Key Summit On The Routeburn

We did the entire Routeburn Tramp in 2009, and a bit of it just a few days before now. But Vicki wanted more of it, particularly a chance to see more of the Alpine scenery we missed in the lousy weather of 2009. So, on the way back from Milford to Te Anau, we stopped at the Pass and did the Key Summit day hike, which is an off-shoot of the Routeburn. The weather was fine, it was a good trail, and we extended the hike way out on the ridge to see all three of the lakes, Marian, Gunn, and McKeller...the significance of which is the three watersheds you can see from Key Summit, one going to the Tasman, one to the Antarctic, and one, via Balclutha, to the Pacific.

On the way we stopped at the Chasm, the major upshot of which was seeing this
bird's-eye view of a large tree fern

And these waterfalls near Homer Tunnel

Beautiful little waterfall and pool near the beginning of the
Routeburn, west side

From the Routeburn/Key Summit hike, Mt. Christina

New Zealand dragonfly

More alpine scenery

Ditto

Greenstone all around; near the great fault between the Pacific and Australasian
plates (OK, I was only a C student in geology)

Lake Gunn (or possibly McKeller or Marian)

Lake McKeller

Definitely Lake Marian

Another panoramic shot

More alpine scenery

Vicki celebrates; the Routeburn was her bain in 2009, followed by knee
replacement surgery, rehab, and now, lots more hiking; pretty impressive!

The Key Summit marker, which allowed us to locate some of the upper reaches
of the Routeburn

There, right of middle, above bush-line

There, closer up

And there, close enough to make out the switch-backs