Nelson Lakes National Park was once a land of giant glaciers dominating the
northern South Island. They have slowly retreated over time carving out a
spectacular landscape made up of alpine lakes that lead up into the rugged
mountain peaks of the Southern Alps.
The park offers exploration opportunities
for people of all fitness levels.
One of the more advanced routes will take you
deep into the park and over a challenging Alpine pass.
Crossing Travers Saddle is a challenging bit of track that links Upper Travers
hut to West Sabine hut. This section of track will take you approximately
6-9 hours to complete and it is a part of the greater Travers-Sabine circuit
which is an 80 km 4-7 day loop that starts and ends in St Arnaud.
Reaching the saddle means you will already be a couple of days into
your tramp, so make sure you know what you are committing to and are prepared for
what's to come.
The best time of year to attempt this pass is from December
through to April. It isn't recommended to walk outside of this period as snow
covers the landscape forming complex avalanche terrain, so avalanche skills
and equipment are essential from May to November.
The average summer temperature
sits around 2-8 degrees (C)
and Travers Saddle sees approximately 179
days of rain per year.
It's important to remember that you will be in an Alpine
environment, which means there is a good chance you will experience heavy rain,
strong winds, snow and freezing temperatures even in the height of
summer. So you'll need warm and waterproof clothing as well as a good
pair of tramping (hiking) boots.
You'll be a long way from civilization so a Personal
Locator Beacon (PLB) is recommended as an emergency communication device.
As with all walks and tramps in New Zealand,
make sure you 'Leave Your Intentions' with a
trusted contact and inform them when you've finished your tramp (hike).
You can find out more about 'leaving your intentions' at
the Mountain Safety Council website
The crossing of Travers Saddle starts at Upper Travers Hut. From here you will
gradually climb through an open alpine field. This is a relatively easy start to
the day but there will be a few boulders and the constant uphill climb to
navigate. Remember, the weather down here is not representative of what it will be
like on the saddle so make sure you have warm and waterproof clothing easily
accessible at the top of your bag. Towards the end of the valley the track
takes a right-hand turn and the steepest part of the climb to the saddle begins.
Make sure you follow the orange marker poles to stay on track as a wrong turn
could easily put you in dangerous terrain.
Pace yourself as it is physically challenging and use your hands to help
you. Some rocks scrambling will be required.
After navigating a few boulder fields you'll find yourself on top of the saddle.
This is where you'll be most exposed to wind and rain, and visibility
can be low, so only move forward if you have the next track marker in sight.
Make sure you take a break up here if the weather is nice as you'll have some
of the best views in the park looking back at Mt Travers.
The descent begins with a scramble down a short steep section of the route.
Immediately after this it's easy to take a wrong turn in low visibility or if the route
is covered in snow. Although the route may seem to head
straight down, it actually bends to the right as you descend so make sure you
follow the orange marker poles to stay on the right track. Don't try to take a
shortcut at this point as you can get stuck very easily. The Southwest face of
Mount Travers is dominated by avalanche paths. This isn't a problem when there's
no snow, but even if snow isn't present on the track there could still be a
considerable amount in the upper parts of the mountain which could avalanche
under the right conditions down onto the track. Keep to the route which
follows the treeline to the left-hand side of the avalanche path. This is a
basic route that requires you to step over rocks and tree roots. These can be
slippery when wet, so take care not to slip and twist your ankle. From this
point onwards you'll be out of the alpine environment and will follow the
valley all the way down to West Sabine hut.
Although Travers Saddle is a relatively short section of the Travers Sabine
circuit, it is a hazardous pass that requires advanced tramping (hiking) experience.
Only attempt to cross the saddle from December through to April, but be aware
that snow can still hang around during the shoulder months. Talk to DOC staff
at the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre in St Arnaud about your trip. To get the
latest information on track conditions make sure you check the official Nelson
Lakes Mountain Weather forecast at MetService.com. Finally, if the weather is
poor or this track doesn't look right for you
try the Lake Rotoiti circuit or Speargrass Track as alternatives.
Now get out there, be safe and enjoy your alpine adventure!
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