a new home!!)
- West NW from Creswich hut to the Solution RangeDSC05708.resized
- View north up the Creswick flat airfieldDSC05709.resized
- View south up the route we descended from Brodrick pass down Mackensiw creekDSC05710.resized
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A silt laden Landsborough river looking upriver from the hut
- Looking west down the Landsborough from Creswick Flats to Golden PointDSC05712.resized
- Looking south up to Mt StrachonDSC05714a.resized
- Looking up Mackenzie creekDSC05717.resized
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- A rat infested Creswick Flats hut (old)DSC05719.resized
- Another rainy day on the coast as we ascent Mackenzie creek on our way to Brodrick passDSC05720.resized
- Clambering over more bloody rocksDSC05721.resized
- A map of the area that we found in Brodrick HutDSC05725.resized
- View west up to the Huxley rangeDSC05729a.resized
- Clambering down the Huxley north branchDSC05732.resized
- Pete on the Huxley north branchDSC05733.resized
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Descending the Huxley North branch
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View from Main Huxley Forks Hut of fresh snow on the Naumann Range
- View back up to Huxley ForksDSC05743a.resized
- Finally some sunshine after a week of rainDSC05746.resized
- View up the Huxley to Anita PeakDSC05748.resized
- View to the swingbridge over the HuxleyDSC05750a.resized
- View into the Huxley after crossing the swingbridgeDSC05754.resized
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- A fine day as we descend the Hopkins to the vehicleDSC05756.resized
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- The lower reaches of the HopkinsDSC05760.resized
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- View SE to the Ben Ohau rangeDSC05764.resized
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- Near the gate and the vehicleDSC05767.resized
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