Fog Peak - Mount Aspiring National Park & Weekend Fun

October 25, 2014

Spring is now in full swing here in Wanaka, but plenty of snow still covers the tops of the mountains so what better time than Labour Weekend to go climb some. We've had a few clear nights so I knew that early snow conditions would be perfect for a quick accent up Fog Peak, before the afternoon sun hits the slopes. At 6:30am I set off for the drive up the valley to Raspberry Flat Carpark where I assessed the climb, concluding with 'feck thats steep'. Off I went, being careful not to disturb the sheep since its lambing season, for the 1842m incline of steep leg busting slopes. Route finding is fairly simple, I followed the obvious ridges and rib lines until finally reaching the snowline where I traversed the flatter ground towards the base of the summit ridge. After a wee break amongst the footsteps of helicopter snow landings I put on my crampons and set off up the summit ridge. The snow was perfect but would soon soften under the sun, so I quickly climbed up the 2225m Peak. On the summit I check my watch and had somehow managed to climb from the car park to the top in 4.5 hours, I felt like Ueli Steck after he free climbed the North Face of the Eiger. Haha. The summit was spectacular, some of the best views I've seen from a NZ mountain, I could see deep into the Southern Alps and right down into Wanaka. What a Spot! I wasn't on the summit for long, the wind was picking up and the forecasted weather was rolling in from the West. So off I went following the same route back. Crew: Lee. 8 hours return. 25th October 2014.

I climbed Fog Peak on the Saturday, I still had two more days left of the long bank holiday weekend. Heres some footage from my new GoPro Hero 4 over the 'One Long Weekend'

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXjGTYMFETI&w=560&h=315]

Sentinel Peak - Hawea Conservation Park

February 22, 2014

Sentinel Peak towers out from 'The Neck', a strip of land that separates Lake Wanaka from Lake Hawea. The track starts from the well known Kidds Bush campsite and weaves up through the Beech Forest and before you know it your eyes are opened up by the vivid views down to Lake Hawea.

From here the official track heads right towards the Sawyer Burn Hut and onto Sentinel Peak if you wish but a more direct route can be taken if you stick to the immediate ridge line and following it all the way to the summit. A few of the rock ridges are impassable so a sidle around the back of them is necessary, approach these with caution.

Access up onto Sentinel Peak may seem difficult from a distance but as you draw nearer the first or second gully are the obvious access points. A great route that surprisingly only took 4 hours to reach the summit. Our descent back down via Sawyer Burn Hut took abit longer than expected...we couldn't find the bloody thing! Crew: Lee & Simon. 7-8 hour return. 22nd February 2014

Whos that behind me...oh yeah, its Simon!

Waitaha River - Morgan Gorge Hidden Hot Pool

February 7, 2014

My mission was to find the hidden hot pool in the Morgan Gorge, which has always been in the back of my mind after seeing it in Wilderness Magazine when first arriving in New Zealand. Before heading out I gathered as much information as I could from the web, after all these hotpools are hidden and would require a wee sense of adventure to reach them. To reach the Hotpool: Follow the DOC track at the end of Waitaha Road heading towards Kiwi Flat, after about 2 hours the track reaches a calm flat pool and heads up into the bush, this is the point you leave the track and limber up for your swim across to the other side...boy its fresh! Once on the otherside, boulder hop up the river eventually reaching the mouth of the Morgan Gorge, from here follow the side stream to find a faintly marked track up and around the gorge. Keep your eye out for markers, the track is very over grown. Once you reach the third stream/large obvious slip head down to the edge of the gorge where you will see and smell the hotpool. Carefully scramble down to access the lower tier of the gorge and enjoy the pool

Crew: Lee. 5-6 hour return. 7th February 2014

Black Peak - Black Peak Conservation Area

February 2, 2014

Black Peak stands proud on the horizon when you cast your eyes across Lake Wanaka. Its been on the cards for while, we initially looked at heading directly up from the valley floor but boy does it look steep! So the far better option was to follow the ridge from Treble Cone, much better than the hellish crawl up from the valley. We reached the top of Treble Cone, only be confronted by limited views...Black Peak couldn't be seen...this later turned out to be a God send, ours hearts might have sunk if we could see the finish point so far away! The route is generally steady with a wee path along sections, and the odd scree slope to tackle. We crossed over to the West Ridge to gain easier access to Black Peak summit. The summit was covered in cloud initially, but after some dry noodles the cloud opened to show Wanaka down below. Crew: Lee, Simon & Luke. 11.5 hour return. 1st February 2014.

Well done, your doing really really well

Luke trying to find a suitable rolling rock!

A slight break in the Cloud, view down to Wanaka

Thank god we could't see Black Peak from the start

Aspiring Flats/Kitchener River - Mount Aspiring National Park

December 30, 2013

Plenty of vehicles were heading into the National Park, after all its the Christmas holidays and everybody was heading for Rob Roy Glacier, but I had a secret weapon...a Toyota Hilux! Not many rental cars can cross thigh deep water, but my baby can! So into the river we went and out the other side to be confronted by, well nobody! We drove towards the bushline, saving ourselves the hours walk in, where our trek began up the Matukituki River East Branch at Glacier Burn. The track is alittle hands on in places and weaves to and from the river, which has to be one of the most picturesque rivers in area. Reaching Junction Flat in 2 hours we took a slight detour to the wire bridge and then continued onto Aspiring Flats, where our efforts were generously rewarded. Amazing spot! We donned our 'aqua boots' and waded further up the Flats towards Turnbull Thomson Falls, before making a rapid return back to the truck and across the river. Crew: Lee & Simon. 7 hours return. 29th December 2013

Corner Peak - Hawea Conservation Area

November 23, 2013

I've been meaning to do this peak for sometime and its clear why when you stare at the peak from the otherside of the Lake, its such a stunning ridge line and you can't help but feel drawn towards it. The route starts along the Timaru High River Track until your faced with a sign stating the severity of the route. From this point the route begins, in typical Southern Alps style of course...up a very steep long tussock slope! Eventually the ridge is reached and your destination, Corner Peak towers in the distance. From here its actually possible to miss the majority of the tricky scrambling, if you follow the poled markers but wheres the fun in that! So we stuck to the ridge all the way to the summit enjoying the few tricky exposed sections. Brilliant route and excellent scramble. Lee & Simon. 8 Hour return. 23rd November 2013

Isthmus Peak - Matatiaho Conservation Area

August 10, 2013

Isthmus Peak stands between Lake Hawea and Wanaka, offering a steady days hike to the 1386m summit and rewarding views across both lakes. The usual route follows Glen Dene Ridge Track to join the well formed farm track all the way to the summit. I opted for a slight variation up one of the striking ridge lines turning the tramp into a hands on scramble with several exposed sections adding to the excitement. Lee. 5hr Return trip. 10th August 2013

Grandview Mountain - Grandview Creek Conservation Area

August 3, 2013

A gloomy day but no excuse to take a hike up one of the local hills in Hawea. The tramp starts at the end of Nook Rd, just past the now sadly closed Nook Garden Nursery. Following the Grandview creek the steady going farm track passes through shrub and pastrol lands until the upper tussocklands are reached and Grandview Mountain comes into view. After weaving round the farm track a quick hop over the fence leads for a direct finish upto Grandview Mountain at 1398m. On a sunny day i'm sure 'Grandviews' can be seen for miles, but with snow in the air my views were limited to grandcloudy tops! Instead of retracing steps I opted for the path down through the lands owned by Lake Hawea Station, i didn't think they'd mind...afterall the station is managed by a generation of Rowley's! Crew: Lee. 4hr return. 3rd August 2013.

Fellow Rowley's living on the door step!

Gillespie Pass Circuit - Mount Aspiring National Park

March 31, 2013

The weather wasn't looking brill but we decided to make the most of the Easter break and head out to walk the Gillespie Pass track, an excellent 58km, three day round trip through river valleys, native forests and spectacular mountain scenery. There are numerous huts to stay at along the way such as Young and Siberia Huts but, even with the iffy weather, we decided to camp out.

We left Makarora mid morning, leaving the car in the 'Trampers Car Park' opposite the visitor centre. It took us 1 hour from the visitor centre to reach the start of the track after crossing the Makarora River. The walk up the Young valley is well trodden with a few steep sections, after 5 hours we reached the Young hut, a quick water stop we carried on for another hour to reach our camping spot at the head of the Young Valley, a stunning basin surrounded by towering rock faces.

After a wet night we awoke to waterfalls plummeting down from the tops of the basin, a great backdrop as we ate breakfast. We climbed the steep pass eventually reaching the saddle, unfortunately we were not rewarded with spectacular view as far as the eye could see but rather dramatic misty mountain top. We continued down the other side to reach the pleasant flats of the Siberia Valley and eventually Siberia hut 5 hours after leaving camp.

By this point we had decided to walk out rather than spend another night in the incoming bad weather, we knew we were in for a long day the walk out down the Wilkin River took 5 hours from Siberia Hut, thankfully we skipped alot of the rough track through the lower valley forest by walking along the river bed.

By the time we reached the Makarora river the light was fading but we managed to cross in the nick of time. Emma stayed put while I took the 4.5km jog in the dark with soggy boots to the car. Lee & Emma. 30th-31st March 2013.

Wilkin Valley. This is the Jet boat drop off/Pick up point

End of a long day. We could hardly walk once we got home

Birchwood Road 4WD & Canyon Creek Track - Ahuriri Conservation Park

March 16, 2013

Birchwood Road is a straight forward gravel track up the Ahuriri Valley, the first 21Km to the Park Boundary is easy 2WD access from this point a sign states the road as being 4WD. Although a little more rutted its still a straight forward track with a few ford and landslip crossings. 1 hour. 34km

From the road end I followed the walking track up over Canyon Creek through the beech forests and to the upper valley waterfalls, along the way I explored Canyon Creek for a possible future descent. 3-4h return. 16th March 2013