21 OCTOBER 2021

Hell’s Gates is surely a name to attract someone looking for adventure. These are some rocky spires up at the head of a short gravelly valley above the Waterfall Hut, on the west side of the Cass Valley.

This route is on private land (Glenmore Station) and so access must be negotiated prior to visiting. The O’Leary’s hut is in the Hell’s Gates valley, and can be booked for ski touring parties. There are bunks for 8 people. It has a fireplace, gas cookers, clean mattresses, cooking utensils and even a solar powered lighting system. To arrange access or booking contact Will and Ems Murray, Glenmore Station, on (03) 6806 752 or 0211869087.

Bookings online can be made here http://www.glenmorestation.co.nz

The Cass Valley has become quite a centre for ski touring. There are several huts and many routes. Hells Gates is on the Western side of the Cass Valley, about 45 minutes from the public road. There is a rudimentary graded road which most SUV’s can make it up. However if there has been rain or snow melt the Cass river could be difficult without a little vehicle clearance. For further access info  view the post on Lady Emily hut and the Scorpion Loop, 

Its a straight forward hike into O’Leary’s hut and takes about an hour & 15 mins of walking, and about 45 mins of skinning, depending on the snow line of course. From the Waterfall Hut ascend the slope directly behind the hut on the true left of the waterfall. The obvious canyon has been descended by canyoners. Here is a link to Hell’s Gate Canyon route description.

It takes about 40 minutes to get over the first steep rise out of the Cass Valley, and then backs off to tussock land, large clear patches of hieracium and animal trails to follow. It is very pleasant travel. The valley is broad and smooth, with a clear stream on the TR which eventually goes under the gravel. The going is easy, even with a large overnight pack. We hit the snowline at about 1500m.

Further up the valley an old medial moraine gives a direct route and easy navigation to the hut, and offers safe travel from any avalanche dangers from the sides, (especially from Hell’s Gates).

O’ Leary’s hut is wonderfully situated, tucked up safely at the top of the old median moraine at approx 1780/1800m contour. There are good views. The hut is newly built, fully equipped, and sleeps 8. We did this ski tour as a day trip, so we had daypacks and light touring setup. The area suits both day trips and extended stays, as there is plenty of skiing to be done.

When choosing a route from the hut, note that Pk 2459 to the NNE of the hut appears to avalanche regularly, and there are large piles of debris in the valley. The medial moraine offers safe travel to the hut, and whilst heading up valley from the hut.

Above the hut the valley opens out and catches more sun. We skinned up on frozen snow, which in the sun turned to silky corn snow and delicious turns.

We headed up to just south of pt 2352, dropped in for a small ski t the NE into Tin Hut Stream, then back out and down the way we came in. I think it was something like 4 or 5 hours from the Waterfall Hut to our turn around spot, including lunch by O’Leary’s Hut.

There are many routes to ski in the Valley, from steeps on Hell’s Gates, lovely bowls to the north, or the constant steep slopes to the west. It would be really interesting to link up a tour between the huts. Lady Emily Hut via The Scorpion route to Tin Hut, over into Forks Stream and the up over to O’Leary’s Hut

Some choose to fly in with a helicopter. Air Safaris fly from Tekapo airport 0800 806 880. They have a Bell Long Ranger L3 which seats 4 plus gear, with a payload of 450kg

Hell’s Gates gets good snow falls from the westerly half, as well as picking up an easterly if it is strong enough. Weather forecasting is for the Canterbury High Country, and avalanche forecasting is the Mt Cook region. Falcons Nest hut is in the northern Gamack Range, which abuts the Liebig Range. So for weather and avo forecasting, what pertains to the Liebig Range might well have bearing on the Gamack Range.

For a view of the weather in the Cass River check out the webcam from Mt St John on the AOPA website here.
A webcam view of the conditions at Mt Cook can also help; try the Hermitage webcam. The Roundhill ski field webcam gives a bit of an idea but the Two Thumb Range attracts a different weather pattern to the Gamack Range, even though they are in such close in proximity.

Other routes in the Cass Valley include: Liebig Loop,   Mt Hutton via Faraday Gl,  Mt Hutton via Huxley Gl,   The Needles and Tin Hut Stream, and Scorpion Loop