For years I’ve been wanting to walk the Mt Somers loop track but I just never got around to it, up to yesterday that is when I started the track. I walked the track anti-clockwise. This is the bridge over the stream coming from the Sharplin Falls
The first part of the track was steep and through forest, here I am finally out of the forest, at Duke Knob, looking towards Staveley Hill
Soon I’m back in the forest again, following the Bowyers Stream upstream
It’s a lovely stretch of forest though and the stream is really clear
There’s the odd bridge to cross
A waterfall
At least walking in the forest keeps me cool a bit, it’s a very warm day
The second time I finally get out of the forest, Pinnacles Hut is in view a little higher
At Pinnacles Hut
Inside Pinnacles Hut
The view from the hut
The pinnacles that give the hut its name
Since I’ve still got hours of sunlight left I decide not to stay at Pinnacles Hut but continue to Woolshed Creek Hut. Looking north is the Winterslow Range
Lots of pinnacles further west of Pinnacles Hut
Walking up to a saddle, this is the view looking back towards the Canterbury Plains
Some people walk up along this slope to get to the summit of Mt Somers, looks very steep
Winterslow Range again
To the west some great clouds are drifting in, it will have been great for gliding
Mt Somers Range coming into view
Past the saddle and descending towards the west
This area is truly stunning
Lovely colours
Impressive rock formations
I did not expect such beautiful scenery at Mt Somers!
If I had more time I’d climb up there to take some more photos
But it’s getting later and more clouds are slowly drifting in
I’m lucky to be here at this time of day and with a nicely clouded sky
The Morgan Stream
Face on the right
Sun in the ideal spot
I could be tempted to go skinny dipping here
Shadows are getting longer
And clouds from the east starting to drift in now
I checked out the hut but there’s a warden 🙁 and it’s too busy, so I’ll be camping, this looks like the perfect spot for it!
Me and my trusted Freedom Camping/Zempire Mono tent
You can’t beat that view, shortly after this photo I had my dinner and went straight to bed
This morning, I am greeted by beautiful weather
This whole area makes me think of scenes from American Western movies
Another bridge and many many hours of walking still ahead
As usual DOC is terrible with their signage so sometimes you walk in the wrong direction for a while but occasionally it at least brings you to a beautiful spot, like here
Not sure what the green stuff is but the colour is nice
A little waterfall and a pool worthy of a swim, but not this time
Another waterfall
Looking back to the north-west, Mt Somers Range Straight ahead, Potts/Arrowsmith Range in the far distance
The Bus Stop Overhang
Yes, Bus Stop
Looking back to Potts/Arrowsmith Range again
Today is an incredibly warm day (37 degrees in Christchurch) and here I am, walking in the blazing sun, luckily there’s a decent breeze
Looking back towards the Bus Stop
2 hours later, I drank 6 liters of water already and am now out of water, I need to find a stream somewhere. The track goes straight ahead towards the saddle underneath that cloud. In this heat it’s not much fun constantly having to walk up
Acland Shelter
When I finally made it to the Mt Somers Summit Track I decided to abandon my initial plan to camp here and go to the summit tomorrow as I have not found any stream to get new water, what remains is another 2.5 hours of walking, luckily it’s downhill from here!
Looking south-west towards the Moorhouse Range and Tara Haoa Range in the distance
The Mt Somers Summit Track, steep, maybe another time
Very strong wind now, it’s pushing me down the mountain, I’m glad I was finally able to do this track, though especially today was pretty exhausting
Map and height profile of the track, the first part yesterday was 11.4 km, today I walked 13.3 km (with about 20kg on my back)
Hey Ed, hoeveel km was deze tocht? En waarom stond er een warden bij die hut, zodat je er niet in kon? Is dat een plisiewout ofzo? Want je wordt gezocht waarschijnlijk?? ;P
Heb de afstanden toegevoegd bij de map onderaan. De warden is er om de boekingen te controleren en hut-tickets van je af te pakken. Ik had geen van beide bij mij. Ik geef de voorkeur aan hutten zonder toezicht, meer gevoel van vrijheid en geen betutteling. Ik word altijd gezocht; vrouwen die met me op de foto willen, handtekeningen eisen etc., je kent het wel.