When: New Zealand Summer - December to April

Length of stay: An 8-day itinerary is provided, but other hikes of different lengths are available

Number of guests: 2 - 5

Fee (as of 2004): NZ$2130 (approx. US$1230) per person for the 8-day itinerary provided, but other trips with different costs are also provided. Costs include:

Where We Are:
We operate out of the small, beautiful town of Wanaka. Situated on the shores of Lake Wanaka, on the South Island of New Zealand. Wanaka is the gateway to Mt Aspiring National Park - a World Heritage Area.

Wanaka is 1 hour from Queenstown (which has an airport) and 5 hours from Christchurch (with an international airport). It has ample accommodation to suit all budget types and as well as all the facilities necessary to equip yourself for a hiking and mountaineering holiday.

Fitness:
To enjoy your this trek you need to be fit and have good balance. It is not appropriate if you have any fear of heights. The track is rugged, steep, and exposed. Sometimes the footing is unstable scree and you will wade through many rivers and side streams. Hikers need to be good on their feet and be comfortable on rough or slippery ground. Hikers should be able to maintain a slow but steady pace up hill for an hour between rest stops. Your guide will ensure your safety at all times.

New Zealand's Unique Geography:
Hiking in New Zealand is very different than anywhere else in the world. To understand the hiking here, you first have to realise the role that water plays. The Southern Alps stick up out of the Tasman Sea over 10,000 feet, and when warm, water laden air from the tropics is pushed along by the prevailing winds, the first land it runs into is a massive chain of mountains – the Southern Alps. As the air is pushed up over the mountains, the water is squeezed out of it. The result is rain accumulation of over 6 meters a year on the western side of the mountains. Once the air crosses the divide it expands and dries out, leaving areas on the eastern side with only a fraction of the rain fall. So the land must shed itself of huge amounts of water, 100-150mm (4-6 inches) of water in a storm is not uncommon.

The mountains in New Zealand are very young, they have not had the time to wear down like the Rockies or the European Alps. These mountains are still lifting, and the loose sedimentary rock is constantly shifting. Land slips are a common occurrence. Small land slips or even whole mountain sides collapse into the valleys with frightening regularity.

Geographically, this combination of large rain events and sedimentary rock, results in a land of deep valleys and gorges. The fast moving water carves into the mountains leaving deep gorges and depositing large amounts of sediment into the valleys.

When heavy rain occurs, the rivers rise very fast. For example, in North America water which falls on The Grand Teton has nearly two thousand miles to meander its way to the ocean. Water falling on Mt. Cook makes the same vertical distance to the ocean in 20 miles (32 km). This is a land covered in waterfalls and fast flowing rivers. The Clutha River which drains Lake Wanaka is a short river by world standards. But by volume of yearly discharge it is the 12th largest in the world.

ITINERARY

Day1. We pick you up at your accommodation and depart for the Young Valley. If the Rivers are high then Jet Boat access to the start of the track is provided. The Young Valley is a wonderland of dense native forest and high peaks. The trail steepens and climbs steadily to tree line. 7 hrs 650m ascent

Day 2. The track winds its way up the valley sidewall under the awesome East face of Mnt. Awful. This is really an Alpine Paradise. The climbing ends at Gillespie Pass and one of the great view points of the Southern Alps. 6hrs 550m ascent 550m descent

Day 3. It is all down hill today. The track meanders through the beautiful Siberia Valley and then plunges steeply to the Wilkin River where your mountain hut awaits. 5 hrs 650m descent

Day 4. Following the Wilkin River the track gradually rises until reaching the Top Forks. This area is one of New Zealand’s treasures with outstanding native bush and hanging glaciers. 7 hrs 300m ascent

Day 5. We leave our packs behind for a day trip to Lake Castilia. The track is rugged with plenty of stream crossings and boulder scrambling. Some may prefer a shorter day or just a rest day to swim and admire the world class views. 7 hrs 500m ascent 500m descent

Day 6. An early start gets us up to Waterfall Flat. It is not hard to imagine where it gets its name with torrents of water pouring of the surrounding cliffs. The improbable scramble up the Waterfall Face leads to Rabbit Pass. A long descent through native herb gardens is a magical end to an exhilarating day. 7-8 hrs 900m ascent 650 descent

Day 7. Waking to sound of icefalls off the towering Mnt. Pickelhaub, we have a leisurely breakfast before heading down the East Matukituki Valley. Even with no track the going is easy through this isolated scenic valley. Once we come to the magnificent Bledisloe Gorge the climbing begins again. From open river flats, through ancient forest and up to the alpine, this is a day that has it all. We camp at our incomparable Aspiring Camp. 200m descent 300 ascent

Day 8. It is the last day of the trek, and we all know what that means, that’s right: pancakes, whipped cream and blueberries. The trail down to the valley floor winds through tall beech with Mnt. Aspiring dominating the view. Gradually the track opens out into farm land just before we meet out waiting transport back to civilization and a hot shower. 5 hrs 500m descent