The Queens Drive and Wye Dome.Experienced

Description

Looking up the ski field from the car park, you will need to be heading for the track that leads up, under the right hand lift (Shadow Basin Chair Lift). Follow the obvious track to the top of the chair. From here, you will need to join the single track that leads to the Lookout (this point is marked on the ski field map). At the obvious Col, turn left up the scree slope, aiming for the cairns on the ridge. Once at the top of the short scramble, the path is fairly obvious across the front face of the Remarkables. If there is any snow on, or above the track, DO NOT PROCEED!! This is a very dangerous route in winter conditions, and should NOT be attempted as a run except in clear snowless conditions. Many experienced mountaineers have come to grief on this section during Winter.
At the end of the track, you will enter a large boulder field. Traverse this section under the front face of Single Cone. Unless you are a very sure footed Mountain Goat, this section will be slow! Continue around, until you come to a spur that leads down from the summit - you will see a series of Lakes below you. Follow this spur down to the outlet of the lake. Cross the outlet, then start heading North towards Wye Dome. The running at this point is across cushion moss and light bog - it's a welcome relief after all the boulder hopping. Wye Dome is the hill sandwiched between two cols. Once at the top, head down to Lake Alta (the large Alpine Lake sitting below Double and Single Cone). From the outlet of Lake Alta, there is a marked track that heads back to the car park.

Features of interest

High Alpine flora and fauna a short drive from Queenstown, in a spectacular setting.

Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 50%

Technical Single Track: 30%

Moderate Single Track: 20%

Route Data