This day we headed to Howden Hut, with a side trip up to Key Summit, which can also be reached via a short climb up from from "The Divide" on the Milford road.

From Lake Howden, we had planned to walk back on the Greenstone, but a large group of school kids with the same idea made us decide to try the Caples Valley. There was a stiff grunt up behind Lake McKellar onto the saddle, where John McCarthy almost dissappeared into a bog, but it was otherwise an excellent choice, with great views, pleasant forest and a steady gentle descent to Lake Wakatipu.

By Upper Caples Hut we observed a Blue Duck couple doing their thing

We also met some Canadian junior docs. They made excellent travelling companions down to Mid Caples Hut and on to the junction with Greenstone the next day. We headed for the wharf on Lake Wakatipu, and the launch back to Glenorchy.