6/02/2016 – 10/02/2016 Young River – Gillespie Pass – Wilkin River – Siberia Hut – Crucible Lake
Young – Wilkin Circuit, NEW ZEALAND
Distance: 61.4km Total Ascent: 2660m Total Descent: 2300m Time: 26 hours
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
Day 1: Saturday 6/02/2016 Young River – Young Hut
Early on Saturday morning we headed off for our planned trip to visit Aspiring, French Ridge and Liverpool huts in the Matukituki River West Branch Valley. However, before we were to of town we recalled DOC’s advice that this area would be exceptionally busy over the Waitangi long weekend and with this in mind altered course and drove off towards Makarora to do the Gillespie Pass (Young-Wilkin) Circuit instead.
We were a little surprised on arrival to find the car park near the Young River close to full and a party of thirteen trampers heading off just before us.
Max elevation: 710 m
Total climbing: 795 m
Total descent: -412 m
Average speed: 3.66 km/h
Total time: 07:03:28
The days walk involved following the Young river for 20km to the Young hut. We crossed the Makarora River with the water running above knee level, apparently quite low. It was still swift enough that good care needed to be taken.
Young River
A fairly long hot and sunny day ensured with quite a lot of ups, downs and negotiating never ending tree root systems. We finally arrived at the hut and were lucky enough to get a bunk as that night there were about forty people to find beds for, although nine tents pitched just outside handled some of these.
Day 2: Sunday 7/02/2016 Young Hut rest day
It was quite a rowdy night and with that number of people a bit overwhelming. As we were already tided from our training walk up Roy Peak on Friday we decided this would be a rest day, after all this was meant to be a holiday. After all the walkers left we spent several hours cleaning the hut. It looked spic and span when we had finished! Later we went for a swim in the very refreshing Young River and relaxed in the sunshine for the day.
Young River near Young Hut
Day 3: Monday 8/02/2016 Young Hut – Gillespie Pass – Siberia Hut
Max elevation: 1615 m
Total climbing: 1069 m
Total descent: -1195 m
Average speed: 2.66 km/h
Total time: 10:27:00
Feeling re-energised we set off the next morning to tackle Gillespie Pass. The climb started 3.5km further up the Young River and the views improved as we climbed. We reached the “summit” around lunch time and were well rewarded with stunning views and perfect weather.
View from Gillespie Pass
The descent was steep in places but we were travelling well and reached the Gillespie Stream on the other side by 4:00pm. As we had been a bit concerned that we would not be able to secure a bunk at Siberia hut Steve asked Emma (from Aspiring Guides) who we had been walking with if she we would be able to hire a tent if they had one spare. She kindly offered their tent in storage at Siberia hut if we got stuck.
The next section along Gillespie Stream was long, undulating and with weary legs, seemingly endless. It was a hot afternoon and we were exhausted on our arrival at Siberia hut at 6:30pm. We had been walking since 8:30am with several short breaks. We did end up borrowing a tent (four person), which was like sleeping in a mansion! After a refreshing swim in the waterfall fed swimming hole we felt fantastic and spent the evening out on the deck of the hut chatting to two Scottish doctors who are working in Christchurch. They were hilarious and the evening went very quickly under a star studded sky.
That night while preparing dinner I realised our gas bottle was empty. This was a surprise as a bottle would normally last us for five days. We soon realised that the o-ring had deteriorated to a point were it wasn’t sealing and all our gas had leaked out. This ensured we did some begging for a stove and gas so we could prepare our dinner.
Day 4: Tuesday 9/02/2016 Siberia Hut – Crucible Lake return
Max elevation: 1187 m
Total climbing: 831 m
Total descent: -813 m
Average speed: 3.81 km/h
Total time: 07:48:53
We decided we should do the Crucible Lake side trip as we felt fairly well rested by the morning. It was seven kilometres to the lake and a fair climb negotiating tree roots for a steep ascent.
We climbed the last section through the morraine up to the edge of the lake and we were astounded by its beauty. There were many large icebergs floating in the perfectly formed lake. It really was amazing to see. I felt like I was in Antartica. We took lots of photos and had lunch but as there was a very cold wind blowing we were all too soon heading back to Siberia hut.
Sue at Crucible Lake
Day 5 – Wednesday 10/02/2016 Siberia Hut – helipad
Max elevation: 620 m
Total climbing: 8 m
Total descent: -22 m
Average speed: 2.84 km/h
Total time: 00:56:57
The talk amongst other trampers indicated that the 8 hour walk back along the Wilkin River valley was quite tedious so we were keen to get a back flight seat aboard a plane or helicopter to Makarora. These flights typically bringing paying passengers in for day walks. Unfortunately for us this was the plan of eight other trampers as well so we were not overly confident we would not be walking. Shortly after the three people first in line crossed the river to wait for a plane, one arrived, dropped off some people and then left gain without them. Soon after, about 10:00am a helicopter appeared down the valley, landed right in front of us and offered all five of us our return flight for $NZ85 per person. It was a really exciting and a fitting way to end a wonderful walk.
Helicopter flight along Wilkin River
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