Gillespie Pass Circuit
Posted: Thu 06 Sep, 2018 1:02 pm
Hoping someone who has done this walk or is familiar with it can answer some questions. Im planning to do the walk in late November.
- How easy is to camp along the trail? Are there good spots near to the Young/Makarora River junction? I’l be coming via bus and the bus schedule is not optimal for arriving at Young hut on the first night.
- Do I need to treat the water along the route?
- Whats temps should I expect in late Nov? (in the mtns)
- Is there any mobile phone reception or communication options along the route? Im a bit concerned about rain/snow melt and needing to stay longer than planned due to a river being too dangerous to cross etc. So ideally id like to be able to send a msg to a family member to reschedule hotel/international flights/jetboat should it be needed.
- How accurate are the track notes for walk time to destination. (track note times listed below)
So far, my plan is
Day 1 Arrive by bus at noon. cross Makarora R (by foot or jetboat depending on R). Camp along trail.
Day 2. Walk to Young Hut. (10km-20km depending on how far I get Day 1)
Day 3. Young to Siberia hut (12km 6-8 hour according to track notes)
Day 4. Day trip to Crucible lake (14km 6-8 hour return)
Day 5. Siberia hut to Makarora R (22km, 6- 8 hour) camp at junction Young/Makarora R
Day 6. Cross Makarora R (either by foot or jetboat) and connect with lunchtime bus.
Day 6 . Delayed option. Get early morning jetboat from Kerin Forks to Makarora. 2-3 hours walking, 2.5 hour jet boat.
- Should I reduce the trip by one day and walk down from Siberia hut to Kerin Forks (2-3 hours) in the early AM on Day 5? Get a 10 am early morning jet boat (if available). But this would mean leaving Siberia hut at aprox 7am. Would it still be dark at that time? If so any dangers in walking down in dark?
- Or is it better to have the extra day up my sleeve in case Im delayed by bad weather?
- How easy is to camp along the trail? Are there good spots near to the Young/Makarora River junction? I’l be coming via bus and the bus schedule is not optimal for arriving at Young hut on the first night.
- Do I need to treat the water along the route?
- Whats temps should I expect in late Nov? (in the mtns)
- Is there any mobile phone reception or communication options along the route? Im a bit concerned about rain/snow melt and needing to stay longer than planned due to a river being too dangerous to cross etc. So ideally id like to be able to send a msg to a family member to reschedule hotel/international flights/jetboat should it be needed.
- How accurate are the track notes for walk time to destination. (track note times listed below)
So far, my plan is
Day 1 Arrive by bus at noon. cross Makarora R (by foot or jetboat depending on R). Camp along trail.
Day 2. Walk to Young Hut. (10km-20km depending on how far I get Day 1)
Day 3. Young to Siberia hut (12km 6-8 hour according to track notes)
Day 4. Day trip to Crucible lake (14km 6-8 hour return)
Day 5. Siberia hut to Makarora R (22km, 6- 8 hour) camp at junction Young/Makarora R
Day 6. Cross Makarora R (either by foot or jetboat) and connect with lunchtime bus.
Day 6 . Delayed option. Get early morning jetboat from Kerin Forks to Makarora. 2-3 hours walking, 2.5 hour jet boat.
- Should I reduce the trip by one day and walk down from Siberia hut to Kerin Forks (2-3 hours) in the early AM on Day 5? Get a 10 am early morning jet boat (if available). But this would mean leaving Siberia hut at aprox 7am. Would it still be dark at that time? If so any dangers in walking down in dark?
- Or is it better to have the extra day up my sleeve in case Im delayed by bad weather?