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South Island 6 The Grand Traverse Part B

South Island 6 The Grand Traverse Part B


Postby past my sell by date » Mon Sep 28, 2020 11:12 am

Date walked: 18/01/2003

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continued from part A https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=100602
Day 4
Lake McKellar to Lake Mackenzie

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Day 4 map
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The track follows the shore of Lake McKellar and then continues over the Greenstone Saddle and down to Lake Howden
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In the forest again. New Zealand's forest are quite exceptional: :D in addition to the fast growing Southern Beech and the slow growing pines - Kauri and Rimu can reach more than 50m, Miro, Mattai and Totara 25-30 - there are around 300 broad leaved species - which rather leaves Europe in the shade :lol:
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Ground Orchids - Aporostylis bifolia - on the damp mossy banks beside the track
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At the far end of the lake Mountain Ribbonwood (a small white - blossomed species) populate the edge of the forest
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Looking in the opposite direction this is the approximate position of the saddle
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Lake Howden where there is a hut for a lunch : but it is to normal make a sidewalk to a good viewpoint - the 918m Key Summit
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The Routeburn track starts at the 532m on the Divide climbs to Key Summit and then descends to join with the Greenstone at Lake Howden: This map shows the detail. I repeated Routeburn about 3 years later with Donna and two Canadian friends, I shall write that up separately in due course, but I've included a few extra photos here
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Another view of the forest around Lake Howden
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From the track up to Key Summit looking across the Hollyford valley
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Cottonwood in the foreground; a dramatic ring of mountains surrounds Lake Mackenzie

Views from Key Summit

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Various views over the forest looking NE: Lake Mackenzie- tonights stopping place - lies in the floor of the large valley
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Views looking further L down the Hollyford valley
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After returning to Lake Howden the track continues traversing above the Hollyford to the 80m high Earland falls
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A closer view
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Looking out over the forest and across the valley from the large rock at the foot of the falls
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Looking up the falls
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A short while after Earland falls the track crosses the side valley of Sunny Creek
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Another view through the trees to the impressive Earl mountains South of the Darrans
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Zoomed - Ngatimamoe Peak( 2164m), Flat Top Peak (2282m) and Pyramid Peaki(2295m)
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Pineapple scrub
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white/yellow hybrid Marguerites
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Mountain Ribbonwood has established itself here in the Beech forest
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As the Ribbonwood somewhat resemble apple trees, this area is called the Orchard
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Beyond here the track climbs for a bit: looking back across the Orchard to the Earl mountains
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Large flowered Hebe
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Lone tree - a complete ecosystem in itself
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A mossy bank
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Ghostly tree trunks just before Lake Mackenzie lodge
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Lake Mackenzie lodge - Library photo
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178 Lake Mackenzie.jpg

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Lake Mackenzie in the evening sunlight

Continued in part C https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=100604
past my sell by date
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