Gobsmacking Gertrude

This route is not for the faint of heart and is a true alpine run/ scramble, and should be approached with the requisite experience, confidence, and only undertaken in favourable summer weather patterns. There have been fatalities by inexperienced people who underestimate Fiordland terrain and weather conditions. Pack and plan accordingly! Do not run an attempt in winter or autumn/spring-like snow conditions! Having said all that, in good weather most experienced Wild Things will have a ball here.

The route heads out from the Homer Hut area from the signposted entrance beside the highway, and hops up through alpine scrub, herbfields and large boulders. Reasonably runnable in here for the nimble of feet. As the valley closes in it steepens rapidly. Make sure you are following the fairly heavily marked route (poles, orange markers and cairns). Once clear of the vegetation zone the real fun starts. Steep terrain follows - rocky slabs, tiptoeing around bluffs and waterfalls, permanent steel ropes to assist (nothing technical, just to help) and more steep ascending will eventually head up to Gertrude Saddle, where you will gape at the views (which you will have because you only attempted this in good weather!) Some say this is the best daytrip view in NZ, it certainly has to be a contender).

The crux of this route is going the right way around the waterfall as you ascend under bluffs below the Black Lake outlet. Do not miss the river crossing under the waterfall, marked with large orange triangles - especially coming back on the downhill. It may be helpful to familiarize yourself with the DOC video on their website about how to pick the correct route. No other route is safe on this section Above the waterfall area sidle scree and rocks and head up the classic Fiordland angled granite rock slabs following cairns and more orange triangles. Take care on any wet areas, it can be slippery. Then you'll reach Black Lake which is a great spot to catch breath and fuel up, before the last few scrambles and rocky bits up to Gertrude Saddle. Here you will find a world of goodness.

A short distance to the right (north) of the saddle there's an easy extra 50m bit of vert where your view of Milford Sound will be even better, but please do not be tempted to go further in either direction from Gertrude Saddle as this is mountaineering / climbing country beyond.