Trip 065 - West Matukituki Valley

 

DATE: June 24-25, 2023
LEADER: Richard Forbes (021 510 760)
TRIP GRADE: All (Multiple Options)

There is photographic evidence of club trips to the Matukituki Valleys that predate the first ‘listed’ trip to the West Matukituki in 1957. This was led by late Life Member Bruce Moore during his term as our inaugural Chief Guide.

Since then, out of the more than 80 club trips to the Matukituki most have favoured the West Branch due to the easier access and DOC / NZAC hut network. Of course, the West is also the pathway to Mt Aspiring / Tititea.

In the 1990’s, the club ran three very different trips to the area: a Women Suffrage Year celebration trip (no men allowed), a river crossing instruction weekend (wetsuits required) and a cooking competition in addition to normal tramping trips.

This trip will be based at the recently refurbished Aspiring Hut ($25 per night for non-NZAC members), and there are options to day trip towards Cascade Saddle, Liverpool Hut, French Ridge or simply upstream from the hut Shovel and Peal Flats.