Wilkin Valley - East Matukituki Traverse
Alert/Important notice
This route is suitable for experienced alpine trampers and only to be undertaken in good conditions. Don't hesitate to turn back if in doubt or if conditions are unfavourable.
Route
Getting there
From Makarora to Top Forks Hut refer to the information for the Wilkin Valley. We recommend topo50 series: BZ11 Mount Pollux, BZ12 Makarora, CA11 Aspiring Flats
Description
Top Forks Hut to Ruth Flat
Time: 8 - 10 hr
Fastness Peak from Ruth Flat
Follow the track behind the hut and climb, before sidling around above the gorge to the open flats of the south branch. Follow the flats until you reach the waterfall face 3 to 4 hours from the hut. Take care, the waterfall face is extremely dangerous when wet, windy or under snow.
The route starts on the western side of the face, well to the right of the falls. Go up a snow grass fan to the ledges above and to the right. Do this until you reach a narrow sloping ledge and follow it back across to the left to reach the ridge about 150 metres above the waterfall. Follow the valley through the alpine herb fields for about an hour, to reach Rabbit Pass (1430 metres), to follow the obvious shelf east, and climb towards Mt Lois for about 30 minutes until a narrow rock slide leading down through the bluffs. The first 30 metres of this slide is steep, and dangerous, especially if wet. Beware of falling rock until well clear of the slide and follow the snow grass slopes to the valley floor.
It’s an easy 1 to 2 hours to Ruth Flat, which has a good two- to three-person rock bivvy on the bush edge. This is on the true left, halfway down, above a small side stream – grid ref. topo50 BZ11 709 823.
Ruth Flat to Cameron Flat
Time: 7 - 9 hr
The track down Bledisloe Gorge starts on the true left, at the bottom of the bush spur, about 20 minutes from Ruth Flat. It climbs to the bushline, sidles through snow grass, and re-enters the bush just before Hester Pinney Creek. Here it descends to the river and Junction Flat, 4 - 5 hours from Ruth Flat. Cross the two 3-wire bridges to the track on the true right bank of the East Matukituki River down to the Glacier Burn (2 hours). From here follow the flats to the West Matukituki River, ford the river to Cameron Flat or, if the river is too high to cross safely, use the bridge an hour upstream.
Places to stay
This is an serviced 10-bunk hut in the Wanaka area.
Plan and prepare
What to expect on a route:
- Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking
- Track unformed and natural, rough, muddy or very steep
- Suitable for people with above average fitness. High level backcountry skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills required
- Complete self sufficiency required
- Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged stream and river crossings
- Sturdy tramping/hiking boots required