Cass-Lagoon Hike

This was my first overnight hike of the trip. Although I had other preferred destinations at the time, this route is farther east and somewhat drier. So conditions were better - important since I was leaving right after a storm and rivers elsewhere might be too high to cross. Most hikers do this route clockwise - Cass Saddle to Lagoon Saddle. I did it in reverse because I was hoping that another hike whose trailhead was near the Cass River trailhead would be good to hike when I came out. I got a late start on this hike, about noon. So the first day was short.

Bealey Hut is right at the beginning of this hike.

The trail up to Lagoon Saddle.

Looking southwest over the Waimakariri River valley.

Looking southeast over the Waimakariri River valley.

Boardwalk at Lagoon Saddle, where many small ponds give the saddle its name.

Lagoon Saddle Hut, where I spent my first night.

The trail peters out at times and you have to cross this kind of rubble.

West Harper Hut - I didn't stay here. This was lunch break.

A swinging bridge over the Harper River. While this bridge was very secure, it also wobbled a lot while walking on it, making it slow going

A 3-wire bridge. I was told that these are rare. You walk on the lower wire while holding on to the upper ones. With a backpack, it was not easy.

Taken from near the low altitude point for the day. The saddle well ahead and above is Cass Saddle, my destination for that afternoon.

It started raining soon after, so I didn't take many pictures for a while. But it stopped just as I was approaching Cass Saddle here.

The ridge above Cass Saddle.

Some forest near Cass Saddle.

Cass Saddle Hut is about a half hour past the saddle.

After a very stormy night, the sun came out the next morning, and I'm trying to get a picture of steam coming off of the tree here.

A bridge over the Cass River. Bridges are rare in these parts.

Descending through the forest.

The Cass River farther down.

I knew I had to cross the Cass River low down to get out, but with the big rain the night before, I wasn't sure if it would be possible. I might have to camp next to the river and wait for it to go down. This is where the trail leaves the forest and follows the river. I saw another hiker coming up near here, so I knew he had crossed coming up, and it would be possible to get out.

This the first of four required crossings, and the hardest. Although the river got bigger below, it was also wider, and so not as deep or fast.

Continue to part 4 of 8 - Andrews River and Hallelujah Flats.