My tramping plans for Arthur's Pass NP over the 2021/2022 season...

 My tramping plans for the 2021/2022 season...

I have been working on my annual trip plan..I do this each year to give a focus to the tramping adventures I would like to undertake over the coming year.. I set out a plan of all the trips I would like to complete and then start organising around the plan. I have a number of trips planned for Arthurs Pass NP this season...

I spent a frosty night at Lakehead Hut earlier this month...

The effects of the ongoing Covid pandemic...

Despite all of our best efforts (...or worst efforts from all the anti vaxxers, anti maskers, deniers of history, conspiracy theorists, fascists and the Orange Buffon who shall not be named...) Covid continues to blight the world. This has started to have a real impact on New Zealand...financially but also socially, mentally and physically. We are a funny, cloistered little nation way down here in the South Pacific and we need that pressure valve of trips overseas and incoming tourists to ease our isolation...

We are isolated from the world...for good and bad!!!

  Although we can still move freely about the country I am finding that more and more services are unavailable as they relied on the tourist trade to stay in business. A good example is my recent planning for the Heaphy Track later this year... 

Brown River is the northern terminus of the Heaphy Track

Almost all of the transport, accommodation and service providers have cut services as there is not enough domestic demand to keep them afloat. This made it very, very difficult to plan the trip. I believe the longer the borders are closed the more services will be affected.

 

Karamea is becoming more difficult to access on public transport...

Unfortunately we have no other choice...countries which have opened their borders to business/tourism/repatriation are now suffering dearly and this is not what we want to happen here. We have to stay strong, hunker down and weather this storm as best we can...

My 2021/2022 tramping plan:

Anyway...here is the tramping plan I have developed for Arthurs Pass NP for the next year...

August 2021:

• Campervan Trip 2: Upper West Coast visiting Karamea, Westport, Punakaiki, Hokitika late August, day trips (Scotts Beach/Nikau Walk/Cape Foulwind/Pancake Rocks/Extended Hokitika Gorge/Treetop Walk). We will look for a walk in Arthur's Pass on the way back to Christchurch...(Covid lockdown for most of August)

Karen and I are heading for the Upper West Coast soon....

                        

September 2021:

• Arthur's Pass NP, Hawdon Hut, early September, overnight (Winter Series 2021) (We did the Campervan II trip instead...but no walks in Arthurs Pass NP)

       

I will be heading up the Hawdon Valley in September...

        

  

October 2021:

• Arthur's Pass NP, East Hawdon Valley: late October, overnight (I haven't been to the East Hawdon since 2014 so it is time I returned. I will probably camp up the valley near the bivy)    

                   

Weather permitting I will re visit the East Hawdon this season...

                        

December 2021:

 One trip for December a hopeful trip over the Mingha Deception Route. I have planned it for several years but weather always gets in the way. I'm hoping for this season...

• Arthur's Pass, Mingha-Deception Route: mid December, overnight (3 huts) or Crow Hut from Klondyke Corner, mid December, overnight (Cancelled due to bad weather)

                                       

The Mingha-Deception route starts/finishes at Greyney's Shelter

January 2022:

My workplace has mandated that we must take a week of annual holidays over the Christmas break...personally I would rather use the time elsewhere but there is not much I can do about it. Therefore....tramping/camping time up some remote valley for Jon!!!

•  Lake Sumner Forest Park, Harper's Pass Track: five days from the Otira River to Windy Point (10 huts possible) or Arthur's Pass NP, Poulter River Ramble II: three days camping up the Poulter River, multi day (3 huts). The Taramakau Valley is a part of Arthurs Pass NP... (Cancelled as my daughter came to stay with us for that time)
• Arthur's Pass NP, Sudden Valley: mid January, overnight/day trip (1 hut)    

A visit to Sudden Valley has long been on my to do list...

February 2022:

The Cass-Lagoon Saddle Circuit is just outside of Arthurs Pass NP but I will feature it here as the two parks meet close to Lagoon Saddle so technically it is partially in the National Park...

• Craigieburn Forest Park, Cass-Lagoon Saddle Track: mid-late February, multi-day (3 huts) (Cancelled...I went to Nelson Lakes NP instead)

On the outskirts of Arthurs Pass NP...Cass-Lagoon Saddle Circuit

I have several trips planned for outside Arthurs Pass NP over February to March so will probably not spend a lot of time there. 

Any trips from March 2022 onwards are only aspirational as I cannot predict what may happen that far out. Who knows what the future holds for us...we might find ourselves locked down once again as the subsequent Covid strains become more and more virulent. Weather and sickness have also played havoc on my tramping plans for the last couple of seasons. 

March 2022:

• Arthurs Pass Weekend: staying in Arthurs Pass and walking the Bealey Valley Track and Devils Punchbowl Track (Completed)

April 2022:

• Otira Valley Track: early April (Completed)
• Arthurs Pass NP, Waimakiriri Valley: Klondyke to Carrington Hut and either Barker Hut or Waimakiriri Falls, multi day trip, (2 huts)

A return to the Upper Waimakiriri Valley is on the cards...

June 2022:

• some winter trips TBC.....mostly day walks but I will try for a couple of overnight trips as well. 

So I hope to have a couple of adventures in Arthurs Pass over the next year as always it is really going to depend on the weather conditions. 

Looking up the Poulter River Valley from near the old Casey Hut site...

Check back to see I manage to spend some time in my home National Park...