Young - Wilkin - East Matukituki via Gillespie and Rabbit Passes
Day 7 - Top Forks - Daytrip to Lake Diana, Lake Lucidus and Lake Castalia
All images © David Noble. No image can be used for any purpose without permission.
On this day we went on a most scenic side-trip up the north branch of the Wilkin River to visit some alpine lakes.
Above - dawn - sun on Mt Pollux
Above - Mt Pollux (after breakfast)
Above - Mt Castor (on the far right) and Mt Pollux
Above - Looking up the valley to the right of Mt Castor - where we were going
Above - Chuin Nee crossing the south branch
Above - ripple marks in the sand
Above - Chuin Nee keeping the important parts dry.... on the next crossing
Above - the Disappearing Tarn
Above - Chuin Nee photographing
Above - reflections
Above - John decided to cool off
Above - John joins in the photo-pfaffing
Above - Lake Diana
Above - John with an interesting lateral moraine behind
Above - Chuin Nee at Lake Diana
Above - Chuin Nee at Lake Diana
Above - Chuin Nee heading up to the valley to Lake Lucidus
Above - Lake Lucidus - it looks nice but too cold for a swim.
Above - Mt Juno towering above
Above - we continue up this nice valley
Above - Gentiana bellidifolia
Above - heading up the valley
Above - Mt Castor
Above - Mountain Daisy (Celmisia semicordata)
Above - Chuin Nee on another river crossing
Above - the final part - up this rocky section
Above - John
Above - Lake Castalia
Above - cliffs surround much of the lake - and this one had plenty of waterfalls
Above - waterfalls
Above - wild flower - perhaps Willow Herb (Epilobium macropus) ?
Above - Lake Castalia
Above - wild flowers
Above - more daisies - perhaps Celmisia sessiliflora?
Above - wild flowers
Above - more daisies - different to those above
Above - John admires the view
Above - looking towards the South Branch - where we will be heading the next day
Above - Rob heading back down the valley
Above - Chuin Nee
Above - ferns
Above - always impressive - Castor and Pollux tower above
Continue to Day 8 - where we head up the South Branch of the Wilkin and over Rabbit Pass
Return to Wilkin Menu
Return to New Zealand January 2009 Menu
Return to david-noble.net