Monday, April 19, 2010

Monument Track, Banks Peninsula


2010. Kaituna Valley Road view of Mt Bradley & Mt Herbert

Along the winding road to Akaroa, I drove from Christchurch to Kaituna Valley turnoff, drove up lovely Kaituna Valley Road past paddocks, orchards and vineyards, with grand views of Mt Bradley and Mt Herbert.

About 40 kms from Christchurch, I parked my car at the end of Kaituna Valley Road, as I wanted to walk Monument Track up to the top of Port Levy Saddle, sidle around Mt Herbert summit slopes, and descend to The Monument dome above Purau Saddle, Purau - Port Levy Road. Estimated distance, 12 kms. My time, 6 1/2 hours return.

Caution: Port Levy Saddle and Mt Herbert slopes were exposed to the elements. Hill walking fitness, water, food and weatherproof gear needed.


2010. Farm Buildings at end of Kaituna Valley Road


2010. Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust Sign, Kaituna Valley

I passed a yellow farmhouse overlooking Kaituna River, passed farm sheds, and went through a gate with a BANKS PENINSULA CONSERVATION TRUST sign by the gate. In bush beyond the gate I crossed a wooden bridge, after which Monument Track forked left following Kaituna River towards Port Levy Saddle.

I forked right over another wooden bridge, as I wanted to climb unmarked Kaituna Spur slopes, giving me views of Mt Bradley and Monument Track going up Mt Herbert lower slopes.


2010. Kaituna Valley view of Mt Bradley (855m) slopes

I followed quad bike tracks on a farm road through bush, macrocarpas and mature pines. At an old coal-range stove picnic spot I coolpixed views down Kaituna Valley. I entered grassland going steeply up Kaituna Spur slopes, and followed a grassy farm track (unmarked on my Christchurch Topo50 map) which zigzagged up a slope towards a native bush pocket.

Wandering a farm track contour high above Monument Track, I had grand views of Mt Bradley and Mt Herbert south-facing slopes, including Mt Herbert Reserve with native bush below Mt Herbert summit (919m).


2010. Kaituna Spur view of Monument Track & Mt Herbert slopes below Port Levy Saddle

The farm track sidled through bush pockets, and mainly through grassland, where hundreds of weathered stumps on hillsides showed where podocarp forest once flourished: once logged, gone forever. Slopes below Port Levy Saddle looked bomb-blasted, grey logs and totara stumps piercing the sky, monuments to loggers' greed.

On my way up I'd passed several weathered, totara fence posts and gate posts. Bush regenerated in places, but I thought it would take hundreds of years for mature totara forest to grow on Port Levy Saddle again.


2010. Kaituna Spur view of Mt Bradley (855m)

I sludged through cow dung polluting dry, rocky streams and two stinking catchment streams trickling down to Kaituna River. I wondered about Port Hills and Banks Peninsula streams I'd wandered, polluted with cow dung and sheep dung.

I was amused by a recent NZTV Closeup programme, where presenter Mark Sainsbury interviewed a Hawea local whining about overseas freedom-campers crapping on Lake Hawea shore. Three days later, The Press editorial shrieked about overseas freedom-campers crapping all over NZ.

Never mind that rural toilets were not provided for freedom-campers in exchange for tourist dollars. I thought Mark Sainsbury and The Press editors needed to walk Port Hills and Banks Peninsula to see tons of cow dung and sheep dung polluting catchment waters.


2010. Kaituna Spur view of Mt Herbert (919m)

The higher I climbed the better my views down Kaituna Valley and beyond to toxic Lake Ellesmere, Kaitorete Spit and the Pacific. The grassy track crossed a grassy tableland ridge below Port Levy Saddle, where I passed a herd of staring black and brown cows, some with white faces.


2010. Monument Track view of Kaituna Valley


2010. Monument Track view of Kaituna Valley & Lake Ellesmere

Below Port Levy Saddle crest the farm track joined Monument Track. After 10 minutes up steep, tree-stumped grassland, Monument Track joined Summit Track going from Kaituna Spur Reserve, by Little River - Port Levy Road, which zigzagged through grassland past more weathered logs and stumps to the top of Port Levy Saddle (720m).

My trek from the end of Kaituna Valley Road up Kaituna Spur (an extra kilometre detour above Monument Track) to Port Levy Saddle crest took me 2 3/4 hours.


2010. Old Totora Logging, Monument Track, Kaituna Valley west side of Port Levy Saddle


2010. Monument Track, Port Levy Saddle view of Mt Herbert Slopes & Kaituna Valley


2010. Monument Track zoom view of Kaituna Valley, Lake Ellesmere, Kaitorete Spit, Pacific


2010. Monument Track, Port Levy Saddle view of Kaituna Spur

Midday, I stopped for nor'wester breezes and lunch on top of Port Levy Saddle - CocaCola, Pams steak pie, muesli bar - by a PORT LEVY SADDLE sign. Someone had fixed an old shovel and old sledge-hammer to a post on top of Port Levy Saddle.


2010. Port Levy Saddle, Ascent to Mt Herbert Summit (919m)


2010. Sledge-Hammer & Shovel, Port Levy Saddle


2010. Port Levy Saddle, View of Port Levy & Pacific


2010. Port Levy Saddle, southern View

I coolpixed views:

Bush and pine forested valley going down to Port Levy, with Port Levy green waters, and blue Pacific waters beyond. I wondered whether Port Levy waters were polluted by Christchurch City Council's new sewage outfall pipe?

Kaituna Valley, Lake Ellesmere (NZ's 4th biggest lake) green waters, Kaitorete Spit with shelter belts across the sandy spit, and blue Pacific waters beyond. I thought toxic Lake Ellesmere waters (and nearby toxic Lake Forsyth waters), and Port Levy waters, both sides of Banks Peninsula, were polluted by stock dung and toxic farm and forestry chemicals in catchment streams.

Port Levy Saddle to Kaituna Spur and Banks Peninsula hills.

Poles with yellow tops marking the steep track to Mt Herbert summit (919m) a sign stating:

MONUMENT TRACK
PURAU SADDLE 1 1/2 hr


2010. Port Levy Saddle, view of Lake Ellesmere & Pacific

Monument Track followed a fence, with cliff and pine forest views down the saddle to Port Levy and beyond to hills above Pigeon Bay. I sidled through grassland below Mt Herbert summit, past bracken and matagouri.

At a fence corner, above bushy cliffs and a 806m hill overlooking Port Levy, I crossed fence posts where Monument Track followed another fence at right angles to the first fence. Along the fences, Monument Track was in poor condition: long grass, ruts, and stinking cow dung mud churned by cattle hooves.


2010. Port Levy Saddle view of Forestry above Port Levy


2010. Monument Track view of Forestry above Port Levy & Banks Peninsula Hills


2010. Monument Track view of Port Levy Saddle & Banks Peninsula Hills


2010. Monument Track Stile view of Mt Evans (703m) & Pacific


2010. Monument Track view of Mt Herbert Eastern Summit Ridge

Sidling round a Mt Herbert summit slope, Monument Track took me to a stile, and another farm track on a windy saddle (760m) with magnificent views over Mt Herbert slopes, glistening Purau, Diamond Harbour, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills, Canterbury Plains, glistening Pegasus Bay and cloudy Southern Alps. Beyond Pegasus Bay I saw Kaikouras Ranges.


2010. Monument Track view of Mt Herbert Slopes & Port Hills


2010. Monument Track view of Mt Herbert Slopes, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills

I stopped on the saddle for cooling breezes, CocaCola and coolpixing, then continued down Monument Track for another kilometre with views over the top of The Monument dome (711m) obscured by the saddle hill (806m).

Below The Monument, Purau - Port Levy Road went over Purau Saddle (420m). Beyond Purau Saddle, Mt Evans (703m) stretched below me, with distant views over Pegasus Bay.


2010. Monument Track view of Purau, Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills, Pegasus Bay


2010. Monument Track view of The Monument (711m), Mt Evans (703m), Port Hills & Pegasus Bay

Reaching a corner overlooking The Monument dome, I watched a man slogging up steep Monument Track below me. He looked pooped, as he stopped every 10 metres or so.

I didn't descend to Purau Saddle, as I'd cook in the 25 degree Centigrade, afternoon heat and nor'wester fohn wind. From Purau Saddle, I'd still have to return up steep Monument Track past The Monument, back to Port Levy Saddle again.


2010. Monument Track view of The Monument (711m). Mt Evans & Pacific backdrop

Turning back, I had cooling breezes and lovely views down Mt Herbert slopes to Purau and Diamond Harbour, and views to Mt Herbert summit (919m) with its masts on top. The mast on the summit ridge crest (913m) on the way down to Port Levy Saddle was skewed by the nor'wester at a 45 degree angle.


2010. Monument Track view of Mt Evans (703m), Lyttelton Harbour, Port Hills & Pegasus Bay. Find The Monument?


2010. Monument Track view of Mt Herbert (919m)


2010. Monument Track view of Port Levy


2010. Monument Track view of Hills Above Port Levy

One hour later back at Port Levy Saddle, I stopped for more CocaCola and coolpixing, then descended Monument Track in 1 3/4 hours, back to my car in Kaituna Valley.

On my way down, afternoon sun reflected off weathered totara stumps reaching for the sky, while I reflected on gorse pollution, plant succession and regeneration of native bush I passed: bracken ferns, prickly shield ferns, Polystichum vestitum, coprosmas, scrubby totaras, tree fuchsias, matagouri, horopito, muehlenbeckias, pittosporums, bush lawyer, kanuka, lancewoods, whiteywoods, tree ferns by streams, wineberries, tree nettles, lophomyrtus, five fingers...


2010. Port Levy Saddle view of Upper Kaituna Valley, Lake Ellesmere, Kaitorete Spit, Pacific


2010. Weathered Totara Stumps, Port Levy Saddle


2010. Totara Stumps & Regenerating Totaras, Port Levy Saddle


2010. Totara Ghosts, Port Levy Saddle


2010. Monument Track view of Upper Kaituna Valley, Lake Ellesmere, Kaitorete Spit, Pacific


2010. Monument Track view of Clear Felled Podocarp Forest & Regeneration. Kaituna Spur backdrop


2010. Tree Fuchsia growing out of a Totata Stump, Monument Track

Above the yellow farmhouse again, bush was less disturbed with bigger trees: sophoras, ribbonwoods, totoras, olearias... I passed a big kahikatea white pine with gnarled roots growing across Monument Track, a monument to conservation of sorts, as exotic macrocarpas and pines grew across the valley.


2010. Bush Regeneration, Monument Track, Port Levy Saddle


2010. Clear Felled Podocarp Forest & Bush Regeneration in hollows, Port Levy Saddle


2010. Five Finger, Pseudopanax arboreus & Fruit, Monument Track


2010. Monument Track view of Bush Regeneration, Port Levy Saddle & Kaituna Spur


2010. Monument Track view of Farm House at end of Kaituna Valley Road

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

See Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust

See Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere: State of the Lake and Future Management (Lincoln University, Environment Canterbury)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Mt Oxford Summit via Big Ben Saddle and Ashley Saddle


2010. Road to Oxford, Canterbury Plains. Mt Oxford right

Early Good Friday morning, I drove from Christchurch across foggy Canterbury Plains to Oxford and Coopers Creek, as I wanted to climb Mt Oxford via Big Ben Saddle and Ashley Saddle, traverse Mt Oxford eastern summit ridge to Mt Oxford summit (1364m), and return to Coopers Creek via Mt Oxford Track. Estimated distance, 17 kms. My time 10 hours, excluding lunch.

Caution: Hill walking fitness, water, food and weatherproof gear needed. Up Ashley Saddle, no tracks nor marker poles to Mt Oxford summit ridge. Up Ashley saddle, steep drops from Mt Oxford. Mt Oxford, usually snow capped in winter. As the tracks to Big Ben Saddle went through private properties, it was advisable to get permission from land owners to cross their land.


2010. Canterbury Plains view of Mt Oxford eastern traverse. Big Ben below

On the previous Friday, starting late morning I'd attempted the climb, but turned back early afternoon at Big Ben Saddle, as it was stifling hot, windless, and I'd started climbing too late.


2010. Coopers Creek view of Mt Oxford. Big Ben right

1. COOPERS CREEK TO BIG BEN SADDLE. My time, 2 hours.


2010. Mt Oxford Summit sign, Coopers Creek - shortest route, Mt Oxford Track


2010. Coopers Creek beehives


2010. Coopers Creek paddock. Big Ben Saddle beyond

With my Oxford 1:50 000 Topo50 map bought at Mapworld, Christchurch, I crossed a wooden bridge over Coopers Creek and walked along a farm road by Coopers Creek past beehives and sheep. Along the grassy road near Payton Lodge, at a gate I turned right into a paddock with views of Mt Oxford on my left and Big Ben Saddle straight ahead.


Beyond the paddock I crossed a stream, after which the freshly graded dirt road briefly climbed through beeches. Behind me, fog covered Canterbury Plains, Malvern Hills floating on fog.


2010. Graded dirt road through beeches, Coopers Creek


2010. Scale insect honeydew & sooty mould on beech trunk, Coopers Creek



2010. Coopers Creek paddock view of Mt Oxford eastern summit ridge traverse. Big Ben right


2010. Coopers Creek sheep paddock view of Big Ben Saddle


2010. Coopers Creek farm track view of Mt Oxford left, Big Ben right


2010. Coopers Creek sheep view of Big Ben right


2010. Coopers Creek view of Mt Oxford


2010. Forestry camp & old wagon near Coopers Creek


2010. Dead bulldozer & forestry hut near Coopers Creek

About half an hour after leaving Coopers Creek, I turned right off the road, wandered through gorse and kanuka scrub & climbed over a gate into a scruffy forestry camp, with a junk-filled wagon & a dead, yellow bulldozer by a dirt road. Two plastic water cisterns stood either side of the road & ponies grazed by a red, wooden hut.


2010. Forestry camp water cistern view of Coopers Creek, Canterbury Plains & Malvern Hills


2010. Forestry camp view of foggy Coopers Creek, Canterbury Plains & floating Malvern Hills


2010. Forestry huts near Coopers Creek

I turned left down the first dirt road, with three more huts in a hollow by a stream lined by junk: scrap-metal; three 4x4s; a dead ute; old tyres; wood; a serviceable quad bike; SUVs; bath; machinery; truck; trailer and yellow bulldozer by the road. Above the stream, up Big Ben slopes young beech forest regenerated after forestry mayhem.


2010. Bulldozer by forestry huts near Coopers Creek


2010. Forestry camp bus, SUV & shed below beeches near Coopers Creek

Further down the forestry road, I passed another gate and another forestry camp, with an old bus parked beside the road and a chimney sticking out of the bus roof. More junk lay by a shed: tractor; rotting vehicles; trailer; machinery...


2010. Beech forest on Big Ben south facing slope near Coopers Creek

Passing roadside gorse and kanuka, I slogged uphill from the stream towards a pine forest. I passed a dirt road on my right, which I'd explored the previous Friday: an old, white SUV blocked the road, probably to stop errant 4x4s and quad bikers.

I'd found another junk yard amongst beeches replete with wood; plastic; machinery; rusty tools and a rotting Range Rover filled with junk, a saddle and bridles. At a cul de sac up near the pine line, I'd seen another junk yard with wood; metal; machinery...

Some farm roads and forestry roads were not marked on my Topo50 map.


2010. Dead Range Rover, forestry camp near Coopers Creek. Big Ben Saddle behind


2010. Big Ben pine forest closeup view of Torlesse Range end, Southern Alps


2010. Big Ben pine forest closeup view of Torlesse Range middle, Southern Alps

An hour after leaving Coopers Creek I entered the pine forest, with spectacular back views of faraway Torlesse Range. For about 15 minutes I walked the pine forest dirt road round a hill, then took the left fork going steeply up to a rocky knoll below Big Ben Saddle. I walked past pines on my left and a scrubby valley going to pine forest on the saddle hill on my right.


2010. Fly agaric mushrooms, Big Ben pine forest road


2010. Big Ben Saddle track view of foggy Canterbury Plains, distant Port Hills & Banks Peninsula hills


2010. Big Ben Saddle track view of fog leaving Coopers Creek & Canterbury Plains. Malvern Hills beyond


2010. Big Ben Saddle track view of Malvern Hills & Mt Hutt beyond


2010. Big Ben Saddle track view of Coopers Creek, Canterbury Plains & Malvern Hills


2010. Big Ben Saddle track closeup view of Canterbury Plains & Malvern Hills

I stopped at the knoll for CocaCola and coolpixing: Southwards - Down the steep road I looked across Oxford hills and over foggy Canterbury Plains towards Banks Peninsula peaks floating on fog: Mt Evans, The Monument, Mt Herbert, Mt Bradley.

Westwards - Coopers Creek, foggy Canterbury Plains, Malvern Hills, distant Mt Hutt and Mt Somers Range beyond.

Northwards - Big Ben grassy slopes looming above, and Mt Oxford summit beyond. (Big Ben not to be confused with Big Ben Range further south by Porters Pass).


2010. Big Ben Saddle track gate view of Big Ben. Mt Oxford left


2010. Big Ben Saddle track view of Big Ben Saddle


2010. Big Ben Saddle track gate view of Big Ben Saddle


2010. Gorse beside Big Ben Saddle track


2010. Big Ben Saddle weathered tree stump view of Coopers Creek, Canterbury Plains & Malvern Hills


2010. Big Ben Saddle zoom view of Lime Quarry, Canterbury Plains, Malvern Hills, Mt Hutt

I passed through a gate and walked the gorse-lined track zigzagging up to Big Ben Saddle. I passed the pine plantation on the saddle hill on my right, and on my left across the saddle I saw Big Ben grassy slopes rising above the saddle. For the next six hours I'd be walking exposed Big Ben and Mt Oxford slopes with little protection from the elements.


2010. Big Ben Saddle view of Canterbury Plains & Malvern Hills


2010. Big Ben Saddle view of Canterbury Plains, Malvern Hills & Mt Hutt


2010. Big Ben Saddle view of Big Ben exposed grassy slope up Big Ben ridge


2010. Big Ben Saddle view of Ashley Gorge. Ladbrooks Hill other side of Ashley Gorge


2010. Big Ben Saddle view of eastern saddle track on Oxford hills

Cool breezes on Big Ben saddle, so I stopped for CocaCola, jam sarmie and snapping:

Down the saddle valley, Big Ben Stream flowed through beech forest to Ashley River. Beyond Ashley River on Ladbrooks Hill slopes, Lees Valley Road wound from Lees Valley to Ashley Gorge.

Tracks went up Beg Ben grassy ridge crest, which obscured Mt Oxford.

Coopers Creek, foggy Canterbury Plains, Malvern Hills, distant Mt Hutt and Mt Somers Range and Taylor Range.

Eastern track climbed the pine-forested hill towards Oxford hills.

2. BIG BEN SADDLE TO ASHLEY SADDLE. My time, 1 1/2 hours


2010. Big Ben view of Big Ben Saddle & foggy Canterbury Plains


2010. Big Ben view of Oxford hills, foggy Canterbury Plains, Port Hills & Banks Peninsula hills

Tracks going up Big Ben and Oxford hills I saw from Big Ben Saddle were not marked on my map. I avoided the track following a fence-line going straight up to Big Ben ridge crest, but followed the rutted, grassy road which zigzagged up Big Ben slope, with views of the beech-forested valley descending to Ashley River, Ashley Gorge and Oxford hills.


2010. Big Ben view of Ashley Gorge & Oxford hills right. Mt Thomas beyond


2010. Big Ben view of subalpine scrub above treeline, including golden Spaniards, tree fuchsias & broadleafs


2010. Golden Spaniard, Aciphylla aurea, amongst broadleafs, horopito & tree fuchsias, Big Ben track

I passed kanuka scrub with beeches in gullies going down to Ashley River. Water trickled down road ruts and grassy slopes, as the Big Ben slope I climbed was catchment for Big Ben Stream in the valley below, where I saw Ashley Gorge paddocks by Big Ben Stream and Ashley River confluence.

While climbing Big Ben, I had views of farm roads crossing Big Ben Saddle. I had views of foggy Canterbury Plains to Banks Peninsula.


2010. Dracophyllum, hebe, matagouri subalpine scrub & weathered tree stump, Big Ben slope


2010. Big Ben view of Big Ben Saddle & foggy Canterbury Plains

On Big Ben slope, above the tree line I saw a mix of subalpine vegetation: fragrant hebes and astelias amongst scrubby broadleafs, coprosmas and tree fuchsias. While sweating up Big Ben, I saw weathered tree stumps piercing the sky (fire-damaged?) surrounded by subalpine vegetation: tutu, matagouri, broom, tussock, dracophyllum, five-fingers. Red-lichened rocks contrasted vegetation: toetoe, white and pink snowberries, prickly spaniards, blue-white wahlenbergia flowers.


2010. Big Ben slope coprosma, snowberry, golden Spaniard & matagouri


2010. Big Ben slope closeup of coprosma, snowberry & golden Spaniard


2010. Big Ben slope snowberry, Gaultheria depressa


2010. Big Ben view of Ashley Gorge & Mt Thomas


2010. Big Ben view of Oxford hills


2010. Big Ben view of Oxford hills, foggy Canterbury Plains & Banks Peninsula hills


2010. Big Ben view of foggy Canterbury Plains


2010. Big Ben view of fog leaving Canterbury Plains. Malvern Hills behind

Big Ben ridge crest sloped eastwards to a road corner with grand views of Ladbrooks Hill, Ashley River and Oxford hills, where I found I'd passed Ashley Saddle on the other side of Big Ben. Enjoying cool breezes on Big Ben road corner, I stopped for coolpixing:

Puketeraki Range and Lees Valley. A view down Ashley Saddle valley over beech-forested Oxford Creek flowing down to Ashley River.

Foggy Pacific. Eastwards - Foggy Canterbury Plains to Banks Peninsula hills.

Big Ben grassy ridges and Mt Oxford beech ridges.

Mt Oxford with several slips between ridges.


2010. Fragrant Hebe, Hebe odora, Big Ben by Ashley Saddle


2010. Wahlenbergias, Beg Ben by Ashley Saddle

On several fence standards I'd passed by the roadside, orange aluminium tags were attached, each with an inscription. eg:

CARBON
PHOTOPOINT
10


2010. Carbon Photopoint 10 marker on standard, Ashley Saddle


2010. Big Ben farm track view of Ashely Saddle & Mt Oxford


2010. Ashley Saddle pig hunter's quad bike view of Big Ben, Ashley Gorge & Mt Thomas

Rounding Big Ben corner, I walked down to Ashley Saddle where I found a parked quad bike, driver unseen, with Mt Oxford slopes looming on my right and Big Ben slopes on my left.

I'd walked farm and forestry roads from Coopers Creek to Big Ben Saddle, to Ashley Saddle. Thereafter, no tracks, so I made my own way up Mt Oxford slopes and fells to Mt Oxford summit.


2010. Ashley Saddle pig hunters' quad bikes

On Ashley Saddle, besides grass, I saw dracophyllum, hebes, spaniards and matagouri. In cooling breezes I coolpixed Ashley Saddle views:

Ashley River and Ladbrooks Hill.

Coopers Creek, a lime quarry on Canterbury Plains and beyond to Malvern Hills, Mt Hutt, Mt Somers Range, Mt Taylor Range, Black Hill Range.


2010. Ashley Saddle pig dog, with collar aerial

A quad biker drove up from whence I came. He and his unseen mate were pig hunters. His two pig dogs sniffed me out, one a black and white sheep dog, one a brindled mongrel.


2010. Ashley Saddle dracophylum scrubland view of Big Ben, Canterbury Plains & Malvern Hills

3. ASHLEY SADDLE TO MT OXFORD EASTERN SUMMIT, traversing Mt Oxford eastern summit ridge. My time 3 1/2 hours.


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophyllum & beech view of Big Ben & Ashley Gorge. Mt Thomas behind

As my map had no marked tracks on Mt Oxford east ridge, for the next 3 1/2 hours, I made my own way up Mt Oxford, and along the top to Mt Oxford summit.


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophylum & beech view of Big Ben, Oxford hills, Canterbury Plains, foggy Pacific left & Banks Peninsula hills right


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophyllum scrubland view of Big Ben, Oxford hills, Canterbury Plains & Banks Peninsula hills

Wading through dracophyllum tussockland I climbed the steep saddle slope, with Mt Oxford slips dropping either side of the slope. Stopping for breathers, I saw the pig hunter and pig dogs far below walking along a Big Ben path, then stopping and waiting for the other pig hunter. By midday, fog had burnt off Canterbury Plains, but stayed over the Pacific.


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophyllum & beech view of Big Ben & Waimakariri River crossing Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle snowberry, Gaultheria depressa

On my way up I passed stunted beeches, matagouri, hebes, flax, celmisias, astelias, snowberries amongst dominant dracophyllum and tussocks. After a while the waist-high tussocks and especially dracophyllum skinned my shins. (Mental note: wear long socks or gaiters).


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophyllum scrubland view of Big Ben, Ladbrooks Hill, Bottle Hill, Ashley Gorge, Mt Thomas, Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophyllum view of Big Ben, Oxford hills, Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophyllum view of Big Ben, Oxford hills, Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula hills


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle view of Big Ben, Oxford hills, Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula hills


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophyllum view of Big Ben, Big Ben Saddle & Waimakariri River crossing Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophyllum view of Big Ben & Waimakariri River crossing Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophyllum & tussock view of Canterbury Plains & Malvern Hills


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle slope view of beech forest, lime quarry, Waimakariri River, Canterbury Plains, Malvern Hills


2010. Mt Oxford, Ashley Saddle dracophyllum view of beech forest, Canterbury Plains, Malvern Hills, Mt Hutt


2010. Mt Oxford, east ridge dracophyllum scrub & beech forest above Canterbury Plains.


2010. Mt Oxford, east ridge dracophyllum & tussock view of Waimakariri River, Canterbury Plains, Malvern Hills, Mt Hutt


2010. Mt Oxford, east ridge dracophyllum & tussock view of Big Ben, Coopers Creek, Waimakariri River, Malvern Hills & Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford, east ridge tussock & dracophyllum view of Big Ben, Coopers Creek, Waimakariri River, Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford, east ridge dracophyllum scrubland view of Big Ben, Oxford Hills, Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula hills


2010. Mt Oxford, east ridge dracophyllum view of Lees Valley & Puketeraki Range

Near the top, three rusty iron poles marked the way. Ashley Saddle and Big Ben disappeared below, while Canterbury Plains views improved. Alpine ranges became visible in the south, west and north.

It took me two hours steep climbing from Ashley Saddle to reach Mt Oxford east summit ridge, where I stood in the north-west blast, coolpixing views:

Lees Valley, Puketeraki Range and Whistler River joining Ashley River.

Ashley River and Ashley Gorge.

Waimakariri River, Canterbury Plains and Banks Peninsula.

Waimakariri River, Canterbury Plains and Southern Alpine ranges.

Mt Oxford summit fells and more Alpine ranges.


2010. Mt Oxford, eastern summit view of Waimakariri River, Canterbury Plains, Malvern Hills, Mt Hutt


2010. Mt Oxford, eastern summit view of Waimakariri River crossing Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford, eastern summit view of Big Ben, Oxford Hills, Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula hills


2010. Mt Oxford, eastern summit view of Big Ben, Ashley Gorge, Ladbrooks Hill, Oxford hills, Bottle Hill, Mt Thomas, Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford, eastern summit view of Ladbrooks Hill, Mt Richardson & Ashley River, Lees Valley


2010. Mt Oxford, eastern summit view of Lees Valley & Puketeraki Range


2010. Mt Oxford, eastern summit view of Whistler River & Ashley River confluence, Lees Valley


2010. Mt Oxford, eastern summit view of Whistler River, Lees Valley & Puketeraki Range


2010. Mt Oxford NW summit view of Puketeraki Range

It took me 5 1/2 hours climbing from Coopers Creek to Big Ben Saddle, to Ashley Saddle to summit Mt Oxford eastern summit ridge. It would take me another 1 1/2 windy hours to undulate up the wide summit ridge to Mt Oxford summit. Like my previous sojourn on top of Mt Oxford, I had Mt Oxford summit to myself.


2010. Mt Oxford summit celmisia surrounding Myrsine nummularia & grass


2010. Mt Oxford summit celmisia, astelia & dracophyllum


2010. Mt Oxford summit fell view of Lees Valley & Puketeraki Range


2010. Mt Oxford summit fell view of Waimakariri River & Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford summit lichens & Pentachondra pumila


2010. Mt Oxford summit lycopodiums & celmisias


2010. Mt Oxford summit lycopodiums & celmisias


2010. Mt Oxford summit celmisias

Over the next couple of hours the warm, dessicating nor'wester did its best to blast me off Mt Oxford. No wonder summit plants were stunted, with many forming cushions and mats like craspedias I passed.

Climbing the first mini-summit on the summit ridge, I passed low dracophyllums, tussocks, hebes, celmisias, astelias, spaniards, lycopodiums and Pentachondra pumila heaths with red berries.

On top of the mini-summit (1235m) I viewed other Alpine foothills I'd recently climbed: Mt Richardson (1047m); Mt Thomas (1023m); Mt Grey (934m).


2010. Mt Oxford summit, fell view of Oxford hills, Oxford, Canterbury Plains, Port Hills, Banks Peninsula hills


2010. Mt Oxford summit, fell view of Waimakariri River crossing Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford summit, fell view of Oxford hills, Oxford, Canterbury Plains, Port Hills, Banks Peninsula hills


2010. Mt Oxford summit, fell view of another fell, Oxford hills & Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford summit, fell view of another fell, Bottle Hill & Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford summit, fell view of Ashley Gorge, Ladbrooks Hill, Mt Richardson, Mt Thomas, Mt Grey


2010. Mt Oxford summit, fell view of Lees Valley

With Canterbury Plains views to my left and Alpine views to my right, dipping through windy tussockland I stopped at Oxford Hill summit (1134m) with its mast, streamlined mast hut and broken trig beacon. I coolpixed 360 degree views: Alpine ranges, Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula. By the mast and beacon I snapped tiny Alpine plants.


2010. Oxford Hill view of Mt Oxford summit, Mt Hutt left, Torlesse Range right


2010. Oxford Hill view of Waimakariri River crossing Canterbury Plains, Malvern Hills


2010. Oxford Hill view of Mt Oxford summit, Waikakariri River, Malvern Hills & Mt Hutt


2010. Oxford Hill view of Mt Oxford summit & Mt Torlesse


2010. Oxford Hill view of Mt Oxford western summit ridge, Torlesse Range & Craigieburn Range


2010. Oxford Hill lichens, lycopodiums, hebes, Pentachondra pumila, ferns, celmisias


2010. Oxford Hill alpine plant diversity including Raoulia haastii & Raoulia grandiflora


2010. Oxford Hill celmisias & Pentachondra pumila


2010. Oxford Hill view of Lees Valley


2010. Oxford Hill summit, tarn view of Mt Oxford summit & Mt Torlesse


2010. Oxford Hill summit, tarn view of Torlesse & Craigieburn Ranges


2010. Vegetable sheep, Raoulia eximia, wind-funnel below Mt Oxford summit


2010. Mt Oxford summit celmisias, Pentachondra pumila & grasses


2010. Mt Oxford summit Pentachondra pumila & celmisia

Through more windy tussockland closer to Mt Oxford summit, I passed a mossy tarn with grand Alpine views, the strong nor'wester flattening tussocks.

Below Mt Oxford summit, at a rocky wind-funnel I found a grey vegetable sheep, Raoulia eximia, the first I'd seen in its native habitat. Three firsts for me on Mt Oxford: pig hunters, pig dogs and vegetable sheep.


2010. Mt Oxford summit cairn & trig beacon with Southern Alps backdrop


2010. Mt Oxford summit cairn view of Lees Valley


2010. Mt Oxford summit view of eastern summit ridge, Ladbrooks Hill, Bottle Hill & Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford summit view of Beg Ben, Oxford hills, Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula


2010. Mt Oxford summit shelter view of Canterbury Plains, Port Hills & Banks Peninsula hills


2010. Mt Oxford summit view of Waimakariri River crossing Canterbury Plains


2010. Mt Oxford summit view of beech forest, Canterbury Plains, Waimakariri River, Malvern Hills, Mt Hutt Range


2010. Mt Oxford summit closeup of beech forest, Canterbury Plains, Waimakariri River, Malvern Hills, Mt Hutt Range, Black Hill Range


2010. Mt Oxford summit view of beech forest & Waimakariri River crossing Canterbury Plains

On windy Mt Oxford summit (1364m), I again coolpixed 360 degree views by a mast, trig beacon and stone cairn. Wind-protected and seated on a tussock in the stone shelter, I scoffed a late lunch of Pams steak pie and CocaCola, while enjoying Canterbury Plains, Waimakariri River, Banks Peninsula and Alpine views. Pacific was unseen due to fog and haze.


2010. Mt Oxford summit shelter view of Malvern Hills, Mt Hutt Range & Mt Torlesse


2010. Mt Oxford summit view of Mt Torlesse, Malvern Hills, Mt Hutt, Black Hill & Craigieburn Ranges


2010. Mt Oxford summit view of Mt Torlesse & Craigieburn Range

It had taken me 7 hours solid walking from Coopers Creek to summit Mt Oxford via Big Ben Saddle and Ashley Saddle, including 3 1/2 hours track-walking, and Ashley Saddle to Mt Oxford 3 1/2 hours off-track walking.


2010. Whipcord hebes, Mt Oxford summit

4. MT OXFORD SUMMIT TO COOPERS CREEK: Mt Oxford Track. My time, 3 hours.

I wont describe Mt Oxford Track here, as I described it in another blog post: Mt Oxford Summit, Canterbury.

Briefly: It took me 1 hour to descend the rocky, pole-marked track, down the exposed spur from Mt Oxford summit to beech forest. Again the warm, dry nor'wester tried blasting me off Mt Oxford. When I dangled my heavy walking stick vertically, wind blew it about 45 degrees off vertical.


2010. Mingimingi, Leptecophylla juniperina, Mt Oxford Track


2010. Mt Oxford eastern traverse seen from Coopers Creek


2010. Mt Oxford Summit direction sign, Payton Lodge, Coopers Creek

For the next hour or so, I descended beech forest, relieved to be out of the wind, after several hours exposure to the apocalyptic nor'wester. (A friend who lived in Oxford later opined: "Oxford is known for its strong winds, capable of blowing doors off cars and roofs off houses.") I descended fast, as beech forest was dry, and I didn't have to worry about slippery roots, rocks and wet vegetation.


2010. Payton Lodge, Coopers Creek, Mt Oxford behind

Back at Payton Lodge by sheep paddocks, I wandered the last bit of track while coolpixing late afternoon views of Mt Oxford and Big Ben Saddle. I passed the gate where I'd begun my morning route up Big Ben Saddle, and walked past sheep and beehives back to my car at Coopers Creek...

The next weekend Leah and I drove a 200 km return trip from Christchurch to Lees Valley, via Lees Valley Road turnoff between Oxford and Ashley Gorge campsite. Lees Valley Road, a metalled road, zigzagged steeply up and over Oxford hills overlooking Oxford and Canterbury Plains, then beyond a narrow saddle Lees Valley Road zigzagged down native bush to Ashley Gorge and paddocks by Ashley River Bridge.

By Ashley River Bridge we passed fishing signs and a public toilet sign. On the other side of Ashley River, driving up Ladbrooks Hill (1030m) lower beech slopes, I enjoyed bushy views of Big Ben Saddle, Ashley Saddle and Mt Oxford I'd climbed on Good Friday.

On several trees and fences, signs with camera pics warned errant hunters not to hunt on private land. Was the Good Friday pig hunter I'd met legit, or was he checking his remote cannabis patch by Ashley Saddle?

In Lees Valley, we crossed a curved Ashley River Bridge; we drove past a DOC fence sign indicating the end / start of Wharfdale Track; we crossed Whistler River bridge with more fishing signs; via Wharfdale Road, we looked at Wharfdale farm by Ashley River: NO ENTRY; we drove past another DOC fence sign indicating a farm track going to Puketeraki Hunting Block.

We picnicked at a Lees Valley view spot with open-door, long-drop loo overlooking Puketeraki Range. Grand views included Lees Valley, Puketeraki Range, Mt Thomas, Mt Richardson, Ladbrooks Hill and Mt Oxford.

We turned back at a farm fence sign indicating that cars couldn't ford Okuku River en route to Loburn: only 4x4s allowed.

Going back, I thought western Mt Storm (1254m) looked too bushy for my walking tastes. Leah enjoyed distant views of western Chest Peak (1935m). I enjoyed views of Mt Oxford east summit ridge and west summit ridge which I'd climbed.

Easter hols 2012: Post quakes, Leah & I did the walk from Coopers Creek to Big Ben Saddle. At the forestry camp a forester questioned us & Leah asked his permission to continue. No problem. He was surprised the neighbouring farmer had let us through. I'd never seen the farmer during my 3 farm crossings en route to the forestry camp & Big Ben Saddle.

Later a local told us the farmer was "unhinged" about public crossing his land & had taken the matter up to the PM in Parliament, about public access to his land below Mt Oxford. Be warned!

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.