Mt Barrosa
Hakatere Conservation Park
- 3 hr – 4 hr return by the same track
- Medium
A volcanic summit (1364m) in the Clent Hills with sweeping views across the Ashburton Lakes basin.
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Walking time
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1 day
3 hr – 4 hr
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Distance
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3.3km |
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Type
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Return by the same track
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Grade
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Medium
Poled route. Marker poles not always visible in clag. Grades explained
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Bookings
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No bookings — open access
No — open access
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Starts
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Signposted car park 500m down from Blowing Point, Ashburton Gorge Road, Mount Somers. |
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Ends
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Summit |
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Maps
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NZTopo50-BX19
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Altitude
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540m
–
1,364m
Altitude change 824m
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Pleasant climb via occasional foot trails with some scenic outcrops in lower part of ascent giving shelter in windy days from the north quarter. Agates are rumoured to be found on the way to the summit.
Currently scree plants such as a yellow ranunculus with tiny grey leaves and penwipers are blooming on Mt Barrosa (December).
On claggy days, a map and compass are strongly recommended if you're not carrying a GPS as there are several spurs to lead you off the route. There are no exposed sections to this climb.
It is possible to do this climb as a traverse which then leads you down to the Stour River. I've yet to do this due to poxy weather. To avoid getting wet feet crossing the Stour you can pick up an old 4WD track on the south side of a marked swamp that takes you over a low saddle to reconnect with the track that runs down the Stour. This is quite an attractive bypass route and is not poled.