Trip 055 - Rees Valley (Kea Basin or Shelter Rock)

 

DATE: May 13-14, 2023
LEADER: Richard Forbes (021 510 760)
TRIP GRADE: All
MEET: Clubrooms, 6pm (Friday May 12)

The first OTC trip to the Rees Valley on the club trip programmes was the Xmas 1948/49 trip. In those days it took a full day to get to Queenstown. On this first trip the party headed to Glenorchy on the Earnslaw (no road at the time), and onwards to the Rees on the back of an open truck and in poor weather with 70lb swags (almost 32kg). Despite the weather the peaks of Leary (now O’Leary), Headlong (from the Snowy) and Clarke were all climbed.

The OTMC has a strong history with the valley, and with Rees Valley Station. For many years, the club maintained 25 Mile Hut, and this was used as a base for numerous trips.

This weekend trip is not recreating the first trip…the obvious options are an overnight trip to Kea Basin (camping in tents or the rock-biv), or to Shelter Rock Hut.