Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

A 5 day circuit in the northern Kaweka Range.
Monday - From the Lakes carpark we headed up to Kuripapango over the Smith Russell Track to Kiwi Saddle Hut.
Tuesday - North along the tops passed Castle Camp, over Kaiarahi to Studholme Saddle and Studholme Saddle Hut for lunch. Then further north along the tops over Mad Dog Hill, Kaweka and down the northern track route to Black Ridge Hut.
Wednesday - Back to Kaweka via the southern track route. Then north along the Kewaka Range over North Kaweka, Whetu and down to Ballard Hut.
Thursday - Back up to the range over Whetu and down Camp Spur. Then south along the track to Kaweka Flats, with a quick side trip to Iron Whare and then on to Kaweka Flats Bivvy.
Friday - South along the track passed Makahu Saddle Hut and on to Mackintosh Hut. Then down to the Tutaekuri River and up to the road and back along to the Lakes carpark.
Monday, 27 February 2012
A Robin welcomes us at the start of our walk ... - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

A Robin welcomes us at the start of our walk ...

... while a wee bee stays head-down bum-up in a gentian - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

... while a wee bee stays head-down bum-up in a gentian

Glimpse of one of The Lakes from Kuripapango Hill - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Glimpse of one of The Lakes from Kuripapango Hill

The Smith-Russell Track .... - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

The Smith-Russell Track ....

.... leads along an interesting ridge to Kiwi Saddle - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

.... leads along an interesting ridge to Kiwi Saddle

Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March
Evening light near Kiwi Saddle hut - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Evening light near Kiwi Saddle hut

1 contorta down, 10 zillion to go. The Kawekas could be the perfect Xmas tree farm. - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

1 contorta down, 10 zillion to go. The Kawekas could be the perfect Xmas tree farm.

Castle Camp - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Castle Camp

Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March
Patrick arrives at Studholme Saddle hut - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Patrick arrives at Studholme Saddle hut

View south from above Studholme hut (in foreground bush) to Kaiarahi - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

View south from above Studholme hut (in foreground bush) to Kaiarahi

Summer snow at Kaweka J! - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Summer snow at Kaweka J!

Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March
Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March
Back Ridge hut - delightful location - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Back Ridge hut - delightful location

Climbing Back Ridge to Kaweka J - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Climbing Back Ridge to Kaweka J

Back on Kaweka J, in rather more pleasant conditions this time - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Back on Kaweka J, in rather more pleasant conditions this time

View from North Kaweka across Makahu Spur to the Donald gorge. See if you can spot Dominie biv! - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

View from North Kaweka across Makahu Spur to the Donald gorge. See if you can spot Dominie biv!

Hunter taxi leaving Ballard hut - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Hunter taxi leaving Ballard hut

Endless backcountry NW of Ballards - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Endless backcountry NW of Ballards

Typical Ballards landscape - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Typical Ballards landscape

Perched on a ledge, Ballards is another lovely old orange culler's hut - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Perched on a ledge, Ballards is another lovely old orange culler's hut

Ballard scenery - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Ballard scenery

Heading towards Kaweka Flats, with North Kaweka dominating the skyline - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Heading towards Kaweka Flats, with North Kaweka dominating the skyline

Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March
Climbing to Kaweka Flats - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Climbing to Kaweka Flats

Monster of the Kaweka claypans - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Monster of the Kaweka claypans

Iron Whare, nicely restored relic of the Kaweka grazing era - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Iron Whare, nicely restored relic of the Kaweka grazing era

Time for a sunbathe at Kaweka Flats biv. Shake, rattle and roll in the wind! - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Time for a sunbathe at Kaweka Flats biv. Shake, rattle and roll in the wind!

It's not all manuka scrubland - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

It's not all manuka scrubland

Makahu Saddle Hut - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Makahu Saddle Hut

Amongst the pines - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Amongst the pines

Instep crampons on, preparing to tackle the descent to ..... - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Instep crampons on, preparing to tackle the descent to .....

Instep crampons make claypans a breeze! - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Instep crampons make claypans a breeze!

.....the Donald River - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

.....the Donald River

Mackintosh Hut - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

Mackintosh Hut

GPS track, 60km - Kaweka circuit 27 February to 2 March

GPS track, 60km

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