Barker Hut

A three day mission in the Upper Waimakariri area of Arthurs Pass with a pretty awesome crew. Day 1 began with a 3:00 pm start, but we still made it to the very spacious Carrington Hut sometime after dark. Day 2 took us up the White River to Barker Hut, a brilliant red abode perched on a kea infested glacial moraine at the foot of Mt Murchison. Day 3 saw us following our tracks all the way out to the cars. This was my final tramping trip in New Zealand and I couldn't have asked for a better way to end it.

Anti Crow Hut in the Waimakariri Valley
Anti Crow Hut
Walking up the Waimak
Waimak Cassidy Crystal and Ellyse
Mt Murchison at the head of the White River Valley. Barker Hut is the little red dot perched above the cliffs just left of center in the image.
White River Valley
Walking up the White River Valley
White River
White River Valley. The Barker Hut keeps calling.
White River Valley
White River Valley
Looking back down the valley
White River Valley
White River Valley
Kea!
White River Kea
The valley and more keas
Kea White River Valley
Yep. This is where they live. We should all be so lucky.
White River Keas
Kea Railing
Kea Railing
Kea Railing
Ellyse kicks it with some keas as the Cahill Glacier looks on.
Elise and Glacier
Barker Hut and a look down the White Valley
Barker Hut
Home sweet home
Barker Hut
Barker Hut, Arthurs Pass, New Zealand
Barker Hut Sunset
White River Valley and the peaks of the Waimakariri, Arthurs Pass, New Zealand
Barker Hut Sunset
Will and Crystal on the moraine
Moraine Will and Crystal
Will and Crystal
Morning Rays
Morning rays hit the White Valley.
Morning Rays
Some mid-morning reflection on our little backyard tarn
Barker Tarn
No one was all that stoked about sidling all the way up the valley on the way in, so we opted to stick to the valley floor on the way out. While this is not the recommended route, low stream flow allowed it today and as a result, we were rewarded with a beautiful and interesting experience.
White River Gorge
Near the end of our descent of the gorge, we were greeted by this inviting little pool. No one could resist a quick dip in the icy water. Gotta love it when a place literally takes your breath away.
Swimming Hole
I'm pretty sure this is a look up Greenlaw Creek from the Waimak Valley.
Greenlaw Creek
Riverbed strolling in the Waimak
Riverbed Stroll
The skies grew more and more interesting as the afternoon began to give way to evening.
Waimak Skies
We were about 30 minutes from the cars when the sun went down. A nice end to a fantastic trip.
Waimak Sunset
Waimak Sunset

Barker Hut

Barker Hut

Thoughts on this gallery