Arrive at the Wānaka office at 8:00am to meet your guide and do a complete gear check, as well as review the weather forecast. Any last minute items or equipment are assembled and loaded into our vehicle for the drive. You can leave any gear or valuables at our office.
We drive about 45 minutes to the small village of Makarora, and take a jet boat up the Makarora River to the Young River confluence where the track begins. 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! Includes lunch and dinner.
The Young Hut is a 20 bunk Department of Conservation hut, nestles in the treeline above the the Young River. The hut is heated by a fireplace and has toilets.
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. We then descend into Siberia Valley, finishing the day with an hour’s walk along the river flats to Siberia Hut for the night.
Suberia Hut is a serviced 20-bunk hut with a fireplace for heating and toilets.
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.
Spend another night at Siberia Hut.
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 track taking us high above the Siberia Gorge and beautiful views back up the Valley, before winding down to the Wilkin River. Here, we meet the jet boat for a thrilling ride back to Makarora township, and drive back to Wānaka.
