"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you" - Isaiah 55:12

24 April 2013

Peak Hill - 7 July 2012

Our 7yr old son Toby had been itching to go for a tramp for some time so with a week off work I had set aside a day to make it happen.
Peak Hill was chosen as our destination as it offered a moderate climb and stunning views of the beautiful Lake Coleridge area. Being the middle of winter and there being plenty of snow about, the summit wasn't going to be an option for us as it involves a climb of about 600m vertical ascent from the foot of the hill to its summit at 1260m. Our approach was to climb to the crest of the ridge, which would enable us to look out over the southern end of Lake Coleridge and across the Rakaia River to the Hutt Range and beyond - a scenic introduction to tramping for Toby I figured.

It was a perfect winter day, blue sky and little wind, making for an enjoyable drive through inland Canterbury, passing through farmland most of the way to the foot of the hill. A crisp frost lay underfoot still, the ground sheltered from the sun by the bulk of Peak Hill, a fact I'd overlooked when planning this trip and one that caused us a little difficulty as although my tramping boots provided me with sure footing on the slippery surface, Toby's sneakers had little tread so a few adventures were to be had.

We were ready to go just before 11am, so we set out across the gentle slopes that lead from the carpark to the base of the hill itself, a nice easy start to the day yet when we reached the top of the paddocks it was surprising how much height we had already gained. Even from this low vantage point a nice view across to Lake Coleridge was already on offer, with the promise of even grander vistas higher up. The route steepens now, with poles and a well worn foot trail marking the way ahead. This trail proved a little awkward for Toby as the compressed grass was frozen solid, essentially forming a layer of ice underfoot. Easy travel was found just to the side of the trail, it just meant we had to walk a little closer to the matagouri growing on the lower slopes which brings its own challenges as those who've experienced it will know. The route is easy enough to follow, albeit steep, as it climbs directly up the western face to the ridge that leads to the summit. About halfway up we encountered snow, soft and untouched, and in places around knee deep on me. Due to the issues Toby was having on the slippery trail, we opted to take a slightly off-route, more direct line up the slope, using the untouched snow to our advantage as it offered him more grip than the icy trail. While this approach was more difficult for me as I sank in with every step, Toby's weight meant he simply glided along on top of it. Good progress was made in this way until we reached the ridgeline at about the 1000m contour just before 1pm after 2 hours on the go.

Having already decided that with so much snow about that the summit wasn't an option today we found a nice sunny spot to eat lunch and take in the views. From Lake Coleridge and its surrounding peaks, round across the Rakaia to Steepface Hill and the Hutt Range, to Redcliff Saddle and Black Hill, the views were stunning. We ate lunch and took it all in, maps were read, photos taken, before the descent had to be made. I decided to lead us down a different spur than the one we came up, thinking that descending on the icy track would be somewhat perilous for Toby. This worked well as we bounded down more untouched snow, until he spotted the marker poles and really really wanted to follow them again. This forced a tricky sidle across uneven ground but wasn't too bad, certainly not as bad as working our way back down the proper trail. Every step had Toby slipping and almost falling, with several introductions to the dreaded spaniard so a new tactic was devised where i would take a big stride and plant my boot sideways so he could slide down the trail holding my hand until his feet hit the boot - unorthodox but it worked and we reached the lower slopes without serious incident. While I strolled slowly across the farm paddocks at tramps end, delaying our departure as long as possible to make the most of the majesty around us, Toby still had the energy to sprint to the car and was eagerly waiting for me so we could go - he had been promised the camera for the drive home!

A successful introduction to tramping for Toby, and he's been persistently asking when our next one is so it must have been a good day for him too.


Lollies in hand and all set to go - summit of Peak Hill in background

The first waypoint, and the end of the easy slopes - Lake Coleridge behind

Rest stop about halfway up - great views to be had

On top of the ridge, perfect spot for lunch - Black Hill (2067m) in the background

Enjoying lunch and the stunning scenery across Coleridge to the Big Ben Range

Rakaia River and the Black Hill Range

Redcliff Saddle, between the Hutt and Black Hill Ranges - Shingle Hill (1873m) just right of centre

Craigieburn Range - Mt Enys (2194m) at left, Porter Heights ski field on other side of the range

Still with energy to burn - a sprint to the car

Crown Copyright - Land Information NZ


Access: Take SH72 towards the Rakaia Gorge and follow road signs to Lake Coleridge and Algidus Rd. Peak Hill is signposted along the way, and there is a DOC signpost at the carpark area. Keep to the marked route, all surrounding areas are private land.

Time: 2hrs to the summit

Map: BW20 Lake Coleridge

Hut: None


10 April 2013

Hawdon Valley, Arthurs Pass National Park - 22-24 March 2013

Well, here we are again - another tramp, and another trip up the Hawdon Valley. It seems Hawdon Hut is almost becoming a second home, with this my third trip up this valley in less than 2 years. The point of difference this time was that we were taking a group of young lads (12-15yr olds) from Oxford ICONZ on what was for many of them their first tramping experience. Although not actually involved in the group myself, I was invited along as a leader, probably because I had tramping experience...and gear!

ICONZ is an adventure programme for boys in School Years 4-6 and 7-9 (2 separate groups, with girls groups running also now), and is a modernised version of Boys Brigade. Weekly sessions involve fun activities and games, with badges being earned along the way, and also a devotional time where the boys learn about the Christian faith.

As the tramp to Hawdon Hut is an easy 3 hour trip we had decided to extend the trip by driving up to the shelter at the start of the route on the Friday night and give the boys a night of camping either in or around the shelter before heading up-valley to the hut the next day. Our group of 11 (6 boys, 5 leaders...excellent ratios if anyone official decides to read this!) arrived at the shelter just as darkness was setting in. Excitement levels were high, food quickly appeared, and supper/dinner consumed by those of the insatiable type...or those who had just brought way too much food! Having surveyed the shelter, and decided sleeping on a concrete floor or wooden bench amongst a group of rowdy lads wasn't that appealing, I pitched my tent on the terrace behind the shelter, anticipating a night of bliss on what was shaping up as a clear, calm, mild night. Soon another tent was pitched, and a rough bush bivvy constructed in the trees, before we all sat with warm brews in our hands in front of the carefully controlled fire in the shelter's open fireplace. It was a superb night to be camping, with only the never-ending cries of two morepork providing any disturbance.

Saturday dawned cool but clear, although a glance further up the valley showed signs of some cloud building to the west. We were away surprisingly early, the boys were keen and ready to go, and we bolted out of the gates at around 8.50am. After about 5 minutes we got to the inevitable river crossing to start the tramp, still unavoidable despite the drought conditions. Two particularly keen lads decided that wet feet were the way to go, and spent the rest of the day finding ways to walk in the water rather than alongside it. Progress was initially quite slow as the boys got used to the fact that they had to carry all that food they'd brought with them on their backs! A few minor grumbles here or there, but for the most part they kept going - so long as there were rest stops every 20-30 minutes.

After about an hour (and 2 stops) we crossed over to the true left, finding the pleasant grass flats which lead to the forks with the East Hawdon Stream. Quick time was made here and we reached the East Hawdon around 10.45am, at which point we decided another rest was called for. The boys were keen to find out how far we'd come (or perhaps they were more interested in how far to go!), so maps were produced with pleasing results - about 5.5km behind us, only 3.5km to go.

Travel through the upper part of the route was straightforward, with the boys eager to reach the hut and drop their packs, so decent time was made. The old hut site was passed, and there was much excitement (and relief) to hear that it was only 15 minutes more to the new hut. Discovery Stream held merely a trickle of water so I had great pleasure in arriving at Hawdon Hut with dry feet, around 3 and a half hours after setting off. It wasn't long before lunch was devoured and the boys were off to explore the river, returning with satisfied grins having successfully dammed the river. We had the whole afternoon to fill in, and put forward the suggestion of tackling the uphill climb up to Walker Pass to experience how different weather conditions can be up on the tops (a nice strong wind was now blowing). This idea was met with such little enthusiasm that it was no point pressing the issue, so idea #2 was to build some shelters in the bush around the hut. This actually served a double purpose - as well as learning how to build such a shelter there was also the possibility of sleeping in them, as another large party had arrived at the hut making for a full house. As it turned out the boys were dead-set on sleeping in the hut, having commandeered a bunk-room for themselves, but 3 of us leaders found the idea of a night in the bush more appealing than a night in a crowded hut full of young lads, so we readied ourselves for a night in the open.

The rest of the afternoon was spent on a quick lesson in animal tracking from our resident hunter-gatherer Troy, and having the devotion down by the river - the story of Nicky Cruz is quite something!
It was late afternoon by this time, so we returned to the hut for dinner followed by the standard night of cards. Quite a rowdy bunch these boys, so it was enjoyable to escape outside to sleep.

A strong nor-wester blew through the night and into Sunday morning, bringing with it light drizzle at times, but  by the time we had packed up, cleaned the hut, and taken the obligatory group photo, things were looking brighter. Our tramp out was exceptional, lighter packs made for faster (and happier) travel, so quick in fact that we reached our intended lunch spot by 10.30am so carried on, stopping for lunch on grass flats just after crossing to the true right of the Hawdon. It hardly seemed worth stopping, but we had promised the boys that we'd be stopping for lunch so we made good on the promise, and it gave the opportunity to finish the devotion story. The half hour stop seemed to knock the stuffing out of some of the boys, as their bodies struggled to get going again despite being so close to the end, and the final leg of the tramp was a rather quiet one.

All in all a successful, enjoyable weekend away, and hopefully one that will be remembered fondly by all those involved.

Devotion time at the Hawdon shelter

About to set off up the Hawdon on Saturday morning

Rest stop early in the tramp, with the Hawdon River in low flow

Map reading during a well-earned rest stop just after crossing the East Hawdon Stream

Rougher terrain as we progress further up the Hawdon, with cloud building from the west

Leading the way through the upper Hawdon

Arrival at Hawdon Hut

Cards and candles - a common sight in backcountry huts

The group before departure from Hawdon Hut

Boys will be boys - exploring from the riverbed

Comfortable quarters for a night out in the bush

Scrog stop on our way back down the Hawdon

Nearly there! - crossing the flats in the lower reaches of the Hawdon Valley



Crown Copyright - Land Information NZ


Access: Take SH73 from Christchurch towards Arthurs Pass. Turn off the signposted exit to Mt White and follow the road to the Hawdon shelter.

Time: 3hrs to Hawdon Hut

Map: BV21 Cass

Hut: Hawdon (20 bunks)