Grampians- Aug 25th

With a few members new and old expressing interest in advance, there weather was optimistically forecasted to be ‘okay’ and the rain to hold off.  As we arrived at the top of the Hakataramea Pass at 8:30, the wind was very much in evidence but we pushed through that and set off just before 9am up the spur leading from the cattle grid following the fenceline.

Wind carried on blasting us from the side as we made our way up, stopping occasionally behind the rocks for shelter. Around the 1300m mark there quite a few wilding pines – a job for another tramp in the future?

When we reached the first of the snow fields at approx 1600m, the wind dropped significantly and plans of retreating were put away.  The snow was in very good condition, not much post-holing, and good grip with a combo of normal boots and walking poles.

Quite a lot of snow at the top (point 1901 on map) and was great to be up in that different environment. Down and up the saddle to the highest point “Black Rocks”.  After a quick stop for lunch we aimed down the ridge to the east, to intersect with the farm track.  Some  bum sliding on theh snow to speed the descent where possible! at approx 1150m left the track to take a shortcut back to cars – down by 2:30pm.  Everyone enjoyed the trip and made better by the persistent rain almost the whole way back to Oamaru whilst we avoided all the bad weather until then.