After spending so much time in Arthur’s Pass, I thought it be time for a change in scenery. Lewis Pass. An area in which I have spent many days and nights in but seldom ventured to the tops.
I had a big day on the cards. Two peaks in one day. Travers Peak (1,724m) and Faust (1,710m).
An early morning saw me beat all traffic on the roads and pulling up to the base of Travers Peak at 8:30am.
There was some low hanging cloud obscuring the high peaks of the Pass. With it came high humidity which made me rather damp on my climb up.
Fast progress saw me break out the bushline in under an hour to where I was met with a cool breeze. With the low cloud still hanging around, visibility soon dropped to 50 meters and the moisture of the cloud, i was soon rather damp.
I reached the top, although I had to check on the GPS as visibility was next to none. It’s glad to know the skills I was taught during my degree are still there as I was bang on the money.
I did not spend much time up there but rather made haste back down below the clouds to a small knob just above the bushline. It was a good place to have a quick feed and enjoy the view as some of the cloud lifting giving glimpses of jagged ridgelines and big basins.
Back at the car, I stripped off to try and dry some of my kit before heading down to Boyle Village. What a mistake that was. Within minutes I was swarmed by sandflies so I packed my gear and drove off to Boyle Village.
It’s amazing what a few kilometers difference makes in the New Zealand backcountry.
In stark contrast, Boyle Village was basked in sunshine with bugger all clouds and no wind.
I sat in the car enjoying lunch before getting out and tackling the sandflies.
Now, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
The trail for Faust starts on the other side of the Boyle River from where I parked. There is a traffic bridge in which I could’ve crossed for the expense of a 15 minute detour. I decided that having crossed the River before without getting wet feet I should be fine to do so again….how wrong I was.
A broke the river down into 3rds. The 1st and last 3rd looked shallow and easily manageable. The middle 3rd was where I expected to get into deeper water but nothing that should get me wet feet. Well, 4 steps into that middle 3rd, I find a hole and got thigh deep in the river. Less than ideal as I now have a 4-5 hour journey with wet feet and for those of you who know me, I hate having wet feet while tramping.
Anyway, I had a peak to summit, so off I went. The climb was as brutal as I last remembered it to be. The most frustrating thing was it had obviously not be walked or maintained for a while so for an entire hour I was walking through spiderwebs. I would walk, go through a web, wipe it off my face then go through another. It was like this the entire way up. I could not tell you how stoked I was to have reached the bushline.
The open tops were bathed in sunlight with a slight breeze bringing the temp down. As long as I kept moving I stayed at a good body temperature.
From the bushline to the main ridge there was orange pole markers sporadically placed but once you get to the first group of turns they stop. From here on it was off track ridge walking to Faust.
I made good time and found myself on top of Faust just after 2pm.
The obligatory photos were taken and I made my way back down to a small saddle I had passed through. I found a stunning patch of land, in full sun, out of the wind to which I removed my boots and socks, and lay down enjoying the sunshine.
Although I may not enjoy wet feet, the Meindl Islands had impressed me with their absolute comfort and support even when wet. I had no rubbing, no hot spots, nothing. I cannot commend these boots more. They are outstanding.
After exceeding my daily vitamin D intake, I donned my boots and made for the car. Perched just below Faust is a number of alpine tarns (small lakes). On my way down the light had hit them in such a way that they were a deep blue in contrast to the yellow tussocks that surrounded them. One of those moments where you realise just what you’re doing is epic.
The descent was uneventful, and upon reaching the flats I opted for the longer, drier route to the car. I wasn’t all too keen to have wet boots in the back for the drive home.
#31 Travers Peak – 1,724 meters, 7.8km, 2 hours 30 minutes.
#32 Faust – 1,710 meters, 13km, 4 hours 30 minutes.
A big day in the books. It may be a few weeks before I head back out thanks to NZ Open and National Champs being held at the Park. Of which will keep me rather occupied!
Till next time,
Cam.