{"id":8968,"date":"2021-01-26T23:59:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edwinov.com\/edwininnz\/?p=8968"},"modified":"2026-03-31T19:11:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:11:34","slug":"mt-somers-loop-track","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edwinov.com\/edwininnz\/2021\/01\/mt-somers-loop-track\/","title":{"rendered":"Mt Somers Loop Track"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For years I’ve been wanting to walk the Mt Somers loop track<\/a> 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<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/p><\/div>\n

Soon I’m back in the forest again, following the Bowyers Stream upstream<\/p><\/div>\n

It’s a lovely stretch of forest though and the stream is really clear<\/p><\/div>\n

There’s the odd bridge to cross<\/p><\/div>\n

A waterfall<\/p><\/div>\n

At least walking in the forest keeps me cool a bit, it’s a very warm day<\/p><\/div>\n

The second time I finally get out of the forest, Pinnacles Hut is in view a little higher<\/p><\/div>\n

At Pinnacles Hut<\/p><\/div>\n

Inside Pinnacles Hut<\/p><\/div>\n

The view from the hut<\/p><\/div>\n

The pinnacles that give the hut its name<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/p><\/div>\n

Lots of pinnacles further west of Pinnacles Hut<\/p><\/div>\n

Walking up to a saddle, this is the view looking back towards the Canterbury Plains<\/p><\/div>\n

Some people walk up along this slope to get to the summit of Mt Somers, looks very steep<\/p><\/div>\n

Winterslow Range again<\/p><\/div>\n

To the west some great clouds are drifting in, it will have been great for gliding<\/p><\/div>\n

Mt Somers Range coming into view<\/p><\/div>\n

Past the saddle and descending towards the west<\/p><\/div>\n

This area is truly stunning<\/p><\/div>\n

Lovely colours<\/p><\/div>\n

Impressive rock formations<\/p><\/div>\n

I did not expect such beautiful scenery at Mt Somers!<\/p><\/div>\n

If I had more time I’d climb up there to take some more photos<\/p><\/div>\n

But it’s getting later and more clouds are slowly drifting in<\/p><\/div>\n

I’m lucky to be here at this time of day and with a nicely clouded sky<\/p><\/div>\n

The Morgan Stream<\/p><\/div>\n

Face on the right<\/p><\/div>\n

Sun in the ideal spot<\/p><\/div>\n

I could be tempted to go skinny dipping here<\/p><\/div>\n

Shadows are getting longer<\/p><\/div>\n

And clouds from the east starting to drift in now<\/p><\/div>\n

I checked out the hut but there’s a warden \ud83d\ude41 and it’s too busy, so I’ll be camping, this looks like the perfect spot for it!<\/p><\/div>\n

Me and my trusted Freedom Camping\/Zempire Mono<\/a> tent<\/p><\/div>\n

You can’t beat that view, shortly after this photo I had my dinner and went straight to bed<\/p><\/div>\n

This morning, I am greeted by beautiful weather<\/p><\/div>\n

The Woolshed Creek Hut<\/a> that for some stupid reason you have to book online<\/p><\/div>\n

This whole area makes me think of scenes from American Western movies<\/p><\/div>\n

Another bridge and many many hours of walking still ahead<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/p><\/div>\n

Not sure what the green stuff is but the colour is nice<\/p><\/div>\n

A little waterfall and a pool worthy of a swim, but not this time<\/p><\/div>\n

Another waterfall<\/p><\/div>\n

Looking back to the north-west, Mt Somers Range Straight ahead, Potts\/Arrowsmith Range in the far distance<\/p><\/div>\n

The Bus Stop Overhang<\/p><\/div>\n

Yes, Bus Stop<\/p><\/div>\n

Looking back to Potts\/Arrowsmith Range again<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/p><\/div>\n

Looking back towards the Bus Stop<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/p><\/div>\n

Acland Shelter<\/p><\/div>\n

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!<\/p><\/div>\n

Looking south-west towards the Moorhouse Range and Tara Haoa Range in the distance<\/p><\/div>\n

The Mt Somers Summit Track, steep, maybe another time<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/p><\/div>\n

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)<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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