NZ bound in March next year

[kanangra]

Just booked flights for a weekend trip in March next year. Our intended itinery is to head across the Routeburn track on Day1 camping at the McKellar hut. weather permitting we will go up Key Summit and along the ridge dropping into the hut from above and behind. On Day 2 we will go down the Grrenstone valley to Steele ck then up that that valley to its head then down the other side to the Mid Caples for the night. (hopefully it will be still there?) Then on the third and final day we will go up Kay Ck and over into Scott Ck which we will follow down to the road.

I will probably park the car at Lake Sylvan to shorten the road bash at the end. we can walk from there to the start of the Routeburn the night before we set off. Have been eyeing off this particular trip for years.

K

[wayno]

why bother with a car when theres shuttle buses servicing the tracks

[kanangra]

Mostly it is a timing issue for us. We fly out on the afternoon of our last day and may be cutting things a little fine.

K.

[wayno]

buckleys do a 1pm pick up from routeburn shelter. and they dont muck around stopping at glenorchy like track and info do. back at queenstown central by 2 15. they drop you off wherever you want in the town

http://www.buckleytransport.co.nz/

[kanangra]

Thanks for the tip.

K

[wayno]

track and info bus does a compulsory half hour stop at the shop at glenorchy, its nothing more than a kick back between the shop and the bus service to try and get people to spend up at the shop with its over inflated prices... the total bus trip isnt that long, its not necessary

[nq111]

Good tips Wayno.

What do you reckon about taking a jet boat instead of a bus? I figured it might be faster and more fun, but haven't really checked it out yet.

Kanangra, might see you over there, going to do the Five Passes Tramp in early March (not fixed a date yet).

[wayno]

jetboat doesnt take you to the routeburn, only up the dart...

[kanangra]

Well March has arrived and less than 2 weeks to go before we head out. I can't wait. We have decided to carry a tent so we are not tied to the huts. I would like to camp the first night high on the Livingstone Range before dropping down to Mc Kellar Hut the next morning. The second night we hope to camp high up in Camp Ck. We'll see how the weather looks?

Anyone know the time of first and last light at Queenstown at the moment?

K.

[wayno]

currently snowing in the southern alps, 8cm, snow down to as low as 700m

http://www.metservice.com/mountain/fior ... ional-park

http://encounter.snapithd.com/encounter ... 1255802823

[DaveNoble]

Anyone know the time of first and last light at Queenstown at the moment?

K.

Google can tell you - enter "sunrise queenstown New Zealand" etc. Can be very useful for photography for sunrise and sunset.

Dave

[kanangra]

Thanks guys. I should have known Google would know. Crumbs I wasn't expecting snow down that low. I was hoping to camp at about 1,400m?

K.

[kanangra]

I've just noticed I wrote Camp Ck but meant to say Kay Ck.

K.

[wayno]

Thanks guys. I should have known Google would know. Crumbs I wasn't expecting snow down that low. I was hoping to camp at about 1,400m?

K.

looking at the remarkables the snow is actually somewhere between 1000 and 1500, looking at cedric peak looks around the same.. at this time of year the snow melts reasonably fast once the wind dies down or swings back to the north... no such thing as unseasonal snow in the south island. freeing level will shift between 1000m and 4000m this time of year


http://www.metservice.com/mountain/fior ... ional-park

[forest]

Kanangra, Sounds like a great trip. Plenty of time up high. Have fun and be safe.

You'll not be the only Aussie in the area.....14 sleeps to go, who's counting !!

That's interesting to see a little early snow in Queenstown. I will not mention that to my wife as she'll start shivering now.

[kanangra]

Hey Forest as we'll be over there at the same time I'll keep an eye open for you. where are you headed?

K.

[nq111]

Sounds like it will almost be a bushwalk.com convention in Queenstown over next few weeks.

I'll be in those hills in just over a week.

Others be warned, whenever I plan such a trip it snows - regardless of season. Being snow magnets I can almost guarantee it will snow again in about 10 days

[wayno]

ten day forecast has the weather going back to summmer weather
http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/queenstown

[wayno]

remarkable skifield today...

[nq111]

ten day forecast has the weather going back to summmer weather
http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/queenstown

You doubt my skills as a snow and bad weather magnet?

[wayno]

ten day forecast has the weather going back to summmer weather
http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/queenstown

You doubt my skills as a snow and bad weather magnet?

not at all , i'm using it as a benchmark to see how much you can change the weather forecast obewan....

[nq111]

ten day forecast has the weather going back to summmer weather
http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/queenstown

You doubt my skills as a snow and bad weather magnet?

not at all , i'm using it as a benchmark to see how much you can change the weather forecast obewan....

I'm up for the challenge.

For example this was the outcome from a forecast for 'clearing' the day after some light snow showers (we were out in the light snow no dramas). It continued like this and worse for two days.

(Video Warning: Some cussing included).

[wayno]

and? thats fine weather in NZ....

[nq111]

and? thats fine weather in NZ....

of course no one is taking videos when it gets really rough.

But, yeah, I am a bit intimidated by potential NZ weather, even coming from Tassie experience. I hope that fear is healthy.

The event in the video certainly scared us at times (winds were clocked up to 130km/hr at the nearest and less exposed peak with a BOM weather station). That was a bomber geodesic mountain tent too - i would hate to think what would have happened had we been carrying a lighter 3 season tent.

[wayno]

it was 180k at stewart island last week... 120 around south island today

[wayno]

mate of mine kept worrying about his tent in a storm , kept tightening the guy lines during the night, ended up with all the tension, the tent shreded...

[nq111]

it was 180k at stewart island last week... 120 around south island today

Yep - no doubting it, that is rough.

[nq111]

mate of mine kept worrying about his tent in a storm , kept tightening the guy lines during the night, ended up with all the tension, the tent shreded...

What sort of tent? I have had a few guylines cut by the flying ice.

Want to hope for lots of snow in those conditions - builds up around the tent and gives some protection and anchorage.

[wayno]

macpac olympus,.. pre the snow flaps...

[nq111]

macpac olympus,.. pre the snow flaps...

I used to have one. I didn't find it as comfortable in a big wind as a good geodesic but hardly a weak tent either. Shocking to think one shredded.