First update from those left behind 29/11/2009

Thankyou Rion for the christmas cards which you sent from Queenstown airport on your arrival. The plane had been delayed so you had plenty of time to write them. I am pleased that the cards where actually cards not like the enclosed note which you wrote on on the sick bag (unused of course)

Bronwyn (Andy's Mum) and I (Marjet -Rions Mum) have a bit of an update.
The weather has not been very favourable for Rion and Andy so they had to skip the Olivine Ice Plateau which is a pity but it will be there for next time. Consequently the boys are actually ahead of schedule and tomorrow will be walking past the Aspiring hut. We hope they call in there as Andy's orthotics have managed to find their way to the hut.
On Saturday Bronwyn received a phone call from Andy, via the mountain radio, requesting his orthotics. His ankles were very sore and although he had walked lots without the orthotics and didnt think he needed them, his feet are telling him otherwise. Bronwyn has spent the last two days talking to Paul at mountain radio and the various guides and outdoor transport people to try and find a way to get the orthotics to Andy at Raspberry Flat. She left a message at mountain radio to say that they would be delivered to Raspberry Flat and left behind the toilets for them to collect but after the connection with mountain radio she was informed that the transport into Raspberry Flat was for the hut warden at Aspiring Hut so he will carry them up to Aspiring Hut for the boys. Given so many people out in the outdoors know about the need for the orthotics I am sure that Andy will connect with them tomorrow.

Andy and Rion are enjoying themselves, it is awesome they say, and are at Liverpool bivy tonight.
They are planning to climb Mt Tindell in a few days time, weather dependent.
Richard will be meeting them at the end of this section so they cant actually get ahead of themselves, they will need to take some other routes and do some climbs which they will both enjoy doing.

They both have plans to give letters to trampers who are exiting the areas which will be posted to either Bronwyn or myself and then we will update the blog on their behalf.

Marjet

Off to see the Wizard

I'm about to jump on the plane to Qtown and I must admit im S&%$ing myself. My Pack is at 40+kg and so I am a little worried I went for a walk around the block with it so I should be right.
I had a bet with mum a couple of weeks back and she reckoned that I would be under 81kg when I get back. The scales way me at 88.1 this morning so we will see what happens.
Thanks everyone for your support and help, especially Lizzie, Mum and Owen.
Feel free to comment and post away on this page it would be good to see your thoughts when we get back.
Signing off
Rion
ps. I recall Andy's involvement in the trip slightly differently, we were walking up Urchin and I told him what my plans were for the summer and he said "I think I might follow you". Any way Im bloddy pleased he said those words and hopefully the trip goes well.

Hello and farewell all

Hi all,

I thought I should actually take the time to sit down and post something on this blogsite before we head off. Rions written something about his motivation for doing this epic. Mine is fairly more simple, Rion asked me if I wanted to go for a walk so I said yeah OK sounds cool, why not walk up the south island. And I like climbing, so why not go up the Southern Alps. And then told work I wouldn't be starting until March.

I have just arrived in Queenstown and there is heaps of snow on the peaks. I have found myself a sweet new flappy sun hat lest the sun tarnish my fair skin and can't wait to get into it. Looks like the weather will be calm and sunny to start off with which is nice. The pack is a little scary, the final packing will be done tonight and I don't really want to know, but at least when it's on my back I won't be able to see how heavy it is.

Cheers for all the help we've had in the preparations and to all those that are dropping off or bringing us food in the coming months. Hopefully all goes to plan.

Shortcut on Leg 1

To try and save time we have opted for an alternative start to section 1.
Day 1 (The monday): Walk into Rockburn hut
Day 2: Head up the beans burn to the bivvy rock
Day 3: Cross Fohn Saddle and down onto the Olivine Ledge staying at the bivvy rock there
Day 4: Drop into Olivine Flats and up to the Bivvy Rock below forgotten river confluence

Alternatively weather permitting we may try and cross over Irvine Peak via the Merki Glacier and down into Forgotten River flats
This is to avoid having to cross the forgotten river.

This option will bring previous dates forward two days as we are walking in one day earlier and we are saving one day by avoiding the hollyford

Eric L has pulled out

After health complications at Taranaki this week Eric has decided he is not up for the trip.

The Team

The core of our team is Andy Thompson and Myself (Rion Gulley)
We also have joining us for sections
Eric Lalot (Leg 1)
Richard Greatrex (leg 2)
Anton Gulley (Leg 5)
Erik Tomsen (Leg 6)
We are all AUTC (Auckland University Tramping Club) members and all Auckland uni students.
Richard Andy and myself are all final year Civil Engineering Students.
Anton is a Stage two physics student.
Eric L another Civil Engineer is an exchange student from france
and Erik T is an Alaskian Geography Student.

LEG 6: Glenfalloch to Arthurs Pass

Jan 21-31
Day 1: Cross the Rakaia and head up Louper Stream and over Whitcombe Pass to Neave Hut
Day 2: Travel down the Whitcombe to Price Flat
Day 3: Keep traveling to the Frew Ck confluence and Frew Hut
Day 4: Cross Frew and Steadman Saddles intoo the Mungo River and Poet hut
Day 5: Via Mungo hut cross the Hokitika Saddle and down the Griffiths Ck and to Urqharts hut
Day 6: Cross White Col via Burnett Stream to Barker Hut
Day 7: Summit Mt Murchison
Day 8: Drop into the Waimakariri and climb up to Waimakariri falls hut
Days 9&10: Rest/Bad Weather Days
Day 11: Climb out via the summit of Rolleston in Arthurs Pass township

Leg 5: Whataroa to Glenfalloch Station

January 12 to January 20
Day 1: From the road end head up the Perth into Barlow Flats
Day 2: Head up the Barlow River, climb over the Great Unknown to camp at the head of adverse creek
Days 3&4: Cross & explore the Gardens of Eden & Allah reaching Lambert Col
Day 5: Head to Lyell hut via Rangitata Col, McCoy Col and the Lyell Glacier
Day 6: Cross Meins Knob to Reischek Hut.
Day 7 & 8: Rest/Bad Weather Days
Day 9: Pick up food drop from Glenfalloch Station and return to reischk hut

Leg 4: Mt Cook Village to Whataroa

January 3rd - 11th
Days 1&2: Village to Tasman Saddle Hut up the glacier (this is VERY conservative)
Day 3: Elie de Beaumont summit and back to the hut
Day 4: Over the Classen and Whataroa Saddle (the longest but what appears to be the most open) in to Whymper hut in the Whataroa valley.
Day 5: Head down to Butler Junction
Days 6, 7 & 8: Poor weather days
Day 9: Out to Whataroa Road end

LEG 3: Makarora to Mt Cook Village

20 December to 2nd The FESTIVE LEG
Day 1: Hitch to Wills trackend and head into Wills Hut
Day 2: Summit Brewster returning back to Wills Hut
Day 3: Cross the Wilson Pass into the Hunter Valley and West Branch Hut
Day 4: Cross the studhomme pass into the Landsbourgh and Harper Flat
Day 5: Head up the landsbourgh to Fraser hut on Creswicke flat
Day 6: Keeping going to the Zora Ck confluence
Day 7: Than further to Rubicon Biv
Day 8: Cross underneath Mt Scissors to Barron Saddle Hut
Days 9, 10 & 11: Foul weather days
Day 12: Down the Mueller to Mt Cook Village
Day 13: Restock and up to Sefton Biv
Day 14: Summit Footstool and return to the Village

Leg 2: Cameron Flat to Makarora

December 10 to december 19
Day 1: Cameron flat to Ruth flat up the east matukituki
Day 2: Ruth flat to Waterfall flat over rabbit pass, we have an alternative route plan involving the albert burn if rabbit pass aint a go-er
Day 3: Waterfall flat to Top Forks Hut
Days 4 & 5. A summiting of the Pollux
Day 6: Through to Siberia Hut
Day 7: Onto Young Hut
Day 8: Out to Makaroara
Days 9&10: Emergency Days
This is probably the easiest section. Tracks are followed the whole time with the exception of the Pollux ascent.

LEG 1-Greenstone Carpark to Cameron Flat

24-November to 10 December
Day 1: Shuttle to Greenstone Carpark from Glenorchy than head up river to McKellar Hut
Day 2: On to the routeburn and down Park Burn track than head up the hollyford to Alabaster Hut
Day 3: Along Hollyford Track to Olivine Hut
Day 4: Round Olivine Waterfall to Olivine Flats
Day 5: Around the forgotten river gorge and up onto Forgotten River Col
Days 6 & 7: Explore Olivine Ice Plateau exiting via Climax Col and than Glacier Col
Day 8: Head down the Margaret Glacier to Daleys Flat Hut in the Dart River
Day 9: Up the Dart track to Dart Hut
Days 10& 11: Cross Cascade Saddle to Aspiring Hut including a side trip up Liverpool Dome
Days 12, 13 & 14: Spare days for inclement weather.
Day 15: Collect food drop from Road end and head up to French Ridge Hut.
Day 16: Summit Popes Nose
Day 17: Walk out the Matukituki to Cameron Flat

The inspiration

Why?
This is a common question I am asked when I tell people about the trip.
Well, the inspiration came when I was sitting in the Upper Caples hut taking it easy after knocking out the Routeburn the previous day.
Te Araroa the trail of NZ had recently been released. I had examined the route with great disappointment, noting that the "cool stuff" around the southern lakes has been excluded, in particular the popular traverse from makarora township to the divide via the wilkin, east matuktuki, dart and routeburn.
So in early 2006 sitting in the caples valley with a NZ falcon over looking us it was a great pleasure to learn that there had been a competing venture. The hut warden, Chris Gulley my third cousin whom I have never met and another bloke had completed a three month multi sport journey of Aotearoa combining Kayaking, Cycling and Tramping. This route took the more adventurous route including the copland pass and paddling Te Anau. This occured at approximatly the same time as Te Araroa but Greg Chappels walk recieved prominance because the trio's route was considered too hard by eminent outdoorsman like Bob Harvey.
Since that moment I have dreamed of a tremendous tramping trip to mark the end of my studies. It was initially planned to be from Farewell Spit to west cape but time got in the way and I was told that I should start work by febuary.

Initiation

I have set this blog up as a way for andy and I to communicate with the rest of the world while we are doing our traverse from the head of the wakitipu up the spine of the south island. The plan will be that we will post letters off when we get to food drops and people will post it up on this blog for us.