We stayed two nights at the Mt. Somers Domain campsite, a very reasonably priced campground with good facilities located close to the Mt. Somers Track. There are two huts on this track and it is recommended as a two day hike. However, due to lack of time, we planned to see the best of it in one long day. We started at the Sharplin Falls carpark, went up Staveley Hill, summitted Mt. Somers (1687m), crossed the tussocky ridge, then followed a scree trail down to the saddle above the Pinnacles Hut, joined the Mt. Somers Track to the Pinnacles Hut and finally arrived at Sharplin Falls.
It was not an easy hike as the trail was washed out, muddy and slippery in many places due to recent rain, overgrown in other areas and required good footwork and lots of stamina. However, we enjoyed the challenge, the views of the valleys below us and the fleeting glimpses of the snow-covered Southern Alps whenever the clouds drifted away.
 |
| View of the Canterbury Plains from Staveley Hill |
 |
| The clouds are rising from the valley, just in time to obscure the view from the mountain top |
 |
| Chris, if you look really carefully, you might see Mt. Cook! |
 |
| Somewhere over there is a trail down to the saddle, we think! |
 |
| Limestone rock columns above the Pinnacles Hut |
 |
| Pinnacles Hut |
 |
| Rani decided to wash her hair along the way |
No comments:
Post a Comment