Midwinter: Routeburn & Gillespie Pass

It's Midwinter!!

We are planning on taking over the huts in the Matukituki Valley 
I know that everyone will be in Te Waipounamu (the South Island), getting up to a bunch of alpine mischief but I thought it could be sick as if all of us in the Otago area meet together in the Matukituki Valley for a few nights of chilly hangs ☃️

This is a relatively short trip, only 3/4 days in the middle of Midwinter, so I'm imagining there will be some other cool shennanigans either side of this as well (watch this space 👀) 

The plan:

Saturday 1 July
Meet in Queenstown in the morning ~10am?
Raspberry creek carpark > Aspiring Hut
possible side mission to Rob Roy Glacier

Sunday 2 July
Aspiring Hut > French Ridge Hut

Monday 3 July
French Ridge Hut > Liverpool Hut (conditions pending, as it can be pretty exposed. If it's unideal then we can continue on to Aspiring Hut) 

Tuesday 4 July
Liverpool Hut > Raspberry creek carpark > home (or your next adventure)

The costs:

Aspiring Hut $25
French Ridge Hut $40
Liverpool Hut $20 (OR one green + one blue ticket OR annual backcoutry hut pass)
Total Hut cost: $85 (or $65 if you have a backcountry hut pass)
Petrol from Queenstown $25 ish? 
You will have to make your own way to Queesntown. I have space in my car for some that fly in, & Lilly may be driving down from Welly 🏎️

You must have done a Snowcraft or similar AIC/experience to come on this trip

This trip is also not first in first served

You will need appropriate alpine equipment (waterproof pants, jacket gloves, 3/4 shank boots, warm stuff) You can borrow ice axe, crampons & helmet from the club

Difficulty is Easy/Medium but adequate experience & fitness is required as we are in alpine conditions

A little drizzle won't be stopping this trip, but if the weather is too terrible we can make a new plan, there's heaps of cool huts in central Otago! 

Currently capped at 10 people (assuming we have 2 cars in queenstown) but this could go up if we get more cars down here - although we may have to get creative in Liverpool Hut as it's only 10 bunks ;)