'Brewstrong - Start strong, finish with a brew'
18/02/2024
Mt Aspiring National Park
19 Kilometres, 2000m Vert, 7.5 hrs
Brewstrongers: Pete, Clare and Laurie
The route: Strava Link
Stages: 10
Route conception
This route was conceived almost a year prior to actually getting it done. I did a trip up to Mt Cross to make a film for Sea to Summit and camped up on the Facade Cliffs above Wilson Creek. At the top of Mt Cross, looking across the Haast Valley, I was looking at what would soon be 'The Brewstrong Route' that would go up the Brewster track, to the summit of Mt Armstrong, and then veer off down the South East ridge along to Mt Kaye, past the Hawk Spur, and back down to the Haast Pass where our car was parked via the spur North of Brodrick Stream.
It looked so attractive from the other side of the Valley, and I could just imagine running down the ridge from Mt Kaye.... was it too good to be true? A year later, I assembled a team of keen humans who I knew love getting stuck into things like this, so Clare, Laurie and myself found a Sunny Sunday, and off we went! So scroll on to read more about the 10 stages of Brewstrong!
Stage 1: State Highway 6
8:30am, we arrived at the Haast Pass, unloaded our gear, and kicked into the 5km road section before the Brewster Track. It's always an exciting feeling in the fresh morning air, knowing the day you're about to have and the things you'll see.
Even on a usually busy road, we only saw 3 cars which actually made this section quite enjoyable. By the end of the day, we were glad we did it this way around rather than finishing with the road slog!
Stage 2: Crossing the Haast River
Stage 2 meant full transition mode. (Run to wade).
We ran into an already busy Brewster carpark at 9am. On a sunny weekend, it was clearly the place to be!
We got into river wade mode.. which was more like a stream at this flow, and made our way over to begin the climb up to the Brewster Hut!
The rest of the day was a dry foot day, so it was definitely worth taking our shoes off and dealing with that faff.
Stage 3: The Brewster Track
The Brewster Track was my first South Island Tramp when I was 12 years old, since then I've done it a couple of times living in Wānaka, but it was great to zoom up there with out a heavy pack. We made good time getting up to the hut, (1hr 10) walking the whole way up, with a little hint of a run just above the bush line just for the camera...
Getting above the bushline was epic as usual, at that point there was no wind, and not a cloud in the sky, with epic views across to Mt Cross and down the Haast Valley towards the Landsborough.
Stage 4: Armstrong Summit
Brewstrong had many highlights, but the Armstrong Summit climb was a thing of absolute joy! We started on the Glacier track and veered off heading straight up to the summit.
I felt like a little kid playing around on the rocks and climbing up the hill. The rock was so grippy which made getting to the top heaps of fun, and really engaged the mind. After a few false summits, we made it to the top to be greeted by the most incredible view over into the Makarora Valley and out West was Mt Brewster looming above us.
I took the opportunity to whip my shoes off to cool them down, and stick some blister tape on my soft office working feet. Which I then followed with a couple of slices of Dominoes Pizza which went down a treat!
Stage 5: The scramble of scrambles
Coming off the top of Armstrong was epic. Steep cliffs and grippy rocks made it rather exciting. Laurie and Clare took the high line over the top to get onto the sidle section, I went low along side a permanent snow patch. Once we were on the sidle, we began our our ascent of Mt Kaye!
Stage 6: Mt Kaye
Getting up to Mt Kaye was very pleasant. A gentle climb up the ridge line, with hints of running across the short tussock and alpine moss made for quick travel to the summit. The view back along the ridge we had just come from, and onwards to Armstrong and Mt Brewster was the money view of the day!
We were eyeing up ways to get down to the upper Makarora for future trips, and decided it's good to go! That would be another good loop, running out the Makarora Valley to the Pass.
When we got to the summit of Mt Kaye, I finally got to lay eyes on what I felt like I'd promised Laurie and Clare when I was selling the idea of the trip to them... In front of us lay the most runnable 'hero angle' ridge one could imagine.
Stage 7: Hero angle
The promised section was upon us! Finding an off track ridge line as good as this, will make any mountain runners heart pound with excitement. 2.5 kilometres of free flowing 'hero angle' running was an incredible part of the day.
We had a gusty westerly on our backs as we skipped down the ridge, enjoying the alpine moss and pancake rocks to run along.
After taking a quick 5 minute stop in the sunshine for a snack and a chat, we continued on and ran past the Hawk Spur. From the top Hawk Spur we got a good look at a couple of optional routes down. We toyed with a few options and from a distance, we decided we'd take the closer spur to make our return to the car.
The spur we chose sat between Brodrick Stream and Hawk Spur.
(Photo below)
A view across the Makarora Valley to Mt Cross from where the route was initially conceived a year ago!
Stage 8: 'It goes'
After our few K's of hero angle running, we had to come to terms with the fact that it wouldn't last forever, and we had to figure out a way to get back to the car sooner than later! Between us and the car, were a couple of options, neither looked particularly inviting. But after having a look at the spur between Hawk Spur and Brodrick Stream, despite it looking pretty knifey, steep and with poor rock quality, Laurie said 'Yea it goes'. So away we went!
We began down climbing the steep spur and after a few hold your breath moments, we were through the worst of it and onto the next stage. This was definitely the most technical section of the route, and does requires focus.
On the way down, we spotted a deer at the bottom of the spur eyeing us up, probably thinking 'these amateurs with their two legs are making it look so hard!'.
Stage 9: Bush Bash Bosh
Stage 9 was a bit unknown. We knew we were into some bush bashing, but bush bashing can often be a bit of a spectrum. The density and type of bush has a direct correlation as to how much fun you have...
Before we started the alpine scrub section, Laurie and I put on our gaiters, and Clare put on her fancy 'bush bashing pants'. I've heard they cannot be ripped!?
The sub alpine shrub was niggly, but didn't last too long, and was relatively good under foot, and we always had then end in sight!
Once we got to the bushline, we were stoked to see how open it was! We made great time picking our way through the forest and eventually stumbling onto the Makarora gorge track about 100m away from our car at the Haast Pass!
Stage 10: The Brew!
Makarora pub you beauty!
This route definitely lived up to the hype I'd created in my head, and re ignited my fire for getting out on the tops and going light and fast. It's just good honest fun!
A good route is one thing, but a good crew is what makes it a great route! And that it was.