Saturday 21st October 2023
Day One:
Brent, Liesl and Jaci set off over Labour weekend to walk the Cass-Lagoon Saddle circuit. After a quick two-hour drive and a car ferry (the start and finish are about 10km apart along SH73), we set off up the Cass River for about 8km towards Cass Saddle. Several river crossings are required here, but they were all easy and straightforward. These crossing will most definitely be another story in heavy rain! The uphill gradient was gradual and manageable. After about 5hours (with lunch break included) we reached the saddle where we were treated to some excellent views! Looking back down into the Cass Valley, seeing how far up the valley we had come, gave a great sense of accomplishment!
After crossing the saddle, we dropped down into Hamilton Creek down a steep spur for about one kilometre. This descend would be quite slippery and technical in wet weather. After this steep section, we came out onto open river flats and the going was easy all the way to Hamilton hut, where we stayed for the night. There were several parties at the hut with it being a long weekend, but there were still bunks available. Liesl and Jaci wanted a bit more serenity, so decided to camp on the large grassy lawn which surrounds the hut.
Day two:
The morning of day two was a bit drizzly, but fortunately not heavy enough to dampen the experience! We departed from the hut at around 9am after enjoying a slow, easy start to the day. A quick and easy two and half stroll later, we decided to have an early lunch at West Harper hut. The drizzle had just about disappeared by this time, and the sun was wanting to break through the clouds. After lunch, as we progressed up the Harper River towards Lagoon Saddle, the going got rougher underfoot, as what is typically expected in the upper reaches of a river. Everything was manageable though. The last 3km to Lagoon Saddle A-frame shelter sidled above the Harper River on undulating terrain and a few steep (but short) side creek crossings. These would be impassable during high flow events. We reached Lagoon Saddle Shelter at around 3:30pm. After a quick stop, we decided to go check out Lagoon Saddle hut on the other side of Harper River to see if it offered better accommodation as the A-frame shelter is not really suitable for sleeping in (unless in an emergency), and the surrounding tussock didn’t make for good camping. The accommodation offered at Lagoon Saddle hut was rather underwhelming as well; a small 2-bunk tin hut set amongst some beech trees. The hut was already shaded from the gloriously sunny day that unfolded, and there were no camping opportunities. We decided to go check out the tarn at Lagoon Saddle, which according to the map, was a short 500m away.
There is no marked track to the tarn, but a noticeable worn track through the beech forest in the direction of the tarn lead to a massive clear area. From here, we continued towards the saddle for another 10- minutes or so until we reached the best camping spot in the world! Set amongst open tussock with patches of stunted beech forest lies Lagoon Saddle. Several smaller tarns are dotted throughout. Towering snowcapped mountains encapsulated the 360-degree view. On the southern edge of the main tarn, we found the perfect area to set up camp. The afternoon sun was warm, and the setting made for some of the best post-tramp relaxation I had ever experienced!
Day three:
We rose to a beautifully sunny day. After another slow ease into the day, we did a quick scurry up the hill to reconnect to the walking track. As we crested the hill, looking north, the Waimakariri and Bealey rivers stretched out as far as the eye could see with the Southern Alps towering over them. It was one spectacular sight! From here, the track gradually sidled downhill for about 3hours down to the Arthur’s Pass Wilderness Lodge on Cora Lynn Road where the second car was left on the first day.
This trip provides the perfect semi-alpine experience and would be a good trip to challenge individuals that have some tramping experience, but wish to build on their skills and confidence. Nothing was overly complicated, and the track was well-marked. I would imagine that this trip would be substantially more difficult when done in the winter months, and it would not be possible to do it after or during heavy rain events.
Liesl Van Wyk (Member)