THE GRAND TRAVERSE GUIDED HIKE November 13-18, 2006 The Greenstone and Routeburn Tracks

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THE GRAND TRAVERSE GUIDED HIKENovember 13-18,
2006The Greenstone and Routeburn Tracks
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The Hikers and Their Guides
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Overall Route of the 6-day Grand Traverse
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Day 1 Queenstown-Glenorchyby bus, boat across
Lake Wakatipu ..Hike from Trailhead at
Greenstone Car Parkto Steele Creek Lodge
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View of the Trailhead from the Bus Across Lake
Wakatipu
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Road to from Queenstown to Glenorchy is at the
right
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Glenorchy
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Pausing for Tea and Scones
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Heading to the boats.
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Aboard the Boats
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Last Look at the Bus
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On the Lake, approaching the far shore
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The first swing bridge
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Crossing the bridge
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Dan
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Harry and Helen setting out
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Dan leading the way
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Looking north along the Greenstone Valley
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Harry and Dan resting for a moment
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The Greenstone River
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Pausing for a Snack
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Margaret and Terry
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Mark Cools off
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One of many waterfalls on the route
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Heading Uphill
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Fording at the falls
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Upward and onward
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Heading for Lunch at Slip Flats
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Looking down the GreenstoneValley from Slip
Flats
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Enjoying Lunch
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Harry fishing
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Looking for a good place to ford
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Larry at the ford
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A kiwi in the woods
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The Greenstone Gorge
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Near Mid-Greenstone Hut
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Cattle in Greenstone Valley
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Sunshine on the trail
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Looking down the valley, about 3 PM
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Dan leading the way toward tea-time
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Moraines near Steele Creek
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The turnoff to Steele Creek Lodge
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Steele Creek Lodge
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Tea Time, Steele Creek Lodge
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End of Day 1
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Day 2Dry air, wet trail, up the Greenstone
Valley to McKellar Lodge
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Rainy view fromSteele Creek Lodge
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Rolf in raingear
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Larry ready to meet the elements
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Josie, Helen, and Doon ready to go
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The Steele Creek bridgeone person at a time
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Crossing Steele Creek
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A multitude of waterfalls
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Guides try to find a dry path
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Over the scree
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A damp forest
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Kath on the trail
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The lunch pavilion, 2nd day
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Sue surveys the valley
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Dan treks over flooded fields
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The last mile to McKellar Lodge
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Dan fords a swollen stream
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Looking back down the cloudy valley
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The mossy corner
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The path gets a bit wet
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A few minutes to McKellar Lodge
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McKellar Lodge at Last
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Teatime at McKellar
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Terry and Matt enjoying the afternoon sun at
McKellar Lodge
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The wringer at McKellar Lodge
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Chris dries off at McKellar
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Steam rises from drying boots
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View through the skylight at McKellar Lodge
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The Message Board at McKellar Lodge
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End of Day 2
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Day 3Clear and Windy Climbing to the overlook
above McKellar Lodge
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Starting up to the Lookout
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A lovely view of the mountains from the beech
forest
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Mark and Doon above the tree line
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Mark and Larry
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Greenstone Valley from the lookout
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Lake McKellar and Lake Howden from the Lookout
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Beautiful Vistas
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Heading up to 1538
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Heading back to the Lodge
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Looking Down at McKellar Lodge
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Helen, Josie, Larry, Pat, and Doon
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Dan in the beech forest
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Approaching McKellar hut
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Helicopter arrives to bring provisions and take
away rubbish
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The McKellar Dinghy
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Terry Trying out the McKellar Pool
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End of Day 3
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Day 4A rainy walk to Howden Hut for lunch, side
trip to Key Summit, and on to Lake Mackenzie Lodge
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Rainy Tramping along the shoresof Lake McKellar
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View of Lake McKellar in the Rain
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What we would have seen fromKey Summit---if it
had been Clear
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What we did see from Key Summit
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Earland Falls Closeup
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Postcard View of Earland falls in Fine Weather
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Helen, Rolf, Larry with Earland Falls in
Background
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A misty view
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Larry In the Mist
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The view from Lake Mackenzie Lodge
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Independent hikers passing the Lodge
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The most important room in the Lodge
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Mark and Sue Entertain
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End of Day 4
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Day 5Across the Hollyford Face and Harris Saddle
to Routeburn Falls Lodge
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The Morning View from Lake Mackenzie Lodge
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Walking around the Lake
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Starting Uphill
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Larry and Kath hiking up
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Lake Mackenzie on a Clear Day
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Lake MackenzieAs we saw it in the rain
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June and Kath Looking down onLake Mackenzie
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Not much to see from the HollyfordFace on a
misty day
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The Lunch Hut at Harris Saddle
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Crossing Harris SaddleThe Avalanche Zone
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Harris Lake in the Mist
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The Routeburn Valley on a Clear Day
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Looking down at Towards RouteburnFalls in the
Mist
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A panorama of Routeburn Falls
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Looking down on the Routeburn Falls Lodge
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The View from the Falls Lodge
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Enjoying the Afternoon at Routeburn Falls Lodge
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Doon Keeping Warm
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The weather Forecast
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Marks Haircut inspires art
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Dessert Pancakes
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How the pancakes were served!
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More Pancake Athletics
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End of Day 5
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Day 6Last Day Hike to Routeburn Flats,
Routeburn Road End---Bus to Glenorchy and Dinner
in Queenstown
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Settling the Beverage Bill
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Sue Leaving the Falls
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Wee Fuschia Flowers
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Larry on a Swing Bridge
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A Side Stream
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Stoat Control
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Two Keas
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Another Cheeky Kea
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And Yet Another Kea
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Approaching Routeburn Flats
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Relaxing in front of Routeburn Flats Hut
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The first good weather report---on the last day.
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The Coopers at Routeburn Flats
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The Rain-swollen Routeburn
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Hikers crossing on a swing bridge
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Crossing the Routeburn
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Looking Upstream
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Another View of the River
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Near Forge Flats
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Mark Surveying the Scenery
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The Lower Routeburn Valley
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The Routeburn Goes Underground
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View Down the Routeburn Near the End of the Hike
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A last view up the Routeburn
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Crossing the Last Swing Bridge
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Mark, Kath, Larry at the Routeburn Trailhead Sign
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Mark and Kath head for lunch on the last day
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Routeburn Hut, Lunch Stop
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The Hikers at Lunch
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The Bus to take us back to Queenstown
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Chips and Drinks in Glenorchy
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The Group Photo
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Leaving Glenorchy
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A last look across Wakatipu at the Trailheadfrom
the bus
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Back in Queenstown
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Celebratory Pre-dinner Drinks
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Placing Dinner Orders
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Sue, Margaret, and Terry
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Matt and Josie
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Our Guide Sue finally relaxes
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Doon and Rolf
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Kath and Dan
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June and Pat
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Christine and Roger
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Christine and Helen
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Chris and Christine
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Josie and Doon
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Celebrating two birthdays
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Last Fond Farewells
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The wonderful guidesSue, Mark, Dan, Kath
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THANKS TO ULTIMATE HIKESQUEENSTOWN, NZFor a
marvelous 6 days
November 13-18, 2006