Adamsons Peak

Saturday 21st December 2013

Adamsons Peak

The weather forecast for today looked promising so I decided on Adamsons Peak because I did not want to walk up there and have no views. As it turned out it was a perfect day.
To get to the start of the walk, drive down to Strathblane and just south of there turn right into either Creekton road or a little further on Darcy Link Road and drive to the start point which is clearly signed.
I set off walking just after 0700 on duck boards until the end of the Tramway track and then onto the walk proper. Basically, the walk is a steady climb from 160 metres to 1230 metres, mostly ascending all the time and there are no views until about 800 metres.

Walking Track

The first section of track follows the path that was used as a tramway for hauling logs and many of the large logs are still in existence and form part of the walking track. The track has had no recent maintenance and there are a few logs to climb over or under and some trees have come down across the track but nothing too bad.
After climbing for about 2 kms. I reached Manuka Flat where it was boggy in places and then carried on to about the 800 metre level where the first views appeared. This was a good place to stop for a bite to eat and a welcomed rest stop. This was just before the turn to the hut and my intention was to bypass the hut on the way up and visit it on the way down. I did this and followed a pad across the moor until it seemed to disappear and then scrub bashed back to the main track. It was quite wet in this area and I consequently ended up with very muddy boots and gaiters. After crossing the moor the track climbed steadily up the ridge and then around the side of it before coming out on a rocky crest.

Small tarns seen from the ascent ridge

There were some small tarns on the moor that would be a good source of water. The track crossed the crest and then went down slightly before the final ascent to the summit. This last part of the walk was mainly rock hopping and following the occasional cairns, but the route was obvious.
It took me 4 hours to reach the summit(probably quite slow really, but then again, I am not as young as I once was.) The views were great and I hung around at the summit for about 25 minutes just looking all around. The mountains one can see are too numerous to mention and the views to the coast were also grand. While I was here I had some lunch and then began the descent. I walked back via the "hut", which consists mainly of a stone wall and no roof, which would provide some shelter from the wind, but that is all.
I finally arrived back at the car after three and a half hours and was rather glad to finally get there.
Overall, a good walk although I found it quite tiring.
Distance: 14.9 kms.
Time: 7'59""
Ascent: 1150 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Interesting Fungi

The final ascent

From the summit

From the summit

From the summit

From the summit

From the summit

Summit Cairn

The "Hut" with Adamsons Peak in background