North of the Saddle

Travers Valley, Nelson Lakes NP, Sep 2017

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by

Andrew Croskery
in

Back in September 2017 Guy Land, Jon Parker and I spent a few days at Nelson Lakes National Park. After a cold night tenting at St Arnaud’s Lake Rotoiti campground we caught a water taxi to Coldwater Hut which is about as appealing as its name suggests. From there we headed up valley for a night at Cupola Hut, and then another at Upper Travers Hut before returning back down the valley, this time walking the track along the eastern side of the lake to the road-end.

As I never recorded an account of the trip at the time I’ll let the photos do the heavy lifting.

Into the mist – looking south across Lake Rotoiti.
The Players – Jon Parker & Guy Lane.
Bridge across the Travers River to Lakehead Hut. We’d use that on our return journey.
Looking for worms.
Synchronised tramping – it’s a thing.
Trialing the new compass. It struggles with magnetic variation.
John Tait Hut.
Guy enjoying the Cupola track.
Cupola Hut.
Hard yards.
Course of least resistance – if cold.
Upper Travers Hut behind, we traverse beyond for easier country.
Climbing out of the river at the bridge (that’s the handrails on the left), easier said than done.
Upper Travers Hut.
Jon Parker & Guy Lane.
Lakehead Hut – finally out of the snow.

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