I am new to the Nelson area and it was my first time to the Cobb Valley. I was suitably impressed. Such dramatic scenery with relatively easy car access. After a night in the Trilobite hut, (with a game or two of Monopoly deal – the card version) and a frosty start in the morning, the team set out to plod up to Lake Peel. A brief stop was made to the rather romantic little Myttons hut before the steady climb through beech forest that was almost deafening with birdsong. Above the tree line we stopped for morning tea and sat in the sunshine admiring the views.

Once we gained the saddle we started to head along the ridge to travel around the lake to the summit of Mount Peel. I was concerned about some post viral fatigue I was suffering but Debbie assured me the route we were taking was better and easier. She proved correct. We had some fun scrambling around various tors and a lovely walk along an open ridge top.

We ended up back at the saddle and headed down to Balloon hut. This proved the hardest part of the journey, trudging along a furrow obscured by overhanging tussock. At the hut Debbie lead off a bonus trip to some gold workings and later challenged us once again to a game of Monopoly.

Next day, still in sunshine we returned along the conventional route to Trilobite. Debbie and Jo stopped for a quick dip in Peel lake. Brrr! Down through the forest, again to the deafening birdsong remining us to visit again. Definitely a recommended trip in good weather – good pick Bruce.

Participants: Bruce (leader), Esther (scribe), Guy, Jo, Debbie, Gina, Richard, Rosie-Anne and visitors from Waikato TC: Jim and Maureen.