Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
slopes and large scattered boulders. From here you are technically following a route, but be-
cause of its popularity a track can be seen most of the way.
The route climbs gently towards the saddle for 1km, until you reach a signpost directing
you up a steep scree slope. The zigzagging climb lasts several hundred metres; take your
time, stopping often to admire the fine views.
Once at the top of the slope, a 450m ascent from the hut, the final climb to the saddle is
easy; you pass two tarns while the sharp-edged
Mt Travers
(2338m) towers overhead to the
north.
Travers Saddle
(1787m) is reached 1½ hours from Upper Travers Hut and is marked
by a huge rock cairn. This is a nice spot, but for a truly awe-inspiring outlook you should
scramble to one of the nearby ridges.
From the saddle you begin descending the 1000m to Sabine Forks, passing first through
tussock slopes, then heading right over a rockslide before returning to grassland.
Around 1.5km from the saddle there is a superb view of the
Mahanga Range
, just before
you descend into the bushline and return to the track. You remain in the stunted mountain
beech only momentarily, because the track quickly swings into a scree-covered gully and
embarks on a very rapid descent - 600m over just 3km. This is probably the hardest section
of the day and care is required on the steep sections of loose rock. Halfway down, at the tree
line, the track returns - with trail markers appearing on the left-hand side of the gully - and
you follow it as it levels out next to the gorge of the
East Branch Sabine River
.
Shortly afterwards you cross a small bridge over the deep chasm. Although you won't ac-
tually see the water, you will certainly hear it roaring through the narrow rock walls. The
best view is from the riverbank upstream.
Once on the other side, the track follows the steep valley for 2km and in many places is a
maze of tree roots. The final leg of this long day is a very steep drop down the East Branch
of the Sabine. The track swings south to West Sabine Hut (30 bunks).
SIDE TRIP: WEST SABINE HUT TO BLUE LAKE
6-7 HOURS RETURN, 14KM, 520M ASCENT/DESCENT
Enchanting Blue Lake is a national park highlight and well worth the extra day on the track.
Blue Lake Hut
(16 bunks), set above the lake near the edge of the bushline, is a beautiful
spot to spend the night if you don't want to return to West Sabine Hut the same day. It's a
pretty steep climb to the lake, though, and many trampers visit Blue Lake as a return day
trip from West Sabine Hut without their full packs.
