This trip was carried over from the previous weekend due to bad weather. We were hopeful of fitting in three days of fine weather before the arrival of Hurricane Gita.
The journey over Takaka Hill and up the Cobb Valley on Saturday was uneventful. The six of us set off mid-morning from Trilobite Hut under warm, calm conditions. But the sky was looking a bit grey and threatening up-valley. We took a break at delightful Chaffeys Hut.
The river was clear but the high tide mark of debris from the previous week’s storm was two metres up the bank. The track was in excellent condition and a lasting testament to Max Polglaze and his DOC team in the 1980s—it used to be a boggy mess.
Lunch was consumed at the Tent Camp, which was renovated in 2016. We reached Cobb Hut in light drizzle. Here, the team debated the options:
head for the comfort of Fenella Hut, or camp at Lake Cobb (1090m). A split vote decided on the latter, so we headed up the rough, marked track to the lake, then along to the far end where Barry knew of an excellent camp-site (5.5 hours).
An excellent decision it proved to be, as the drizzle stopped. There were periods of weak sunshine in the late afternoon. Barry had forgotten his parka, but his minimalist approach to gear was paying off.
We set up camp under a huge old beech tree, relaxed in that delightful spot, and had dinner around a campfire, with wekas, robins, fantails and some sandflies for company.
After a peaceful night, we arose to a fine morning then made the famous, early start for a day trip to our destination. The track up was steep to Round Lake (1300m), which is just above the bushline, looking very atmospheric as the sun began to reach across the ridge. Here, Chris decided to turn back, as his dodgy back was playing up.
We continued up tussock slopes to reach the ridge leading above the lakehead, then up Mt Gibbs. There is an unmarked, but well defined, track – part of a day circuit from Fenella Hut. The cliffs that fall into the lake were impressive. We had good views down-valley and across to the Lockett Range.
As we reached a small saddle under Mt Gibbs, Island Lake came into view, with the ridge above it leading to Aorere Peak, our destination. This looked a long way off, and so it proved. The walking across a broad tussock slope in calm conditions was delightful. Gentians were in bloom everywhere.
After traversing a minor peak, we reached the bulk of Aorere Peak, consisting of a series of rocky promontories on a long ridge to the summit. The travel was still easy with some scrambling amongst the rocky outcrops – but without large height gains or losses. We headed up a peak that appeared to be the highest, although Barry thought the summit was still beyond this. We were relieved to find a cairn with pole and the ridge falling away steeply to the North ... we had made it! (1730m; 4.5 hours from camp).
The peak is beyond the end of Island Lake, some 500 vertical metres below. We took an extended lunch break here. Some dozed in the sun while the rest took in the stupendous views. We could just see Fenella Hut with Cobb Valley in the distance. Waingaro and Kakapo Peaks were prominent with Mt Snowden behind. To the north, the Dragons Teeth looked particularly fearsome from this side. In between was the extensive, bush-clad Burgoo Valley—true wilderness country.
Time was running out, so we reluctantly retraced our steps off Aorere. On our way back, we took a short deviation to the summit of Mount Gibbs (1645m) with its views of Xenicus Peak, then turned down to the numerous tarns above Fenella Hut, then right down the bluffs into Round Lake.
We returned to our camp at Lake Cobb in nine hours—what a great day! It’s marvellous country up the Cobb and well worth spending more than the two days. There are so many options for adventures above the bushline.
We broke camp on Monday and returned to Trilobite Hut on another fine day. We knew the hurricane was coming, so high-tailed it back to Nelson. Just as well, for on Tuesday the storm took out the road over Takaka Hill, and the bridge that leads to the Cobb valley.
Adventurers were: Pat Holland (scribe), Mike Drake, Barry James, Kelvin Drew, Scott Stocker & Chris Louth.