Heading up the west side of Lake Wanaka.
Today’s walk was to the Rob Roy Glacier in the Mount Aspiring National Park. Nicky had directed us to be ready at 0830 (rather than the usual 0930) as we had a 60 minute or more drive into the park before our walk started. The road took us around the edge of Lake Wanaka away from the town and through sheep and cattle pastures. Eventually we reached the end of the pavement and continued on down the gravel road, sometimes sharing it with cows and sheep. Bridges disappeared and we forded streams in the minibus Nicky had acquired for just this use, as the big bus couldn’t manage the fords.
Eventually we reached the car park at the end of the road we parked. The wind was blowing strongly down the valley. Nicky reported that this was characteristic when the Westlands (that we left the day before) was getting rain. There were a few droplets in the air, and the mountain peaks were covered in mist and cloud.
We headed directly into the wind as we walked through sheep pastures as we walked along side the river to the swing bridge. The crossing was a bit nerve-wracking due to the stiff wind. As usual, I waited until last so I could make the sure everyone was off the bridge to minimize the bounce and undulations that occur when people cross. Although this swing bridge had wood planks as flooring, the sides were a woven net rather than chain link on previous swing bridges. I sang the Va. Tech fight song to myself as I crossed, as I had on a couple previous swing bridge crossings.
The path up (key word = up) to the Rob Roy Glacier took us up about 1200 feet over a 3.5 mile trail. I preferred to be last in our group of six on these climbs as I take longer than the rest of the group. I’m usually huffing along at my own pace, and I stopped occasionally to catch my breath or snap a photo. I didn’t lag too far behind the rest of the folks, and Nicky stopped periodically to allow folks to rest.
The trail, after it crossed the river, continued to climb along the West Matukitaki River valley, but turned right into the steep alpine valley with the Rob Roy Stream running down at the bottom, and the Rob Roy Glacier at the top. This glacier was described by Nicky as a hanging glacier - we wouldn’t be walking on this one. The glacier hangs above the valley and periodically drops ice into the valley. Unlike the Fox or the Franz Joseph glaciers, this glacier is receding - it has a small catch basin and it’s not getting enough precipitation in that nevé to maintain an advance.
As we climbed up the valley, a chill wind blew down it. We were protected from the wind as we walked through the woods, but in open areas and above the tree line, it was quite chilly.
This trail was also under construction by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. We passed a workers’ camp where a tent trailer had obviously been lifted in by helicopter along with the two small ditch diggers that were being used to upgrade the trail. Up to that point, the trail was all roots and rocks - above that point it was a gravel path that allows a hiker to look about, instead of focusing on where to put one’s food. There were a number of other folks on the track attesting to its popularity.
We reached the tree line and not too much later reached the head of the trail where we had lunch. No sooner than we sat down then we were joined by a kea, an alpine parrot. (As we had when we reached Lyndon Saddle 11.05) The critter is universally described as “cheeky keas” with good cause This fellow got within two feet of us as we sat down to eat lunch and he circled us walking on the ground looking for the opportunity to duck in and grab a piece of the action (i.e. lunch).
He got even closer to Tom He was joined by a second kea and both of them checked out the other folks who were sitting amongst the boulders taking in the view. No one offered them any morsel.
Heading up the west side of Lake Wanaka.
The switchbacks to the Treble Cone ski area.
Passing a lot of sheep and cows along the way.
Scenic farm view.
Some of the clouds over the mountains indicating rain in the Westlands.
The shelter at the beginning (or is that the end) of the Rob Roy Track.
The track went over the crest, then crossed the river on a swing bridge, then around and behind that dark green hill.
The track entered a side valley running perpendicular to the Matukituki River valley as it runs northwest.
Taking in the view (see previous shot) Nicky, Tom, Pat (obscured), and Jim.
The high contrast of the snow, mist and clouds made this shot difficult.
Just off the center of this shot is a waterfall, tiny in the distance, with the glacier above it. Close-ups follow.
The “uphill waterfall” (1 of 4).
The “uphill waterfall” (2 of 4).
The “uphill waterfall” (3 of 4).
The “uphill waterfall” (4 of 4).
Pausing to observe the waterfall. Nicky described it as New Zealand's only “uphill waterfall.”
The Rob Roy Glacier is described as a 'hanging glacier.'
Another shot of the glacier and the mists.
The sedementary layers of the rock that have been thrusted upward at an angle due to the plate tectonics.
Looking down the trail we came up.
A kea joins us.
Spotting Pat, he approaches his “prey” (our lunch).
Checking out Pat's lunch.
After having no luck with Pat, he circled around back of the boulder we were leaning against.
On his back, there is a spot of orange - the same color that covers his underwing.
'How long do I have to stand here looking cute before you give me some of that sandwich?'
The glacier spawned numerous waterfalls.
A wider view showing three waterfalls.
Yet another view of the “uphill falls” showing the trail terminus.
Resting in the shelter by the carpark having a Montieth's beer.
The view down the valley from which we came, and would return - right after finishing those beers.
Jonathan and I started down the trail a little early, figuring we were the slow ones and going downhill wasn’t necessarily going to speed us along - especially on the parts of the trail that were root and rock infested. I actually stayed in the lead from the top down to the swing bridge where, again, I waited until everyone was across before crossing myself. The wind was even stronger at this time than when we crossed earlier, and the bridge was moving quite a bit just due to the wind. The rest of the track across the pastures to the car park was with the wind at our backs.
At the car park, we paused in the two sided shelter that was obviously designed with these winds in mind - including a 6-8 inch gap at the bottom to relieve stress on the structure. Nicky produced a cooler with some beer (Monteith’s) and sat looking down the valley for a while before returning to the resort for a soak in the tub and dinner in the resort’s restaurant.
