A cool but clear blue skies start to the day. Over Goat Pass and for all the way down to the river flats on a much improved track, with some significant sections of boardwalk to protect the wetland areas. A straightforward descent down into the Mingha valley with great views in all directions - to the tops and the valley ahead and behind.
Past the old Mingha Biv, and time for a final alpine stop at Dudleys Knob for morning tea. From there the track descends to the main river valley, and you then follow the river all the way down on increasingly wider river flats towards the Bealey River.
Rather than taking the foot track out to Greyneys Shelter, I followed a 4WD track alongside the Bealey River as far as the railway bridge, and then headed across the rocky river bed to Klondyke corner - the main river has now moved from where it is marked on the topo map.
After a lunch stop, a poled 4WD route continued on across the river flats towards the Waimakariri river and the Bealey hotel where Hazel was already in residence. She s
potted me coming, so was able to come down to the river bank to watch one aborted river crossing, followed by a successful one. Not a river to play with, especially when there is a bridge not much more than a km away, but yet again I was fortunate that there had not been rain in the area for a few days, and my trusty old tent pole made all the difference between it being a safe rather than a dangerous crossing.Hazel then dropped me off at my intended end point at the start of the Cass Lagoon track, and I walked back to the Bealey hotel from there.
A tremendous location with mountains and valleys all around, with the wide shingly river beds so typical of Canterbury rivers.
I now need to return home to Auckland, but intend to be back in the autumn to continue on some more - hopefully as far as the Rangitata River.
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