With travel on Friday 28 February and arriving to a sunny and hot day at Makarora with accommodation booked at Wonderland Holiday Park, Christine, Catherine and Hazel settled in to a swim in the pool and the usual arranging of gear and finalising pack contents.
Day 1. 8.30am. Checking with Wilkin Jets for the short ride to the start of the Young River. After the clamber up the bank with our full and heavy packs off we went. The walk up the Young River was very pleasant with mostly cloudy conditions but very mild. The track largely walking alongside the river through the beech forest and also with its climb up to the spacious Young Hut to join a group of friendly trampers. Today’s walk was 15km which took us around 8 hours.
Day 2. With a big day ahead, we were up and away by 8am. The day started with cool temperatures and a mostly cloudy sky which made walking quite pleasant for the climb up to Gillespie Pass and the rather long downhill to Siberia Hut. The first part of the walk was a steady climb through the bush until we reached the alpine basin of the Young Valley, then the steep climb to the Pass. Great views were to be had here. By the time we got down to where the track met with the Gillespie River the sun was shining and it was quite hot. The track then continued on following the Gillespie River downstream, but still with its climbs and descents before eventually we reached the grassy track and the last 45minute walk to the busy 20 bunk Siberia Hut. Although this was a 11.7km day for us it was a 10-hour day (stops included). We were to spend two nights here.
Day 3. After some rain overnight which was forecast and an increased river flow to start the day our mission for the day was a day walk to Crucible Lake which is nestled under Mt Alba. After crossing the Siberia Stream the track climbs a narrow spur and sidles to river crossing, the Crucible Stream, which at the time we reached it was gushing and due to the amount of water passing here at this time we made the decision not to go on. We note that by the time we had reached the bottom to the climb the stream and river levels had eased, and other trampers that left and hour or so later managed to cross the Crucible Stream, however a few of them arrived back at the hut at 8.30pm which caused some distress to other members of their party. Back at hut there was to be another busy night with a full and noisy hut. Today we walked 11.0km.
Day 4. Siberia Hut to Kerin Forks Hut. Today was an easy 7km walk on a well-formed and used track largely due to the many people that do “the Siberia Experience”, to the spot where the jet boat picks up. We made the decision to go ahead with our plan as arranged to have the jet boat drop us off to the other side of the Wilken River. This was a well-managed operation by the jet boat driver. From here the Kerin Forks Hut sits high above the river overlooking the Wilken Valley below and its large patch of bracken and grassy flats. Here we enjoyed a leisurely afternoon in the sun.
Day 5. Kerin Forks Hut to Top Hut. 15km and 7hrs 45 for us. After a fresh start for the day and pleasant walk through the largely beech forest till near halfway point we popped out to the sun at Wonderland Flats where we had lunch, watched a falcon chasing some smaller birds and took in the beautiful scenery. Have to say the birdlife up this valley was good. After a spell in the open it was back into the forest which was a sidle above the river until descending to the large Jumboland Flats. From here we found our way up the extensive riverbed to the junction of the north and south branches. Due to the low river level, we were able to make river crossings and made for a quicker and easier walk to the hut which was perched again over grassy flats and overlooking back down the river and valley.
Day 6. Day walks up the North Branch to Lakes Castalia (at the top) then Lucidia and Diana on the way back down. This was an 8 hour plus day. It was a “Bluebird Day” and we soaked up the beauty of our surrounds and relished the moment sat by Lake Castalia set below massive rock walls and glacier fields above. Some of us took the moment to have a brief swim in the Lake. On the way back down the valley we climbed up to the moraine wall at the top of Lucidius to check out the large aerial we could see. This turned out to be the site of a weather station. Amazing views from here looking below us to the head of the lake and its towering rock walls and high above the glacier fields. As time was marching on, we scrambled down from the moraine wall to get back on the track and headed back to the hut taking in the smaller picturesque Lake Diana. Today we walked 15km.
Day 7. Top Forks to Keran Forks. Another Bluebird Day return to Kerin Forks Hut for our last night. By now our packs had well and truly lightened their loads of 8 days supplies and now again, walking back down the valley taking in the beautiful scenery with a lunch spot at our halfway spot at Wonderland and finally arriving at the hut with plenty of time for a quick dip in the river and evening spent with some of the nice people we had met on our adventure.
Day 8. Homeward bound. It was leisurely start to the day and leaving the hut for the 400m walk to the spot at the river bank we spent some time until our booked 12.30 Wilkin Jet boat ride out to Makarora. It was another great day of sun and a fantastic jet boat ride to Makarora. Reflecting on our trip for me a highlight was the walk to Lake Castalia. We met many nice people and enjoyed the whole adventure. Most certainly the magnificent majestic mountains, rivers, and beech forests.
Thank you to Catherine for organising this trip.
