Peel range Kahurangi NP

Does anyone have a trip report from this area? From Mt Cobb down the ridge to Mt Peel?
Did this on an extended Labour weekend trip this year so yes it is feasible but it is not easy. Not only hard work but takes longer than you think it might. We went up the Lockett Range, stayed at Fenella hut, camped at the tarn marked to the south of Mt Ranolf and stayed at Balloon hut. Good visibility to be able pick a route is essential because you have to do a lot of sidling as in numerous places the ridge line is impossible. A good head for heights and quick reflexes to stop yourself sliding if/when you slip on that short slippery snow grass above bluffs also required. The majority of sidles are best done on the Cobb side. If you end up with very worried goats below you not going anywhere it is a good indication that you need to climb back up to the ridgeline and try the other side. Our worst section (which did involve the above scenario amongst other things) took us close to 6 hours to travel 4km of ridgeline (other sections are much faster). All up two 9 to 10 hour days to get between Fenella and Balloon huts - could be quicker with better route selection could be longer with worse....... We had great weather and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Here is the trip report for that section - as written by another member of the party Sunday required another early rise, as we did not know what the day would bring, apart from more sun. We dropped to Cobb hut, climbed to Cobb Lake and Round Lake, and then climbed SW up onto the Peel Range. Mt Cobb looked uninviting, with its rocky spine, but we went up over it with reasonable aplomb; although with disconcertingly good views down to Lake Henderson. Most of the way through to Mt Ranolf was across the tops apart from a harmless sidle around 1623. It was around 3pm by the time we started up Mt Ranolf and we were tiring. It took us 2 hours to go up and over Ranolf to our campsite by the tarn to the East of it (10 hour day). Mt Ranolf was a bit awkward. On a descent down through some rocks, on top, we had to take our packs off and clamber down, and then the descent to the tarn also got a bit rocky and messy, requiring us to sidle across the face on the Cobb Valley side. It wasn't too difficult, just slow. There was quite good camping by the tarn. There were also some goats in case we were running short of food. Monday was yet another rain-free day and the wind still hadn't picked up; just a cold breeze. We romped across 1525, past a big rocky outcrop, up and over a rock slab, and then things got difficult. Staying on the ridge was not tenable as it required climbing up a rock face that was not safe; the rock was rotten and loose. So at the little saddle just below 1500m we dropped south and sidled around down to about 1400m to climb up into the saddle after 1639. The face we sidled was shingle, tussock and snow-grass, the latter two being a bit slippery even though it was dry. We would not have been able to travel this range in the wet; it would have been too dangerous. The travel on this section was very slow as we had to pay attention to our balance and footing. The rest of the sidles we did that day were on the Cobb Valley side of the peaks; viz the little peak after 1639, 1617, and the final one of the day around 1544. Some of these sidles were on steep faces with considerable care needed. Even the sidle on a rock face, with excellent footing, was traumatic because what was below was very unforgiving. This trip was tiring, not so much from the physical effort, but from the concentration needed to avoid the services of a rescue helicopter....and maybe an undertaker. The last sidle before safety was anti-climatic; it was a long safe sidle from after the unlabeled high point (ca 1560, BP23 630 481) to the little saddle after 1544. What preceded that sidle was an attempt to go over the top which was a mine-field of rock spires and fallen boulders that made the more sensible members of the party even more nervous than they already were. Initially, a sidle was attempted on the western side, but when the goats (there were a lot of goats) started milling around nervously and not running away we worked out that there might be bluffs ahead. Once we reached our safe saddle just after 1544 we had a celebratory late lunch after having taken 6 hours to travel 4 km. The rest of the day involved much faster, safer and happier travel. After passing Mt Mytton we were closely inspected by a large vandal of Kea, but were unscathed. The last obstacle was a steep shingly climb up onto the flat topped Mt Peel after which we romped down to Balloon Hut for the night (9 hour day). It was all ours and it had a new fire with lots of firewood thanks to the Motueka and Waimea tramping Clubs.
Wow! We had contemplated that route but I'm glad we decided too hard for us. No way I could have done what is described above. Have done the first bit and we avoided going over Mt Cobb by sidling around on mostly good benches on the Cobb side. Easy going, with nice tarns, except for having to ascent high around the top of a gully. Beautiful camp spot at Camp Lake.
@stunted: "large vandal of kea" Love the collective noun

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Forum Tracks, routes, and huts
Started by wildmari
On 7 December 2016
Replies 4
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