OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Packing up camp at Fohn Lakes
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Descending from Fohn Lakes - from the beach near we camped (on the true left of the creek draining the upper lake) descend through terraces such as this one until you reach the river - you have to cross at the very distinct 90 right hand turn in the creek to the true right, before dropping down to the Olivine Ledge
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Crossing Fohn Creek at the distinctive 90 degree bend to the true right bank
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Once on the true right of Fohn Creek, easy slopes lead to the broad Olivine Ledge
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The northern end of the Olivine Ledge (the Olivine River is below in the fog)
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Olivine Ledge, looking towards Fiery Peak and Col direction
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Recrossing Fohn Creek to the true left to remain on the Olivine Ledge
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
On the Olivine Ledge - there is good tracks in some places, and long tussocks with boggy sections in others
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The OTMC teams are about to meet on the Olivine Ledge (interestingly about the same place as we did in 2010)
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The meeting of the two OTMC teams, on the Olivine Ledge
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The clockwise team heading off towards Fohn Lakes
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Morning fog burning off to reveal the confluence of the Olivine and Forgotten Rivers
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
A well named mountain - Fiery Peak, with Fiery Col to the left
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Fiery Creek - quite a few parties camp here (including our clockwise group) - just don't camp too close to the creek during rain (this is from experience!)
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Fiery Col and Fiery Peak
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Looking back towards the Olivine Ledge from the climb to Fiery Col
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The climb to Fiery Col is straight-forward - choose between the grass or rock
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The final climb to Fiery Col (the highest point on the classic Five Pass trip at 1546m)
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Lunch on Fiery Col, looking towards the upper Olivine River and beyond to Hidden Falls Creek
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
We brought the iceaxes for this descent to Cow Saddle - pity there was no snow to actually use them (in other years there often is)
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Cow Saddle from the Fiery Col descent
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Neat country - the Cow Saddle side of Fiery Col
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The descent from Fiery Col
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The OTMC team descending Fiery Col
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Dramatic differences in rock coming down Fiery Col
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Cow Saddle, between Hidden Falls Creek (on left) and the Olivine River (on right)
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The team - going well after four great days in the hills
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The headwaters of the Olivine River, at the foot of the climb / descent from Fiery Col
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Another river - another chance to catch our breath
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
The headwaters of the Olivine River
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Some may say that dropping down to Cow Saddle from Fiery Col doesn't count as a pass, but we will take it. Cow Saddle is the lowest pass at 1025m (about 150m lower than Park Pass)
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Olivine River (normal route to Fiery Col is on true right of river and up the ridge on left hand side of photo
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Cow Saddle, looking towards the Olivine River
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Cow Saddle, looking towards Hidden Falls Creek (cloud spilling over Park Pass in background)
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Contrasting rock in Hidden Falls Creek
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Waterfall from below Poseidon Peak (hidden by fog)
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Whio in Hidden Falls Creek
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Wider angle of the pool the Whio were in (Hidden Falls Creek)
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Weather starting to turn with the incoming Cyclone Fehi
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
From Cow Saddle keep to the true right of Hidden Falls Creek until you reach the lower end of the massive scree slope (behind the photographer), then cross Hidden Falls Creek and pick up an old blazed track that can be followed with care all the way to the bushline on Park Pass
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Hidden Falls Creek - travel across this grass flat, and the head to the lower end of the scree slope that can be seen on the right of the photo before crossing Hidden Falls Creek
OTMC Five Pass Trip 2018 - Fohn Lakes to Hidden Falls Creek
Cross Hidden Falls Creek at the bottom of this scree / rock slope (where the trees are on both sides of the river) - after crossing the river you will find an old blazed track close to the true left bank - follow this to a large campsite (15mins downstream) and then onwards to the climb to Park Pass