Shortcut St James, Lewis Pass

We were hoping to climb Mt Murchison, but a poor forecast had us searching for alternatives. A trip was devised with plenty of good and bad weather options between the St James walkway and the tops that it circumnavigates.

Ready to go at the Lewis Pass Summit.
Geoff, Sarah, AJ and Chucky

River grovelling up an unnamed tributary of the
Maruia River toward Henry Saddle

Found a few snow caves where avalanche debris
had been carved out by the stream

Climbing avalanche debris toward Henry Saddle

Chucky on Henry Saddle

From Henry Saddle we had some good quality bushbashing to get down to the Henry River Flats. Got rained on a little that afternoon and made it to the very crowded Anne Huts after a 10.5hr day.

Steph arrived not long after dark, having run the 30km from Boyle village in under 6 hrs.. what a keen bean..

It snowed overnight , making for a beautiful 8hr slog round the St James station to Ada Pass Hut.

Nearly at Ada Pass and the sun comes out to warm us up

Enjoying a well earned beer at Ada Hut

Again it snowed overnight and dawned a bit murky. The tops looked extremely windy, so we elected to continue down the St James Walkway, much to Steph's dissapointment..

But the sun came out along the way and we paused for a dip in the Upper Maruia River.

Pausing for lunch on day 3 at Cannibal Gorge Hut

AJ admires the Maruia River