Throughout this challenge I have obviously spent a lot of time on ridges. Today’s efforts involved climbing a ridge 600 meters from the car, of which, the ridge seemed to be never ending.
The target, Mt Benmore (1,655m). My previously attempted and failed peak. Today, was not going to be a failure.
I left Christchurch under low cloud and drizzle which didn’t subside until the top of Porters Pass. As I turned off the main road at Lake Lyndon, I had left all cloud cover behind me. Today was going to be great.
I parked up in the same spot as last time but this time changed my tactic and chose to head up the left ridge. The one closest to the car and what would take me in a clockwise direction to the peak of Mt Benmore.
As you could probably tell by now, I am a sucker for steep terrain. Well, that’s exactly what I got.
Things started off slow and steep as I woke my legs up. Gradually I was gaining altitude and after 40 minutes the gradient eased and I came across a track!
There are no marked tracks in the area on any maps but thanks to a number of mountain bikers, they have cleared and built a track they can ride down. I’m not sure if I’d be so inclined to carry my bike up this hill but, each to their own.
After cresting one rise, the landscape opened up and the route all the way to Mt Benmore could be seen. Although this peak isn’t one of my tallest, it definitely was beginning to feel like one of my longer ones in regards to distance.
However, long as it may be one should never complain and about being in country like this.
Rolling hills, yellow brown tussocks waving in the wind, rocky pinnacles and pockets of beech forest. Not bad at all.
Close to the summit there is a saddle which drops off steeply then rises back again just as steep on the otherside. Again, Dad always seems to have impeccable timing to give me a call and see how I’m getting on.
After a quick stop it was the last push up to the summit.
Another one ticked off!
I was a bit hungry by this stage so I dropped off the ridge and found a nice rock with my name on it.
Sometime later, I began to feel myself burning so lunch was called to an end. Now began the fun part…the descent!
I had previously scoped out a spur in which to descend. It was further around the main ridgeline from the summit and dropped off steeply into the riverbed in which Charlie and I walked up in our first attempt.
It was steep and a bit slow going based on the fact that there was no clear path down through the long tussocks and patches of scree.
I did manage on one of the small screens patches, to slide out and fall onto my walking pole. The pole hit breaking point and snapped in half as a result. Less than ideal.
I sat down trying to make the pole smaller but to no avail. It got strapped to the pack and then proceeded to get caught up every bush I had to navigate through.
Finally reaching the riverbed, I refilled my water stocks and took 10 minutes to enjoy the shade and cooler temperatures of the valley.
From here, it was familiar territory and easy going hammering down the river back to the car.
Another good day in the books.
#27 Mt Benmore – 1,655m, 15.2km, 5 hours 25 minutes
Craigieburn Enduro on Sunday then a few admin things next week so I may take a week off and catch up on some sleep!
Till next time,
Cam.