Kakanui Peak

Sunday the 15th May 2016

Seven of us meet at the car park at 7am on a cool and cloudy morning. The forecasts were for cloud in the morning and a wee bit of a shower in the afternoon. We all headed off with three more getting picked up on the way so by the time we regrouped in Palmerston our group of trampers was now eleven.

We drove through the Pigroot to the last crossing of the Shag River, just pass the Red Cutting Summit to park up in a clear area just off the road. I had decided that on this trip we would go up the ridge to the East and come down the leading ridge in the afternoon.

So at about 8.45am we headed off through the gate and followed the Shag stream to the start of a 4WD track that lead up the ridge. The track took us steadily up the ridge with the wind picking up a bit but with good views.

After about two hours we came across an old Skifield with an old ski hut, looking rather worse for wear and far from weatherproof, but still holding a number of old skis, old boots and a control box for the ski tow. Outside lay some old nutcracker belts and the ski rope lay along the line of the tow. We had morning tea here and had a good look around.

The wind was starting to get quite strong and cool, so off we headed following the old tow line to past a knob marking its top stanchion and up to a saddle which opened up some stunning views of Mt Dasher, Obi, Kattothyst and the Hectors Plateau. Just below the summit the wind dropped and it was quite pleasant till I took a look at our last 300m climb to the top.

We had to slog it through some very thick snow tussock with no animal tracks to follow but about 100m out it thinned out and the ground became rockier. The lower summit was passed and at 12.15pm we were on the top summit getting blown off.

Some photo’s were quickly taken at summit rock and then it was off to the side to find a tussock to hind behind to have lunch. John bought the record jar down from summit rock to have a look that it. Apart from the Wednesday Walkers it had been along time since the Tramping Club had been there. The records did show that a couple of our group had spent alot off time up there before, Linda and John. Lunch was had and we were starting to get cold so we signed the book, put it back on the summit and started to descent down the leading ridge.

The first part down was over stable scree and rock with a fierce westerly wind. Half of the way down was over tussocky ridges and humps to finally meet up with a 4WD track that took us down the ridge and over the shag creek and back to the cars, reaching them at about 2.45pm. The weather had held off with the sun trying to come out on our way down but it was very windy on top. It was an enjoyable day, with great views and great company.

Thanks to Maurice, Phyllis, Kate, Noel, Linda, Anna, Uwe, John, Jane and George on his first trip with the club. Neville