A quick overnight micro mission up the Mount Aspiring Valley to Cascade Hut and return via the upper Matukituki River for the first ever winter descent in an ‘Explorer 300’ Rubber Dinghy!
Surprisingly the Explore survived and held up pretty well, its wide surface area glided over the smooth boney sections of the river.
24-25th July 2021. Crew: Lee & Doug
Keen to summit a local 2000m peak we headed for Mt Alta, one of the highest peaks in the lower Matukituki Valley. Permission granted from West Wanaka we took the 40 minute drive along the 4wd farm track to the foot of Round Hill Spur. Leaving the Valley floor at 800am we continued up the well defined farm track until we reached a point where a direct push up the steep tussock slopes would bring us to the ridge. Another 2 hours followed as we weaved through the lose rock to finally reach our goal and our rewarding views into the heart of the National Park and Lake Wanaka. Heading for a more direct descent, along with some sneaky scree running, we stumbled back at the truck 4 hours later at 630pm, exhausted. 16 February 2013
Mt Alta Route
Our Route 10 hours
Keas
Keas
Tussock Slopes
Steep Tussock Slopes
Buchanan Peaks
Buchanan Peaks in the Background
Emma & SImon
Ridge Line
Finally on the Ridge Line
Mt Alta
First glimpse of Mt Alta
Ridge to Mt Alta
Ridge to Summit
Lose Rocks
Loose Rock!
Ridge Line
Summit
Summit
Cows
M o o o o !
