Meet at the office - 58 McDougall Street, Wanaka - before departing for the township of Makarora. If the rivers are high then jet boat access to the start of the track is provided. The Young Valley is a wonderland of dense native forest and high peaks. The trail steepens and climbs steadily to the tree line. Tonight you stay at Young Hut. Waterfalls, roaring canyons and beautiful temperate rainforest, a big day!
650m ascent.
The track winds its way up the valley sidewall under the awesome east face of Mount Awful. This is really an alpine paradise with towering mountains as your backdrop. The track climbs steeply alongside a rock bluff onto a snow grass spur that after 3 to 4 hours, leads to the pass. The climbing ends at Gillespie Pass and one of the great view points of the Southern Alps. From here there's an impressive view, with Mount Alba dominating the skyline. After a short downhill you walk through the forest to reach our camp next to Gillespie stream. 700m ascent and 700m descent.
You leave your packs behind today as you do a day trip to Lake Crucible. This unusual lake sits high above the Siberia Valley, nestled under Mt Alba. It is a steep climb through a forest, with a small river crossing, and finally the ascent through a snowgrass flat until you reach the lake. Surrounded by towering walls, Lake Crucible is a geographic wonder carved by the glaciers.
600m ascent and 900m descent.
The Siberia Valley is a hidden oasis. From your camp the gentle track takes you through ancient Beech forest and open river flats. Great views of Mount Awful and Mount Dreadful (the early explorers had fun with the names here) with the Siberia River in the foreground. Bring your camera! It is all downhill to Kerin Forks Hut at the confluence of the Upper Wilkin and Siberia Valleys. Here you will meet the waiting jetboat for an exhilarating ride back to Makarora. It is a wild finish to a Wild Walk. 300m descent.
