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YOUR CART
Susan and Carrie's summer tramping adventures -- part 3: March 2023
The Douglas Range, Kahurangi National Park, February 28-March 6
Day 1: A gorgeous Golden Bay morning to begin -- looking across the valley toward Takaka Hill
Day 1: A 17km slog to Anatoki Forks hut, with numerous slippery creek crossings along the way
Day 1: One of the more "interesting" sections of the Anatoki Track (fortunately sporting a newly upgraded chain)
Day 2: The Yuletide Ridge track started with a steep 600m climb to bush line
Day 2: Above bush line the Yuletide track followed a narrow ridgeline up and down, through stunted trees and broken rock
Day 2: Some interesting scrambling over rocky knobs along the Yuletide Ridge
Day 2: Beginning to see Anatoki Peak and The Dragon's Teeth peeking over the ridgeline
Day 2: Looking towards the tarn below Yuletide Peak where we camped the night
Day 2: There was just enough flat ground for camping beside Yuletide Tarn (1400m)
Day 3: Mist, rain and wind between the Yuletide camp and Adelaide Tarn
Day 3: The inclement weather made for an interesting route-finding challenge -- thank goodness for all the cairns!
Day 3: Arriving at Adelaide Tarn for lunch (zoom in to see the tiny hut)
Day 3: Drying gear at Adelaide Tarn Hut after a dewy night and damp hike
Day 3: A long restful afternoon on what turned out to be the first of three short hiking days
Day 3: Evening light looking towards The Needles Eye (upper right of photo)
Day 3: Adelaide Tarn sunset -- Clark Peak in the distance
Day 4: Early morning light on The Dragons Teeth and Anatoki Peak (view from Saddle South above Adelaide Tarn)
Day 4: Last view of Adelaide Tarn and Clark Peak from Saddle South (1420m)
Day 4: Preparing for the steep, untracked bush descent into the upper Anatoki
Day 4: I think we found the brain of the forest on our way down!
Day 4: Our second short hiking day ended with a beech forest camp in the headwaters of the Anatoki River
Day 5: A beautiful dracophyllum specimen on the steep, untracked, 600m ascent to bush line
Day 4: At bush line looking back towards Anatoki Peak and Yuletide Peak
Day 5: Climbing the ridge towards The Drunken Sailors (Anatoki Peak in the background)
Day 5: Heading along the Drunken Sailors ridge towards Pete's Pass
Day 5: One of the Drunken Sailors viewed from Pete's Pass -- oh, and Carrie too ;-)
Day 5: Our third short hiking day ended at Lonely Lake hut (Pete's Pass and the Sailors visible behind)
Day 5: A lazy sunny afternoon with a spectacular view-- what could be better!
Day 5: A cruisey afternoon stroll to check out Lonely Lake
Day 5: Lonely Lake Hut recently had a major refurbishment -- what a fabulous job!
Day 6: Another foggy day meant only fleeting views along the tops
Day 6: One of the more aesthetic cairns between Lonely Lake and the Cobb Valley
Day 6: On the sidle below Waingaro Peak -- nearly at the Cobb Valley after a long day in and out of cloud
Day 7: Leaving Cobb Hut, where we'd spent our last night to avoid the crowded (newer) Fenella Hut
Day 7: Early morning fog in the Cobb Valley after a light frost
Day 7: Looking back up the Cobb towards Xenicus Peak -- a spectacular sunny day to end on!
The Doubtful Range tops, Lewis Pass, March 14-16
Day 1: Once above bush line it was gentle tussock tops leading to Mt Garfield
Day 1: View from Mt Garfield looking southeast towards Canterbury
Day 1: View from Mt Garfield looking west towards the rest of our route
Day 1: Tarn-side campsite on the Doubtful Range tops
Day 2: Descending from the Doubtful tops towards Lake Man bivvy (in the trees to the right of the saddle)
Day 2: At the saddle above Lake Man bivouac, looking north
Day 3: A "Hurry Up Sky" while walking down the Doubtful River valley back to SH7