Attempting to reach the Cascade Saddle | Wanaka, New Zealand
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- Опубліковано 3 бер 2023
- The Cascade Saddle route is a stunning and adrenaline-inducing trail located in Mt Aspiring National Park, New Zealand. This trail is considered one of the most challenging hikes in the region, but the breathtaking views of the Matukituki Valley, Dart Glacier and Mount Aspiring, make it well worth the effort.
NOTE: The Cascade Saddle route is not recommended for inexperienced hikers and requires a good level of fitness. It's important to go with a guide or experienced hikers and check the weather forecast before starting the hike as conditions can change quickly in the mountains. However, for those up for the challenge, the Cascade Saddle route offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the heart of New Zealand's stunning Southern Alps.
Date hiked: April 2022
Duration: 2-3 days
Distance: 30km return, ~2000m elevation gain
Great safety video for the Cascade Saddle by NZMSC: • Cascade Saddle Route: ...
More info on the trail:
- www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...
- www.wildernessmag.co.nz/trip/...
Beautiful filming. Wise decision making. We turned back on the Kepler during very strong winds and rain and returned to Luxmore Hut for a 2nd night. We were the only ones who did. The next morning we continued and had beautiful clear skies and snow on the tops.
That would have looked some beautiful the next day!
That 2nd day on the Kepler is so exposed when crossing the ridge, you definitely made the smart and correct decision, well done 😊
Thanks. It’s a bitter sweet experience watching this as I did this I think around age 21. It was pretty effortless back then. Climbing up the ridge, a flock of maybe 20 Keas were flying overhead. It was a bit nerve racking. I doubt such a thing would happen now as the great birds are in decline. I was on a mountaineer’s course. We camped up there and back then I was really into meditation and remember sitting in the snow and having a meditation and actually left my watch by mistake at the campsite. And after so many years, I’m meditating again.
Enjoy your strength. The years go by fast. I’m not over the hill yet having done the Milford Track twice in 2019 and 2023 and watching your beautifully crafted videos is really inspiring me to return to some of these places.
All the best
Sounds beautiful Patrick. Would have been quite a different track back then I believe!
Well done tackling the Milford twice in the last few years, definitely well worth the effort!
Hope you have many more years of hiking/walking ahead of you 😊❤️🙏
Thanks Chris or Danya.
I’ll have to watch some more of your videos. Some of the places are most likely beyond my ability but hopefully I’m wrong. You certainly made the most of your time in these places. I think it’s possible Danya grew up near where I live in Melbourne.
There’s something addictive about being in the mountains, you just want more and more and are sort of driven.
Another addiction.😃
Thanks for making the effort.
Thanks for the continued support Patrick, we really appreciate it!
Danya grew up in Western Australia so she grew up as a beach girl, but her mom is from Vancouver Canada (where I'm from), so she's got mountains in her blood! 😅
I did a lot of camping growing up in Canada, but didn't get into hiking/backpacking until we moved to Australia.
We're moving back to Canada in a week and really looking forward to exploring some new mountains and valleys!
Hi Chris,
So nice of you to write back.
I’ve been meaning to watch your Milford Track video tonight.
Wow. You’re from Vancouver. Such a beautiful place, I was talking about Canada this morning as my Wife’s colleague had poped over and she has a Canadian partner and her brother is studying in Vancouver. It’s one of the world’s paradise places as well as the Banff to Jasper trip. I’d love to return for another trip to Canada.
And Danya from the West. Such a phenomenally beautiful part of Australian. And a great many people from the eastern states have not visited it. I have a friend in WA who has been “Over East, “ just once in her life.
You went everywhere in NZ and so many cool places in Australia.
Well done.
And yes, it’s driving me crazy at the moment with watching NZ tramping videos and the fact that 38 years have passed since I did the Travers / Sabine.
Time just goes so fast and faster as you get older too.
Best wishes on your journey to Canada and good luck navigating the crazily experience world you’ve inherited and from the likes of me who had it easy. Sorry.
Thanks for the kind words Patrick, hope you get the chance to hit the trails again soon ☺
Beautiful footage. One of my favourite areas I've ever visited. Good decision making too,
Thank you! 🙏
Will have to return and complete the track one day
Hi guys. We stumbled across your videos 10 days ago. All are brilliant, extremely well done, great photography. As kiwis we have done some of the walks but sadly at early 70s it is road trips and reminiscing. We obviously have more videos to watch and Chip away at. Stay safe.
Thank you for the kind words Chris ❤️🙏 It's great you get to call such a beautiful country home 😊
Perhaps you could look into spending a night in Hooker Hut in Mt Cook National Park? It's a very easy/short walk to the hut!
Thank you for posting this video! I am doing the same hike next month.
Have a great time!
It's years since I did the Matukituki-Dart trip via the Cascade Saddle. I would NEVER consider going up to the saddle and then back down the Matukituki face. I've heard of deaths and broken limbs when people have slipped on the tussocks and scree above the bushline, paricularly when the ground is wet. Camping overnight near the Cascade Saddle and then working your way down to the Dart Hut is much safer! You did exactly the right thing turning back while you had fine weather and daylight. You made it up and back in one piece - well done! Great vid by the way.
We had never really planned to do the Cascade Saddle track as a day hike, mainly because of the stories we had heard about coming down the Matukituki side. Once we determined we wouldn't have time to do the whole Rees-Dart track we decided to see how the climb up was and if we felt uncomfortable we'd turn around. It was definitely one of the steepest climbs we've done, but nothing scary. Definitely need to be focused, especially when climbing down. Still glad we turned around when we did because climbing down in the dark would've been a disaster
One day we'll return to do the Rees-Dart track!
As I said above, you did the right thing. Since you were actually higher than the saddle when you crested the Matukituki Ridge, you should take the "attempted" out of the title. You guys did well. I always carried crampons and an ice axe when I did trips with high crossings, just in case. It was a great video and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Given the amount of scenrio setup you did, you look like professionals.
I've only left the "attempted" in the title, so people don't get disappointed when we don't actually reach the saddle. I believe some hikers use our videos to see what the track looks like, so if there is a section missing I want to be upfront about that
OMG Chris and Danya....having just returned from two weeks in NZ, I'm totally bespotted by your videos - THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL. The scenery is stunning, your content perfect, your commentary wonderful...best of all, the dynamic between you two, when walking, is totally magnetic viewing.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, DOC SHOULD HAVE YOU AS THEIR #1 CONTENT CREATORS, with 1M+ subscribers.
Thank you so much for your kind words Dominic, it really means a lot. ❤🙏
Hope you had a wonderful time in NZ and the weather was alright for most of it. It's been a strange summer weather wise
Thanks, I don’t do much narration but I have been thinking about wireless mics, which might double as a narration mic 🤔
@@OutdoorsmanDave That could be good as well! If you don't do a lot of narration that might be a better choice. The DJI wireless mic package looks really good
Wow 😍 I'm lost for words, those views were beautiful, and it's never a fail... too beautiful to be a fail.
Thank you Deb ❤🙏
Some great shots and angles I have not seen before in countless videos and photos of the saddle, especially below bushline, which most trampers ignore. Very wise to turn back, especially with the hike back to the car.
We could have spent another night at the hut instead of walking back in the dark, but we wanted to stay in our bed that night 😅. The important thing was descending with good light
Cool vid mate, enjoyed that, 👍
Thanks for watching 😊
Great video! That view of the Matukituki and the sound of the kea just never gets old. Great views of the Dart Glacier and stunning Otago weather too.
Weather was definitely a lot better last summer compared to this year!
In no way was that a fail. You two got to experience first hand views in which breathtaking and stunning are good beginner adjectives. 1,000 words could never do those views justice. You taking us along with you is a treat; one which most of us would never experience without this video. Thats a win for all of us. I've enjoyed each of your videos immensely. The scenery in each one has been beautiful. This one, though, is my new favorite. While it won't happen this trip, I am resigned to needing to see those views for myself. The distance shots with Danya at 3:33 & 9:38 and you at 9:04 were beautiful perspective moments (how tiny we are compared to those backgrounds), as were the shots with each of you on the end of the saddle overlooking the river valley so far below. Once again, great work. Nicely done. Most important, thank you.
Thank you as always for your kind words and encouragement John. It means a lot to us ❤🙏🙌☺
Just Wanted to say how much i love your Videos. I Think you are one of the most underrated Content creators on UA-cam. Keep the Great Work going !
Thank you for saying that Philipp and thank you for the support! It really means a lot🙏❤️
This channel is a hidden jem.
Thank you Mansoor 🙏❤. You're a gem! 😂
Had a great laugh watching this vid. I got to exactly the same point and decided to turn around too. Getting back down was a mission and I still remember the muscle soreness which lasted for days after that I got from the scuttle back down. Thanks for the vid. Great stuff.
Still gutted we didn't make it the whole way! Our legs were definitely feeling it and if we continued on, going back would have been a huge struggle. So funny you turned around at the same spot. Those last few KMs sure look far after that climb 😁
Love this video, and your good intuitive mountain sense too.....awesome and inspiring, thank you!
Thank you Andrew! 🙏❤️😊
Great video! I've always had Cascade Saddle in the too steep for me bucket, but you've shown thoughtful clear detail at points I haven't watched beforefore. With the right prep I'm excited I might get it into the can do bucket. Beautifully shot thank you.
Danya was really nervous about this one as well, but to be honest it's not that bad. It's very steep yes, but at no point were we clinging to the rock afraid we were going to fall. I'd recommend starting earlier than you think you would need and doing it when the days are the longest. I'm sure you'll do great 😊
As always, beautifully shot. Some sketchy moments & a good call to turn around. It’s not going anywhere & always there if you want to revisit & make another attempt. Better being smart & safe. Thanks once again for sharing your beautiful stories-we love each & every one.
Thanks as always Alan 🙏❤️
So good of you to share. Important to witness the live decision making by some experienced hikers at play and send a great message for us less experienced. Made for added drama in another spectacular video. That daring spit of rock overlooking the valley and the epilogue with the scrapping birds (?!?) was surely as rewarding as any peak. Sharing your adventure certainly made my daily commute less of a chore.
Thank you for the kind words 🙏
It's so cool to know people are enjoying watching our videos during their commute to work. Thank you for the support ❤️
Geez, Mount Aspiring National Park really is something else, huh? Good on you guys. Great effort.
And this is only a small portion of it! Such a great National Park. Thanks for watching ☺
A great video, well constructed, with thoughtful commentary
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it 🙏❤️
Wow that’s a serious hike. Just amazing thank you
Thanks for watching Craig!
Breathtaking as usual... you're videos are just wow 🤩! While disappointing not to make the saddle, smart move to make that call and live to hike (and film) another day - maybe next time you can go up the Dart side and catch that glacier! Danya is a hiking boss, by the way - she makes it look sooo incredibly easy!! Thanks as always for these exceptionally stunning images - most people will never live to see it in real life, but through your videos, you're giving them the gift of New Zealand's beauty 💚💙
Thank you for the words of encouragement Jennifer! ❤🙏
Danya says it definitely doens't feel easy, but she likes looking like a hiking boss 😎 haha
Thanks for watching, fans like you are the reason we keep them coming! ☺
Absolutely stunning👍👍 love your film making! As a hiker, I enjoy your videos!! Great channel!!
Thank you so much, that really means a lot ❤️🙏
Absolutely fantastic content. Well done!
Thank you, great to hear from you again! 🙏❤️
We'll be moving back to the Pacific Northwest in 2024 and we can't wait!
I’d love to see a video about your gear some time!
Will definitely do one! Just want to sit down and weigh everything beforehand so we can do a comprehensive video
Nothing to apologise for. Beautiful scenery which we get to see without putting in the hard yards!
Thanks for the support Angelica 😊
Sage advice at the end.
Nice video, well done.
Thank you for the support! 🙏❤️
I agree with your decision to go back. By coincidence I and a friend camped at Cascade River for two nights, just a week before your trip and then went through to the Dart Hut, beautiful trip.
Thanks for your excellent vid!!!! Cheers...
Would love to do the Rees-Dart Track one day! Sounds like a great time
@@ChrisandDanya yes the Rees Dart is a very pretty walk with great huts and several really nice side trips from the main route..
You were very wise to turn back when you did! Overconfidence has proved the end of a number of hikers on that route. Good on ya.
Thank you Sal ❤️🙏. Definitely think it was the right choice
We did that route back in the 90s, and it took us way longer to get back than we expected, it got dark, the river had risen and if it hadn’t been for a friend gathering folks from the hut to come down and check to see what was going on, see us across the river, make a human chain to get us across, who knows… bad stuff happens to the overconfident out there. 😬😬😬 I was forever chastened.
A lot of other places in the world have predators to worry about, but NZ it's all about mother nature. The terrain is difficult and the forever changing weather can be unpredictable! Always need to be more cautious when tramping in the wild over here
We even find the locals to be a bit too casual when heading into the back country. The hut network is fantastic, but can give a false sense of safety and protection
I reached Cascade Saddle from the Rees-Dart track, which I thoroughly recommend for a multi-day walk.
We always wanted to do the Rees-Dart track but could never get enough time to do it. Will have to return one day and do it
We did the same, many years ago. Rees-Dart is a great track. It’s Kepler I’ve always wanted to do!
The ridge walking on Day 2 of the Kepler is stunning
I'm looking forward to the day jet-packs are more common so I can save my knees from destruction and enjoy these kind of views. Thanks for taking us along.
Portable jet-packs? Sign us up! 😂
Thanks for coming along ☺
such great videos, you make me want to move there
We didn't want to have to pick and choose what to hike on a holiday, so we just decided to move here 😅
Going back is still a forward decision in the wild. It would be tough with a full 18kg backpack. Well done 👍
What mic do you narrate with please?
Agreed Dave! We're honestly surprised we didn't make it. With spending the night at Aspiring Hut before and going up with day packs, we definitely thought we gave ourselves enough time. We probably could have made it, but we wanted to descend with good light as Danya was struggling a bit on the way up. Can't imagine how difficult it would be with a full pack on and camping near the saddle.
I just use a cheap Razer Seiren Mini to do the narration/voice overs, with a bit of enhancements in the editing software. If I was to buy another USB mic, I would get either the Audio Technica AT2020 or Shure MV7.
need to come up and do some tararuas if you think that was hard ;p
Yes there are countless hikes harder than this one, some that we have done. This wasn't about it being too difficult to complete, it was about giving ourselves enough time to descend in good light
hi what is the garmin device you use? the orange thing on your pack strap? thanks!
That is a Garmin InReach Mini. We don't really use it for it's GPS function, we use it for 2-way Satellite communication
Hey guys, can I ask what time of year is it that you have been doing all your tramps? The weather you have couldn't have been better.
This was April last year. Anything from around Wanaka or further south is all from November 2022 or earlier. The weather last summer was really good, I think it only rained a handful of times in 3-4 months. This summer the weather has been really strange and making planning trips a bit difficult to be honest!