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South Island 6 The Grand Traverse Part B
by 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=100602Day 4Lake McKellar to Lake Mackenzie
Day 4 mapThe track follows the shore of Lake McKellar and then continues over the Greenstone Saddle and down to Lake HowdenIn the forest again. New Zealand's forest are quite exceptional: 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 Ground Orchids - Aporostylis bifolia - on the damp mossy banks beside the trackAt the far end of the lake Mountain Ribbonwood (a small white - blossomed species) populate the edge of the forest Looking in the opposite direction this is the approximate position of the saddle 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 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 hereAnother view of the forest around Lake HowdenFrom the track up to Key Summit looking across the Hollyford valleyCottonwood in the foreground; a dramatic ring of mountains surrounds Lake Mackenzie Views from Key SummitVarious views over the forest looking NE: Lake Mackenzie- tonights stopping place - lies in the floor of the large valley Views looking further L down the Hollyford valleyAfter returning to Lake Howden the track continues traversing above the Hollyford to the 80m high Earland fallsA closer viewLooking out over the forest and across the valley from the large rock at the foot of the falls Looking up the fallsA short while after Earland falls the track crosses the side valley of Sunny CreekAnother view through the trees to the impressive Earl mountains South of the DarransZoomed - Ngatimamoe Peak( 2164m), Flat Top Peak (2282m) and Pyramid Peaki(2295m)Pineapple scrubwhite/yellow hybrid MargueritesMountain Ribbonwood has established itself here in the Beech forestAs the Ribbonwood somewhat resemble apple trees, this area is called the Orchard Beyond here the track climbs for a bit: looking back across the Orchard to the Earl mountainsLarge flowered HebeLone tree - a complete ecosystem in itselfA mossy bankGhostly tree trunks just before Lake Mackenzie lodgeLake Mackenzie lodge - Library photoLake Mackenzie in the evening sunlightContinued in part C https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=100604
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past my sell by date
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