Schedules, weather and acceptance of long driving distances finally coincided for a well overdue catch-up and even more overdue overnight outing. From the Potts River trailhead, we set off up and across the river as a hot, sunny and still afternoon began.
Car park view not shabby.
Hudson inspecting the Potts while I try to remember which valley is the Havelock and which is the Clyde at the top of the Rangitata.
Katie soaking Hudson’s cooling jacket – hard work being an active black dog on such days.
After crossing the river a couple of times, we climbed up the gully right of centre (above) and followed the plateau upstream (right to left).
Occasionally Hudson wasn’t off covering far more ground than we were; looking back down to the Rangitata.
One of the bigger scour outs down to the Potts.
Hot going, so the occasional swamp provided cooling opportunities for some.
Having climbed to the high point, we turned east away from the Potts and Mystery Lake came into view – so named, one assumes, as it’s hidden from across the valley by some small hills.
Less mysterious when you’re right next to it.
Only mid-afternoon and still rather hot, once the tents were up there was plenty of time for a dip in the cool water. With yet more time up our sleeves we headed up through the large tussocks and some swampy slopes (these never make much sense) to see what’s at the top of the Dogs Range; a dog, on this occasion.
Spot the tents.
Our exit route for the following day.
Down to Boundary Creek – on the other side of the range from Mystery Lake.
East to Mt Somers Range.
Heading back to camp for dinner, the hills that obscure Mystery Lake obvious here. Behind that, in the shade, the other side of the Potts – roughly showing our route up.
The wind at camp was fickle, but occasionally it dropped – conveniently at sunset.
Arrowsmith Range was a regular point of interest on the horizon throughout the weekend.
Preparing for another sunny day.
But pleasingly we were in the shade of some steep hills for the first five kilometres out, before we joined the Te Araroa trail and turned south-east.
Heading for the nearest extent of the gravel river bed, unfortunately not directly.
I’d ridden this section of the Te Araroa trail four years before and was pleased be walking down the switchbacks instead of pushing or carrying a lightly loaded bike up it.
Over to Lake Clearwater and its curious village of off-grid holiday homes. Mt Harper on left.
We had near ten kilometres of rather flat walking, while still hot and sunny a stiff headwind did take the edge off the temperature. This section was much fun to ride, not quite so on foot. Not bad, but not correspondingly exhilirating.
Hudson ever hopeful, little did he know that I’d only just brought enough food for myself.
Back above the Potts again. Getting close now, thankfully as my feet starting to let me know it’s a long time since I’ve walked seventeen kilometres in a day, and over thirty in a twenty-four-ish hours.
Thanks Katie for an excellent little outing, and the photos that I’m in.
Did manage to not get any wetter negotiating these slippery little bridges.
This is completely normal, surely?
Pushing again from here as the surface got slippy and steep.
No pushing down there.
Having crossed that basin, the exit was strangely twisty and not just straight up.
More walking though.
Probably our last time through two thousand metres altitude on the trip, soon dropping to the Orkhon Valley.
Did get some lunch time spectators though, later over the pass two boys on a motorbike were looking for these horses.
Winter stock shelter and yards.
Getting to the pass, briefly back at 2000 m.
It had been a while since we’d had a boggy little push…
We sidled above the valley floor trying to find the best path for the route that had been described to us.
Small diversion, from our overnight diversion, to a highpoint with views of three rivers meeting.
Power lines going in.
We headed up that way to try and find the little visited hot springs Murray from Fairfield had told us about.
A family camping for a couple of weeks came to visit for a bit; communication somewhat easier than usual.
Fairly standard Mongolian camping dinner – fried onions, carrots and capsicum with noodles and some sort of unknown meat.
More sweet yak milk treats, yum!
Typical rest day gear explosion.