Jeremy, Katie, and I drove to Wanaka for a night and then on to the Rees valley the following day. The plan was to do a variation on the Rees Dart tramping track.
Usually such a trip would be known as the Rees Dart but we named our variation the Rees Rees owing to the unusually high number of times we walked along the Rees Valley compared with the classic variant. We decided walking in the Rees Valley and back out the same way would make the transport logistics easier.
Day 1
We had a very not-alpine start, leaving the muddy creek car park in the Rees valley at 12:30pm. Our packs were fairly heavy and Katie had all sorts of bits and pieces hanging off her, although not nearly enough to warrant the name Gypsy Wagon.
The walk up the valley was nice although it was a bit paddocky complete with cattle, which is never great unless you like poop with your mountain fresh river water. We could see snow covered peaks at the end of the valley inviting us to come closer.
We stayed the night at the very full Shelter Rock Hut.
Day 2
We left Shelter Rock Hut and walked up the valley playing leap frog with a group of six on the way. They had a multitude of colourful packs that looked nice amongst the scrub. We ascended to Rees Saddle and then followed the river down on the other side all the way down to Dart Hut.
Day 3
Jeremy and I went for a walk up to Cascade saddle. We left after the other groups but began passing them not long into the walk. The route took us up to the base of the Dart Glacier, which looked like it needed a good wash. We clambered over rocks and splashed through streams.
Once the climb started properly, we ascended quickly with our light day packs. There were some scrambly bits and a section where the orange poles vanished entirely but there were plenty of cairns to stay on course. The weather which had been a sulky grey was improving and the sun shone down on the much cleaner upper sections of the Dart Glacier, which looked great across the valley. The track continued up through the tussock and grass and we arrived at the saddle.
There was a great view down into the Matukituki valley. We took photos, hung about and had lunch while defending ourselves from the one kea that was intent on getting our food or bags. The couple from Belarus who we’d met in the hut joined us for lunch and we ate and chatted.
As the wind picked up and it began to get colder we set off back down. We walked quickly and jumped and jogged down stony bits passing groups coming up.
A wall of wind with drops of rain hit us as we walked back. It was good to be heading back down. We had a very civilised afternoon tea of cheese and crackers at the hut.
Day 4
It was New Year’s Day and the new year was bringing fine weather. The hut slowly emptied out with the majority walking to Dayleys Flat Hut. We bucked the trend and headed back up towards Rees Saddle.
The blue sky and white snow of the glaciers complimented each other. It was a stunning day. A day to regret not putting on enough sunblock. We climbed slowly stopping at the bridge across snowy creek for a snack.
By midday we had reached Rees Saddle and I made us some noodles mixed with the various goodies that we still had, sundried tomatoes, feta, pepper, olives. Jeremy and I took some epic photos at the designated epic photo spot on the hill above the saddle and then we had a slow dawdle down the valley to the hut.
Day 5
We left the hut and walked down the valley and stopped in a meadow after some time to snack and laze. I was feeling nicely tired and it was another warm day but humid with a white sky. I took my boots off and walked bare foot for the next few hours. We slogged out the 4wd track in the centre of the valley to save time. Each river crossing was a good chance to cool my legs. Back to Wanaka.
