Showing posts with label Hawdon Valley Track. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hawdon Valley Track. Show all posts

Sunday 14 April 2019

Hawdon Valley, 29th March 2019

An aborted attempt to reach Hawdon Hut...

After recovering from my recent illness and surgery I have been doing a few short walks as part of my recuperation. I thought I might try for an overnight trip to a front country hut, 3-4 hours from the road end to see how my fitness is. 

Karen was working so it was Jon heading out on his own. I decided to go up to Hawdon Hut, one of my favorite destinations in Arthur's Pass, stay the night and then return home the next day.

Hawdon Hut from my 2015 visit, it is a nice 16 bunk hut!
Unfortunately my plan was stymied when after walking up river for over two hours I discovered that I was unable to make the mandatory crossing up stream from the East Hawdon confluence. After attempting to cross the river and failing to do so I reluctantly decided I had to head for home. 

If I had thought to take a tent with me I would have camped out on the picturesque banks of the upper Hawdon River Valley but I only had an emergency bivy with me and that wasn't going to cut the mustard as they say.

Interior of Hawdon Hut: dining area from my visit in 2015

Interior of Hawdon Hut: the bunk rooms from my 2015 visit

Even though my hut night was aborted it was still a lovely early autumn day and I enjoyed being out in the sun after weeks of miserable weather.  I had a nice walk up the valley and now I know I'm fit enough to go out for an overnight trip provided it is not too far from the road. 

Its all part of my ongoing plan to get back to peak tramping fitness. 

A four hour jaunt in the Hawdon Valley

I headed off late...it was 8 am as I drove down the road, the weather was fine but there had been some rain overnight so I had my worries about river levels. It was a uneventful trip until I crossed over the Mt White bridge to drive to the Hawdon Valley shelter site. 


The Silver Surfer parked at Hawdon Shelter

My trip was just four days after "Stormaggedon 2019" so there was significant damage to the gravel roads leading to the campsite; washed out river crossings, massive meter deep holes, exposed rocks and mud from where the Hawdon River had broken its banks and flowed down the access road.

Map: Mt White Bridge to Hawdon Shelter/Campsite

Lucky for me a dozer had just been down the road to cut a new path so although bumpy I managed to get to the campsite. 


Hawdon Shelter at the mouth of Hawdon Valley....big pile of pest traps next to hut!!!

A quick look at the Hawdon Valley intentions book (at the shelter) showed I was the first person to visit the campsite in over five days. Despite that there was a fire smoldering in the fireplace so I suspect someone had been there recently. I wish people would show a bit more sense and put fires out...I used my emergency water supply to fully douse it!

I geared up, locked the car and set off down to the river to see if I was going to be able to cross the Hawdon River


Start of Hawdon Valley Track next to the shelter....nice camping if it is calm. 

When I got down to the river I could see that the recent rain event had heavily impacted the Valley. There was a lot of flood debris and water damage to the banks of the river, a large digger was also hard at work building a new flood bank as the old one had several large breeches in it. 

The water level must have been damn high as there was flood damage on the access road one kilometer and about three meters higher than the river bed. When I got up valley all the grass was facing downstream and there were flood debris around trees. This was in places up to a kilometer from the nearest channel so the whole valley must have been submerged. 

Hawdon River with the Pyramid and Sudden Valley in the background...
The river level was up but because it was broken down into four channels it was relatively easy to find a good crossing point. In the photo below you can see where I crossed...there was a submerged shingle bank most of the way across the main stream. I got across but the volume of water had me worried about the state of the river further up the valley. 

In the background you can see the Pyramid and the entrance to Sudden Valley both of which are on my list of future tramping trips. 


Main course of the Hawdon River near the first river crossing
I found the gate DOC have on the fence across the river flats and started walking up the 4 W/D track to the East Hawdon confluence. The track has been largely washed away by recent storms so it was a bit of a rock bash with multiple crossings of side streams and channels. Harder work than usual it took me nearly two hours to reach the bush near the East Hawdon. 

The stock fence across the mouth of the Hawdon Valley, start of the 4W/D track

As you can see in the photos below a lot of the overlaying soil and grass has been stripped away from the river bed but even so following the 4 W/D track is better than making your own way up valley.

The crossing of Sudden Valley Stream was difficult, it was knee deep and fast but I managed to find a good crossing point. This is at the Hawdon River end of the confluence...if you go up river Sudden Valley Stream is constricted and really deep (chest deep) and not able to be crossed.

Take care on this crossing as the stream run out goes straight into a deep part of the main river. 


Crossing point for Sudden Valley Stream...fast and deep!!!

I had the valley to myself for the whole day...I didn't see another person in all day. This is not unusual during the week (it was Friday) but still a little unnerving as you usually see some DOC workers, anglers or the odd tramper up here. 

I imagine I would have had the hut totally to myself if I had managed to reach it.

Heading up Hawdon Valley just after the Sudden Valley Stream confluence


The same general area of the Hawdon Valley back in 2014

The Hawdon River has changed its main channel once again..the Hawdon is a typical braided river and every couple of years a big storm will carve out a new bed for itself. It used to flow solidly down the true left of the valley but has now migrated over to the true right.

This means you need to cross a couple of quite wide, deep and swift channels in the mid part of the valley. The process started back in 2015 but has gathered pace since.

The new course of the Hawdon River in 2015...this used to be a dry riverbed before 2014!

No photo of the new river channel of course, I took one it just didn't save to the memory stick. Care should be taken when choosing a crossing point here...just don't go striding in....the clarity of the water hides how deep it really is from the bank. 


Map: Approximate course of the new main stream Hawdon River is marked in red

Hawdon Valley: about an hour and a half up the valley approaching East Hawdon Stream

The Hawdon Valley 4/WD track..the preferred way to get up valley

The 4/WD track in the mid region of Hawdon Valley...Hawdon Bivouac in the bush directly ahead


As I was passing by I went for a short side trip to the Hawdon Bivouac, this is a small three bunk DOC hut situated in the tongue of forest just before East Hawdon River. The hut is not for public use but is home for DOC staff when working on research projects, pest trapping and bird recovery programs in the area.

If you want to visit the bivouac there is a very indistinct track leading away from the main track in the forest pictured above. Look for the obvious parking area just off the main track, the path meanders through the bush from there. 

DOC Hawdon Bivouac: Photo from the Hut Bagger NZ website: image by Charlie Ledbrook
The photo above is from the Hut Bagger NZ site, I have a new camera and I'm having a few problems getting used to it. I took around 20 additional photos on the day and for some reason none of them saved to the memory card.

The next time I am up the Hawdon I will stop and take a series of photos of the bivouac. 


On the banks of the Hawdon River, just before the East Hawdon River
The East Hawdon River crossing was not too bad really the channel was narrow and only just above ankle height so easy to cross. There is an excellent two person biv up the East Hawdon River valley, it makes for a nice overnight trip but take a tent in case the hut is full.  

Crossing over a mostly dry East Hawdon River, Hawdon Valley

Once past East Hawdon River I walked for another kilometer up the valley until I got to the point where you must make a mandatory crossing of the Hawdon River. It was not looking good....the valley narrows at this point so the river is always deeper and more difficult to cross there.

 It is about normally 20 metes wide and half way to my knees...so it can usually be crossed if one is cautious. 

Hawdon River in 2016: this is the normal flow level in early spring...normally easy to cross!!!


Map: Mid Hawdon Valley....red cross is location Hawdon Bivouac, blue circle my turn around point

The river is wider at the marked crossing point but all the smaller streams form one bigger river channel. I walked up and down the river for about 200 meters checking out possible crossing points...it didn't look good...deep and swift.  Additionally, there was a lot of runoff coming down the main river and those feeder streams. 

I finally located a spot that look possible and found myself a branch about two meters long to use as a support. I stowed the camera, unbuckled my waist strap, splashed my face with cold river water and waded in...


Hawdon Valley: just past East Hawdon River and close to my turn around point
I'm missing a photo of the place I tried to cross the Hawdon River...stupid camera operator!


Things felt wrong right from the start...I got about 1/3 of the way across and it was just too deep and swift to go on. I had water above the knees, a foot high wave off my support branch and my feet were slipping backwards on the gravel....not good! I thought bugger this for a laugh...so I quickly backtracked and got my arse out of the river pdq. 

I stopped on the bank, dropped pack, brewed up and contemplated my options. I had another look up and down stream but there was no better crossing point and with no tent camping was out of the question. After much thought and very, very reluctantly I decided that I had no option but to turn around and go home.

Bugger....it was only another hours walk to the hut but I just didn't want to drown trying to get there. Unfortunately that is how things go but choosing the safer option is never a bad decision. 

Heading back to Hawdon Shelter

Once I had a firm decision to return to the car I packed up my brew kit and hotfooted it back down the valley as quickly as I could. I jumped back on the 4 W/D track and followed it for most of the way back to Sudden Valley Stream. 


Hawdon Valley: mid valley & heading back down to the car at the campsite


Gravel pinnacles in the mid regions of the Hawdon River Valley...they are about 60 meters high


Two hours saw me back at the crossing point of the Hawdon River down by the campsite and the beginning of the track. The crossing was a bit more difficult than in the morning as the digger had closed off a couple of the side channels in the river, this made the level in the main channel higher.

I found a spot where the river fanned out into several wide gravel beds and used this as my way across, it was knee deep but not as fast running over the gravel. 

Hawdon river, getting ready to cross back to the Hawdon Shelter site
I climbed up to the shelter at the Hawdon Valley campsite and soon found myself back at the car. 

A trip finished long before I expected it would. 

The Hawdon Valley campsite shelter

The entrance to the Hawdon Valey Campsite, Arthur's Pass

If you ever want to camp at the Hawdon River campsite, make sure to check out the campsite shelter. It is a nice wee shelter and has an open fireplace and tables and seats for about 10-12 people inside.


Hawdon Valley campsite shelter, note pile of pest traps to left of shelter

There is no wood shed and the forest nearby has been picked clean of dead-fall but have a look anyway. Every big storm brings down a few branches and trees and there is a lot of wood in the forest fringe around the rest of the campsite. Water is from the nearby Hawdon River but take it upstream of the stock fence across the mouth of the valley.


Hawdon Valley Campsite....looking out on the campsite from near Hawdon Shelter

 The sand-flies are murderous at the campsite easily the worst I have ever encountered in Canterbury and they could give their southern cousins from Fiordland a run for their money. 


DOC messages and intentions book holder, outside of Hawdon Valley Shelter


Hawdon Valley Campsite Shelter: left hand side


Hawdon Valley Campsite Shelter: right hand side


If you are looking for a short over night trip I recommend Hawdon Hut...the valley is very beautiful and feels wilder than the closeness to the road should allow. Just dont go up there when it has been raining as your not getting over the river when it is in flood. 

Cheers!


Access: Turn off SH 73 at Mt White bridge, take the road to Hawdon Shelter. Note the track was a real mess when I visited with mud, washouts and rough areas. Check DOC Arthur's Pass website for warnings. The Hawdon Valley track starts next to the shelter, fords Hawdon River and continues up valley to Hawdon Hut and Walkers Pass.
Track times: 4 hours to Hawdon Hut, another 1.5 hour to Walkers Pass
Hut Details: Hawdon Shelter: shelter onlyopen fireplace, toilets: Hawdon Bivouac: DOC use only, 2-3 bunks, water tank, toilet: Hawdon Hut, serviced, 18 bunks, water tanks, fire box, wood shed, toilets
Miscellaneous: Hawdon River is prone to flooding in rain and dangerous if in flood. There are at least 5 mandatory river crossings on this track.Exercise caution.

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Hawdon Hut: Arthurs Pass National Park: 1-2 Feb 2013

An overnight tramp up the Hawdon Valley


In early December I went for an overnight trip to Hawdon Hut at the head of the Hawdon river valley. I had been this way back in the 1980's but I've not visited since then. 


Hawdon Hut II, Arthur's Pass National Park

There is a new hut built to replace the old Lockwood version which burnt down in 2010. Some arse chucked embers under the hut and ...surprise...it caught fire!!! 


The older Lockwood style Hawdon Hut in the early 2000's

I am very impressed with this new hut, it has been moved to a much better location and is very tidy and spacious. The hut has 18 bunks but could quite easily take more than this if required lots of space on the benches anf floors for another 10 people at least. 


Map of the Hawdon Valley

Day one: Heading to Hawdon Hut from Hawdon Shelter


The tramp to Hawdon Hut starts at the Howdon Campsite at the end of  the Hawdon Valley. If you don't like wet feet then you are out of luck, because you have to cross the Hawdon River in the first five minutes. Mostly the river is ankle to knee high, but can get much higher when in flood.


Map: the Hawdon Camp site, Arthur's Pass NP

Hawdon River, near Hawdon shelter, Arthurs Pass NP

True right of Hawdon River after a successful crossing

Over Sudden Valley Stream and heading up Hawdon Valley, Arthurs Pass NP


After crossing the Hawdon river and Sudden Valley stream you look for and follow the old 4WD track leading up valley. This is by far the easiest and quickest way to travel, it goes all the way up to the East Hawdon confluence, which is the ridge line in the middle of the photo.


4 WD track heading up Hawdon Valley from near Sudden Valley Stream
The 4 W/D track was built to facilitate a study of the native bird population in the valley, this is one of those happy coincidences when trampers benefit from some other activity in the bush.

Thanks DOC!

Arthurs Pass NP: Hawdon Valley: 2 kms up valley, before East Hawdon confluence


Looking up East Branch Hawdon valley, Arthurs Pass NP

 Once over the East Hawdon, you follow along the river banks and move along short lengths of bush track, there are at least 4 required crossings of the Hawdon River, this is not a track too be attempted in heavy rain, as the river would become impassable.

Sidle track, through bush heading up valley

Track following alongside Hawdon River

 The track closely follows the river, with some areas of travel on the riverbed itself, you need to keep an open eye for the markers etc. as some of them are not very obvious.

Hawdon River Valley; 5 km point up valley from the campsite
 

The hut up this valley is new, the original burnt down in 2010 after some fool threw hot ashes under the hut. I stayed in Hawdon Hut way back in the 1990's it was one of the Lockwood designs that were so popular with the Arthurs Pass NP board. A nice hut in a good location, but the new location is so much better.

Hawdon Hut Mark I in the early 2000's


Here is Hawdon Hut II, built in 2010 to replace the old hut, it is 1 km upstream from the old hut site. It is very nice and sits in an excellent location with views of the surrounding mountains, this is a much nicer spot than the old location, so at least something good came of the fire.


Hawdon Hut Mark II, Arthurs Pass NP

Me on the veranda of Hawdon Hut
Very spacious and light within, the facilities are excellent, with bunk platforms and mattresses for 18 people. There were 12 people here on the night I stayed, they all arrived after 3pm, I had the hut to myself up to that point.

Interior of Hawdon Hut: bunkroom, cooking bench, wood burner


Interior of Hawdon Hut: the common area


Interior of Hawdon Hut: Bunk room
Lovely view from the veranda, there are lots of excellent looking camping spots on the river flats across the river.

View from veranda of Hawdon Hut, Arthurs Pass NP


Mountains at head of Hawdon valley

Sunset on the tops, from Hawdon Hut


At Hawdon Hut: a hand hewn wooden bench, cool!

Jon Moake inside Hawdon Hut, Arthur's Pass NP

Woodshed and toilets out the back of Hawdon Hut, Arthurs Pass NP

Day Two: Hawdon Hut to Hawdon Shelter


  The next morning I set off at 7am for the road head, here is one of the forest sidles you pass on the way down valley. I always start out early in the morning, it is the best time of the day to travel in my opinion.


Sidle track heading down valley towards Discovery Stream


Crossing Discovery Stream near the old Hawdon Hut site

Hawdon Valley Track, meadow next to Hawdon River

 There are a lot of good camping spots in this valley, this is about 200m from the East Hawdon, heading down valley. I will be coming back and camping in this area sometime in the future.

Hawdon Valley: a meadow, up valley from East Hawdon River

Woolshed Hill from the Hawdon Valley floor, Arthurs Pass NP

As you can see the 4 W/D track is fairly easy to see, following this track will save you about 45mins each way, so it is worth finding it.

View of the Black Range from near Sudden Valley Stream


Hawdon Valley: 4WD track looking back up valley

Back over Hawdon Stream heading for home

 I stopped at the Sheffield pie shop on the way home to get a pie, they are excellent and they have won several awards. Nothing like a pie after eating dehydrated food the previous evening!


Sheffield pie shop, yum!
The Hawdon Valley might not be the most remote area but it is beautiful nonetheless. You don't have to go to a wilderness area to enjoy solitude in New Zealand, we are very lucky in that respect.



Access: SH73 to the Mt White Road turn off, once over the Mt White bridge head left to Hawdon Shelter. From Hawdon Shelter follow the track crossing the Hawdon River and Surprise Stream, follow the 4 W/D track up valley.
Track Times: 4 hours from the Hawdon Shelter
Hut Details: Hawdon Shelter: day shelter only- no bunks, no water but does have open fireplace. There are plenty of rough camp-sites here: Hawdon Hut; serviced, 18  bunks, wood burner, water tank, wood shed.
Miscellaneous: Hawdon River, East Hawdon and Sudden Valley Stream susceptible to flooding in heavy rain, none of the rivers or side streams are bridged. Numerous required river crossings. This IS NOT a wet weather destination.