With it being cup and show week here in Christchurch I thought it be only fitting to go out and get a Trifecta of my own!
I had been eyeing up this particular route for some time now. Having summited Mt Cloudsley (2,107m) earlier in the year I knew what I was in store for. It was just the journey across to Mt Enys (2,194m) that I had not yet traveled on.
The weather was looking in my favour with low clouds and cooler temperatures. What I did not foresee however, was how low the clouds were. Not long after 1000m elevation I broke through the clouds to a stunning blanket strewn throughout the valley.
Having worn pants, little seeds of regret started to develop with the full force of the sun beating down.
After a two and a half hour slog I reached the top of Cloudsley for a well earned rest and food break.
The journey across the ridgeline was undulating with steep pitches often covered in snow. I was rather pleased it wasn’t iceier nor more snow than what there was.
With a final steep pinch across a snow field I had reached the top of Enys and oh what a view!! Absolutely stunning! Mt Enys is the highest peak in the Craigieburn Range with the next closest tops being in the heart of the Southern Alps.
I had a solid lay down at the summit and replenished my energy levels before back tracking to Cloudsley and down Long Ridge.
Part way down Long Ridge I peeled off to the South-East and descended down a steep ridge. From here I climbed back up to the top of Leith Hill (1,384m). A shadow dwarfed by what I had previously summited but a peak to bag none the less!
The legs by this stage were definitely asking for a break. I had to keep on pushing to reach the summit then descend my way back to the car. My water and food levels were well managed and I aimed to stop for a lie down after I got out of the sun(the first time in a LONG time!) and into the track in the trees. However, between me and the shade was an epic descent. And I mean epic!
Dropping off to the East/North-East of Leith Hill I came across a large and STEEP shingle scree that had my name written all over it!
I began to bounce my way down and the further I dropped the more the shingle started to shift and before I knew it I was sliding on a river of shingle. There was shingle behind me rolling and more in front of me moving. I was like a kid in a candy store.
After finally making it to the bottom I meandered to the forest edge then lay down in the shade and finished my supplies of food and water.
The final piece was to drop down through the tress and back to the car.
7 hours and 43 minutes covering 21.2km and over 2,000 meters of vertical climbing. It was safe to say my legs were cooked!!
#17 Mt Cloudsley – 2107m, 21.2km, 7 hours 43 min
#18 Mt Enys – 2194m, 21.2km, 7 hours 43 min
#19 Leith Hill – 1384m, 21.2km, 7 hours 43 min
Time to recover then find the next one to tick off.