2003-02 (East Matukituki - Sisyphus Peak)
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
East Matukituki Valley from Cameron Flat carpark - West Matukituki is beyond the fence / trees
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
East Matukituki - just upstream of Glacier Burn - looking towards West Matukituki and Cameron Flat (Fog Peak, Sharks Tooth and Craigrayston Peak in background - all over 2000m)
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
East Matukituki Valley, looking upstream towards Junction Flat
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Kitchener River between Junction and Aspiring Flats
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Aspiring Flat, looking towards Turnbull Thomson Falls (fed by an alpine lake in basin above), Rainbow Stream enters on the right
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Crossing the Kitchener River at Aspiring Flats - en route to Rainbow Stream
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
OTMC party at mouth of Rainbow Stream, Aspiring Flats
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Looking up Rainbow Stream - cloud spill-over from Mt Aspiring direction
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Rainbow Stream is well known for avalance activity in Spring, leaving ice remains to be crossed in Summer
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Rainbow Stream, looking downstream towards Aspiring Flat
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Prominent forks in Rainbow Stream - route to Wilmot Saddle is the true left fork (right hand fork as viewed in this photo) - best travel is close to the stream (avoids scrub)
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Another view taken later in the day of the forks - snowmelt from the day has now formed numerous waterfalls
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Rainbow Stream - just entering the true left fork - cross the stream as required, but keep in stream bed to avoid scrub
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Left hand fork of Rainbow Stream, en route to Wilmot Saddle
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Further up Rainbow Stream - once above the scrub you can climb out of the stream and pick your way to Wilmot Saddle
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Upper Rainbow Stream - relatively easy off-track travel - heading for Wilmot Saddle
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
View of Aspiring Flat from higher up Rainbow Stream
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Wilmot Saddle and Sisyphus Peak from upper Rainbow Stream - relatively easy travel
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Wilmot Saddle and Sisyphus Peak from Rainbow Stream
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Final sidle to Wilmot Saddle from Rainbow Stream
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Mt Aspiring / Tititea from Wilmot Saddle - Rainbow Stream below
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge )
Looking from Wilmot Saddle over Aspiring Flat to West Matukituki direction - Sharks Tooth is prominent
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Final 200m climb from Wilmot Saddle (1682m) to Sisyphus Peak (1859m) - steeper than Rainbow Stream, but not too difficult
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
And the view - arguably the best in the East Matukituki - Mt Aspiring / Tititea sitting right on the Southern Alps / Ka Tiritiri O Te Moana
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Cameron Flat (carpark) and West Matukituki from Sisyphus Peak
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Upper Ruth Flat and East Matukituki curving around to Rabbit Pass from Sisyphus Peak
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Edge of Upper Volta Glacier from Sisyphus Peak
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
The ridge from Sisyphus can be followed back to Aspiring Flat (although the Rainbow Stream is quicker)
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Upper Rainbow Stream and Mt Aspiring / Tititea from Sisyphus Peak
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
OTMC party on Sisyphus Peak - upper East Matukituki Valley in background
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Fastness Peak across Wilmot Saddle, from Sisyphus Peak
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Upper Rainbow Stream from Sisyphus Peak
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Starting descent from Sisyphus Peak towards Ruth Flat - to cross from the Rainbow to Ruth Flat it is strongly recommended to do so via Sisyphus Peak - avoid the temptation of sidling around from Wilmot Saddle - this is unpleasantly steep and exposed
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Ruth Flat from below Sisyphus Peak - the best route from here is to head to your left and pick up a creek that leads down to the flat
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Ruth Flat from below Sisyphus Peak - the best route from here is to head to your left and pick up a creek that leads down to the flat
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Wilmot Saddle and Fastness Peak from descent to Ruth Flat
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
The approximate point we turned left and headed through a scrub and steep tussock band to reach the top of a gut/creek to drop into Ruth Flat
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
A good route to Ruth Flat is straight down the middle of this photo - aim to pick up the head of the creek in the centre of the photo
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
In the creek heading down to Ruth Flat - pretty good travel (there is one area where you need to head into the bush on the true right to avoid a large drop)
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Ruth Flat - East Matukituki
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Bottom of Ruth Flat - about to head down the track above the Bledisloe Gorge
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
East Matukituki just before it drops into the Bledisloe Gorge
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
The track above the Bledisloe Gorge climbs higher than the bushline above Junction Flat
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Aspiring Flat, Kitchener River and Turnbull Thomson Falls from track above Junction Flat
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Just at bushline on track heading down to Junction Flat - East Matukituki and Cameron Flat in view
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
Junction and Aspiring Flats - East Matukituki
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge)
East Matukituki below Junction Flat / Kitchener River. If the river is low the first section of track can be avoided by walking down the river
2003-02 (East Matukituki circuit of Aspiring Flat, Rainbow Stream, Sisyphus Peak, Ruth Flat & Bledisloe Gorge )
East Matukituki Track, between the Glacier Burn abd Junction Flat