Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
8
Planning
MAPS
Your two map options are NewTopo
Arthur's Pass
1:55,000 and NZTopo50
BV20
(Otira).
The Tramp
6-8 HOURS RETURN, 7KM, ASCENT 1093M, DESCENT 1093M
First things first: make sure your water bottle is full before you set off as there is virtually
none en route. That task complete, you will find the
Avalanche Peak Track
signposted at
Arthur's Pass Chapel.
The track sets off along a gravel path that soon passes a waterfall-viewing site and then
crosses over Avalanche Creek on historic Glasgow Bridge. Just beyond the bridge you begin
climbing, and keep climbing. Within 10 minutes you're looking down at Arthur's Pass vil-
lage, having already scrambled up your first rock face.
The climb is unrelenting, and the only time it levels out is just before you break out of the
bushline, 1½ hours and 400m above the chapel. Yellow markers and a worn path replace the
track here, and lead up the ridge that rises between the Avalanche Creek and Rough Creek
catchments.
The climbing continues once you reach the tussock grass, and it takes one to 1½ hours to
follow this ridge to the base of Avalanche Peak. In the first half the route skirts a large slip
that leads down to the Rough Creek catchment; at times you're treading right on the edge of
it. This would be a deathtrap in high winds and poor visibility.
After passing a pair of large cairns the climbing eases a bit and the views improve tre-
mendously.
Mt Rolleston
(2275m) lies straight ahead, while to the east the Punchbowl Falls
come into view. Should the
Tranz Alpine
train pass through the valley below, it's like watch-
ing a toy train.
At the northern end of the ridge, yellow markers lead you along its east side and around
the tail of some rock scree. You then begin the final ascent to the prominent ridge that leads
to Avalanche Peak. The ridge looks formidable, but the markers show a zigzag route up the
side for an easier climb.
At the top, the yellow markers from Avalanche Peak Track merge with the orange mark-
ers from Scotts Track in a flat spot at 1680m; here you're 10 to 15 minutes from the summit.
The final leg is well poled, but you have to be careful. The ridge is narrow, falling sharply
away to the McGrath Stream catchment at times, and the rock is loose.
Avalanche Peak
