Andrews, Casey, Poulter, Trudge Stream 29 December to 2 January
At the start of the Andrews Valley track - Marian, Glenda, Owen, Sue
A friendly robbin
The track kept climbing and had lots of honey dew
Finally heading down to the upper Andrews valley
One of many mistletoe bushes in flower in this area (they grow as parasite plants on beech trees)
Hallelujah Flat in the Andrews valley just below Casey Saddle
Approaching the rather low, flat Casey Saddle
That old firebug (GUO) at it again)!
Packing up our camp on Casey Saddle - the sandflies up here were pretty bad!
The peak above Casey Stream is Castle Hill (not to be confused with Casle Hill Peak near Porters Pass)
Boardwalk coming down from Casey Saddle
Sphagnum Moss (peat moss)
One of the many DOC traps in the Andrews and Casey valleys. (The egg targeting stoats?)
Surprise Stream coming down from Casey Saddle.
More Mistletoe.
Mistletoe higher up on this Beech tree.
And again.
This was Casey Hut! A popular 16 bunk 1960's Lockwood hut - it burnt down last October.
"What a waste!" says GUO>
Some of the glass has actually melted!
Sphagnum moss?
The Poulter valley
A lot of the Poulter riverbed is dry.
But there are some small side streams and wetlands.
Trust Poulter Hut
Looking back to the Poulter Range.
Lake Minchin.
Poulter Hut - spacious and comfy and has essential sandfly screens on the windows.
Poulter Hut
On the way to Trudge Stream - the next valley on the left.
More Poulter riverbed - it was hot and dry at this time but you can imagine it in flood!
The moon was still up - was this an omen?
Entering Trudge Stream.
Drying out time at a sunny lunch spot.
One of the last difficult bits we were prepared to tackle - everyone was swimming in the pool at the top of this one.
Now on the way back down - Owen had got up to a waterfall that even he could not get up!
High wind clouds as we headed back down the Poulter valley.
Back on the high, hot, and dry Casey Track. The Savannah Range in the distance.
Our campsite on Hallelujah flat in the Andrews Valley. The sandflies were not too bad here.
Packing up the tents.
More Mistletoe to cheer us up.
