Mount Earnslaw / Pikirakatahi

• Earnslaw Burn Track: A demanding, Advanced tramping route from Lovers Leap Road that works through tangled forest before bursting into a broad grassy valley under the icefall. DOC suggests 4–6 hours to the bushline viewpoint; allow roughly another 2 hours to reach the glacier flats, and 10–14 hours total for fit day parties in good summer conditions. Expect roots, slips, steep gullies, and very slow travel when wet. There’s small roadside parking and no toilets at the start.
• Mountaineering: The standard ascent targets the higher East Peak via Rees Valley → Kea Basin → Birley Glacier → Wright Col. The slightly lower West Peak is trickier; the East-to-West traverse is a classic. Typical trips run 3–4 days in stable summer weather, with Earnslaw Hut (basic) and the Esquilant Bivvy providing simple shelter options.

Unbridged crossings, slips, avalanche terrain (seasonal), exposure, and rapidly changing weather define this area. Helicopters regularly visit the glacier—expect noise and occasional downdrafts near the head of the valley. Camping is prohibited on Earnslaw Station private land beyond the forest edge; legal camping is limited to public conservation land near the bush edge/rock biv. There are no toilets on the Earnslaw Burn Track—practice strict Leave No Trace and pack out all waste.

• Earnslaw Hut: Rustic DOC hut below treeline.
• Kea Basin rock bivvies: Simple shelter just above the bushline.
• Esquilant Bivvy (~2,150 m): Near Wright Col, used for summit pushes.