Lake Mavis
A snow wonder for all to enjoy.
During the winter we headed up to Lake Mavis for a winter camping trip, an experience that I recommend for all hardy trampers with a sense of adventure.We tramped up the Mingha Track heading to Goat Pass hut. About 500m from the hut you head up to the right. There were a lot of suggestions to the way that we should go but this scribe suggests that you go up the shingle chute especially if it is full of well packed snow. It takes around 1.5hrs to reach the lake.
When we got there the lake was frozen and around a foot of snow lay on the ground. We camped below the Mt Oates side only because it offered the best camping in these conditions, there was also a large rock that we could use as a kitchen table.
Because the conditions were perfect for some good crampon work we headed up to the saddle that allowed us access to Mt Oates but arriving here we discovered that the avalanche danger was too great so we took a pleasant detour and looked over onto Fallen Mountain.
The whole trip took us two days of reasonably easy tramping. The snow was hard and easy to walk on -- it would have been a harder trip if snow was soft. I highly recommend this trip.
Comments
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Honora Hi
Another more direct route avoids the tiresome talus travel on Taruahuna Pass if you've already done that section. It is also quicker if the days are shorter. Basically it sidles above where the nasty gutted bluffs are on the Edwards side. I have submitted a jpg. of the route somewhere on this site! cheers, Honora
2 January 2009 -
a pass We were up at Lake Mavis last week. It's a great trip over the top and returning via the Edwards River. From the top (as seen in the photo) to the left of Mt Oates, drop to the Tarn, and then traverse to the left, staying fairly high until you reach the ridge that takes you to the foot of Taruahuna Pass. From there follow the trail back to the Mingha.
21 January 2004
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tararua Great photo.
30 December 2003
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haydockds It certainly is worth the effort to get up there. Not as much snow when I was there though.
14 November 2003