The river had changed course since we had been here last and now flowed though the gate giving access to the valley. After an early lunch stop we made good progress to the East Hawdon Stream, where we were on to new territory.
This branch is much more confined than the main valley and there are quickly good views of Mount Valiant. Carolina managed to keep her feet dry most of the way up but was eventually thwarted by a small outcrop that required crossing the stream at a deeper pool.
About 30 minutes after arriving at the East Hawdon Biv, a thunderstorm came hurtling in across the Savannah Range, it then proceeded to hail heavily for about half an hour. The sun stayed hidden for the rest of the day though and it was a bit clagged in for a while.
A 7:00am start on the Sunday saw a mixture of brighter spells together with some lingering fog. This followed us all the way to the small saddle between Smooth Peak and Mount Valiant with the amount increasing at an impressive rate and the blue sky disappearing just as quickly. When we were there it was impossible to tell whether we were going to be in cloud all day.
Just as thoughts of heading back down were springing to mind the sun started trying hard again and then within the space of 10 minutes it had cleared completely and we had a blue sky day.
From the Mt Valiant ridge we sidled on it’s north side across scree and boulders to regain the NE ridge before following this all the way to Green Hill.
From the Mt Valiant ridge we sidled on it’s north side across scree and boulders to regain the NE ridge before following this all the way to Green Hill.
The views on this section were outstanding starting with Mount Hunt, The Worsley Pass and the head of the Poulter River and then later the Minchin River , Lake Minchin and the wide open flats of the Poulter Valley and range upon range of tops beyond.
We continued along the ridge and were on Castle Hill at 2:00pm, but then progress slowed considerably. A fairly unpleasant scrub / low bush descent to the Casey and Surprise Stream confluence seemed to take forever, however the pleasant creek walk up Surprise Stream made up for it and took us to Casey Saddle.
It’s a long way back from Casey Saddle at the end of a big day. Much further than it seems when you walk in that way and you even have to climb above the gorge. In fact the gorge sidle above the Andrews Stream is higher than the saddle itself. Its amazing how much of this climbing goes unnoticed when you are fresh and walking in rather than heading back.
We were lucky enough to be caught up by Frank King and Honora Renwick on the walk out. In fact they walk so quietly that I didn’t even realise they were behind me until they spoke, quite unexpected as I hadn’t thought we would meet anybody late on a Sunday afternoon. Carolina had met them on Stewart Island several years ago, but I never had, despite seeing their names in just about every hut book in Arthurs Pass. They had been in to Ranger Biv and still looked as fresh as a daisy!
So, all in all a great weekend weekend trip , but a bit of a longer day than anticipated on the Sunday. And we still have the Savannah Range to traverse from the East Hawdon Stream next time.
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