Mt Shrimpton, Makarora

Komoot GPX file | Another blog with cool photos of tarns I didn't find?! #needtogoback | DoC website | 14km return, 1000m vert

When I was heading out on my Gillepsie Pass route, I was given the (excellent) advice by the local visitor centre to delay my trip by one day to get the good weather window when heading over the pass.

To fill in the time, I drove to the West Coast early and headed up Mt Shrimpton. It was a bloody steep walk - clambering and climbing, and at one point I near lost the track where it split for trap lines. However, the trapping is clearly working in the area - I saw so many birds and had the joy of walking in significant birdsong!

As it was only a day walk but I was trialling my new pack, I loaded up with extra weight to make sure my new pack could carry what I needed before heading out. That meant carrying several adapted telephoto lenses, which I had fun then photographing the aforementioned birds with.

The view from the top is amazing. I regretfully did not have much time to spend above the bushline as I wanted to head down and set up camp in Makarora at Cameron Flat, but if you were in the area with more time I would highly recommend checking it out! Especially if you head on to find the tarns that hikingscenery did.