Saturday - Started at the road end on Mt Ella Station and headed up the Matakitaki River to Downie Hut.
Sunday - Further up the Matakitaki River to the junction of both the East and West branches. Then onto Bobs Hut in the west branch.
Monday - Back to the junction and up the East Matakitaki River, passed the East Matakitaki Hut to a campsite in the headwaters.
Tuesday - Up to David Pass and over to the D'Urville River and down passed the Upper D'Urville Hut to a campsite about an hour above George Lyon Hut.
Wednesday - A short trip to George Lyon Hut for the night due to heavy rain and flooded river.
Thursday - Continued down the D'Urville River passed Morgan Hut and then we climbed over Tiraumea Saddle and camped by Tiraumea Hut.
Friday - Car drivers went over Mole Saddle to collect the vehicles while the rest went down the Tiraumea River to the road end.
Sidebar
Matakitaki - Durville 27 December 2014 to 2 January 2015
Curious cows
We decided to head to Downie hut for the night
Matakitaki river
Checking our location
Downie hut
Some of us camped outside
Gareth trying to stay dry whilst checking out the blue ducks
Chris and Glenda
Bobs hut
Rupert and Queen Elisabeth's (III) flash new tent
Dont you love three wire bridges
Heading over to the East Matakitaki valley
We had a rest stop and I drew this (ok so I'm lying...my camera took this)
East Matakitaki hut
One scary man!!!
Looking back at the hut
Queen Elisabeth (III) showing off her wound
The climb the next day
The route up to David Saddle
But first a night of camping
Climbing
Resting
Climbing
Climbing
Climbing
David Saddle conquered! A quick rest then we were off (it was cold and wet)
Down the other side
Chris unfortunately slipped on wet grass and heard something snap
We set off a PLB and slowly helped him down the hill out of the mist
The helicopter only took 90 mins but had to come back a few times due to cloud
It didn't take long to get Chris and his pack on board
Looking for the route down into the D'Urville
Upper D'Urville hut
We had a wet night camping and the rain just got heavier and heavier the next day
So we walked 2.5 hours to George Lyon hut and stayed there for NY eve
The D'Urville river rose heaps - this is at its worst
This is the same shot taken the next morning - we definitely made the right decision to stay put!
The track was still a bit flooded the next day, but at least the sun was shining
There was heaps of wind fall in the D'Urville
So GUO made us cross the river and scramble on the other side
Lunch stop
Hate to be walking along here when the river was up
There was a lot of erosion
Back to other side and wind fall
Morgan hut
We climbed over Tiraumea saddle and camped by Tiraumea hut
We had a great campsite - shame bout the sandflys though
Some of walked down the river while others went over the Mole tops to get the cars
Meanwhile the Mole tops crew took these photos
Mole Mole Mole
