November 1998: Trampers were: Jim Bardsley, Ian Bardsley, John Murphy, Paul De'ath, John McCarthy and me (Keith Blayney). Paul flew us down to Glenorchy and he then dropped the plane back at Queenstown. We headed up the Routeburn Valley to Routeburn Flats Hut, with a side trip up the North branch. I pulled a hamstring jumping over a stream (the danger of taking off a heavy pack is the delusion one can fly).

It was then up to Routeburn Falls Hut, which was fairly crowded (Ian "made do", but that's another story). The view was great, the rocks were sharp (split my foot open) and the Keas took apart any socks left out to dry. I think it was here that I scalded my hand. The next day we were off to the Harris Saddle, where the winter snow hadn't thawed yet.