Earl Mountains   

Each of valleys, Hut Creek, Mistake Creek, and Falls Creek, can be done as day trips, but each merits more time. Campsites are easy to find on the flats above the bush. The valleys are linked by passes. The tracks into the valleys through the bush are generally well marked, but indifferently maintained. Crossing Mistake Creek is difficult after rain, which is not uncommon --- see the photos.

Hut Creek

Hut Creek

Mistake Creek

Track	Up valley	Ford	Ford	Ford	Camp
Hanging valley	Valley head	West branch	Ngatimamoe	Forest	Waterfall

Head of valley

It is about a three hour walk from the start of the flats to the tarn at the head of the valley and back.

Valley head	Down valley	Tarn	Putangitangi	Down valley

East branch (hanging valley under Consolation Peak)

Bush climb	Flat Top	Ngatimamoe Pk	Hanging valley	Hanging valley	Consolation Pk

West branch (to U Pass).

West branch	Consolation Peak	Waterfall	Consolation Peak

Falls Creek

The track to the bushline is overgrown with tree falls, and so takes longer than advertised, but is generally well marked. Above the bush there is about 100 metres of dense subalpine scrub, after which travel to the head of the valley is good. Camping is possible on a small flat in the bush at about 820m, and on the flat above the bush.

Falls	Pyramid Pk	Pyramid Pk	Ngatimamoe Pk	Creek
Consolation Peak	Tarn	Valley head	Emily Pk

Glade Pass

To Glade Pass	To Glade Pass	U Pass	Glade Burn	Glade Burn

Notes: The climb to Glade Pass is steep, but there is plenty of vegetation to hang onto (so long as the last vegetated strip remains). You will have no problem losing the track in Glade Burn --- there isn't one. However, deer trails and the stream bed can be used for a fairly easy descent. From a campsite near Glade Burn and the Dore Pass track, it is possible to walk to the Mackinnon Pass and back in a long summer day (see here). .

Dore Pass

Dore Pass	Glade valley	Lake Te Anau	Clinton River

Caution: Dore Pass is used by helicopters supplying the Milford track. The day I crossed the pass, there was a constant stream of helicopters hurtling over the pass with their loads swinging below. Instead of enjoying an leisurely lunch on the pass, I could only cover my ears, keep my head down, and get over as quickly as possible.

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Copyright © 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 J.S. Milne.