This hut is nestled beneath some very big peaks and is near the Arrowsmith Range.  It is said to offer some spectacular alpine scenery.  Two trips are on offer – one of two days and the other of three days, as detailed below.  Both trips start on the Saturday of the Waitangi Day long weekend.

Cameron River + South Ashburton [Hakatere]
Date: 6-8 February [Waitangi weekend]
Grade: Medium/Hard
Contact: Wayne 027 920 6638 or Barry 021 0268 9877

There are two trips and two parties involved:
(1)  One party goes into the Cameron Hut near Lake Heron on Saturday the 6th and comes out the same way on the 7th.  Grade: Moderate.
(2)  The second party also goes into the Cameron Hut for the first night on the 6th but crosses over into the South Ashburton on the 7th and comes out on Monday the 8th via the Cameron.  Grade: Hard

Intentions:  Leaving Timaru at 7am on Saturday the 6th Feb and walking into the Cameron Hut via the Cameron River.  Staying at the Cameron Hut for the first night, a Canterbury Mountaineering Club hut with a fee of $10 per person per night.  The hut is sited in a unique glacial moraine basin that resembles a moonscape and there are spectacular views of the Arrowsmith Range out of the hut’s picture window.  On day two both parties start by walking back down the Cameron.  One party walks right out to the vehicles and goes home.  The second party walks part way back down the Cameron, then climbs up an unmarked route up an unnamed small side creek on the true right that leads to a saddle with a creek that drops down to the South Ashburton opposite an ex musterers hut (now owned by DOC and called Top Hut).  Night two at Top Hut.  On day three there is a short walk down the South Ashburton then a climb up an unmarked route over another saddle that drops us back into the Cameron and then out to the vehicles.  Approximately 7 hours per day.

Note:  As this is a long weekend there will likely be several parties at the Cameron Hut so we will carry tents. Top Hut is more off the beaten track and is not expected to be as popular.  Also note that in this area there is matagouri and spaniard around, so high gaiters are preferable to low ones if you have them.