Little Mt Peel Climb, Peel Forest Park

Tues 12.11.19. From Blandswood carpark, I climbed DOC tracks through Peel Forest, via Emily Falls & South Ridge, then dracophyllum / flax scrub to Little Mt Peel summit hut & trig beacon, 1311m. DOC Intentions book in hut. Returned via Deer Spur down dracophyllum scrub then Peel Forest back to Blandswood carpark.

South Ridge Track, from Blandswood carpark: 3.5 km, 1000 vertical metres climb. My time 5h (incl 1h to Emily Falls, 4h up South Ridge).

S & W views: Alpine foothills, Four Peaks Range, Blue Mt, High Claytons, snowy Sherwood Range, incl snowy Fox Peak, 2330m. NW glimpse, snowy Mt Peel peak, 1743m.

E views: Braided Rangitata River; braided Orari River; Canterbury Plains; farms; towns; Pacific.

Deer Spur Track: 4.5 km, my down time, 3.5h, through dracophyllum / flax scrub & Peel Forest back to Blandswood carpark.

N & E views: Rangitata Valley, Alpine foothills to snowy Alpine ranges, incl Coal Hill (part of Mt Peel / Tara Haoa Range); Mt Barossa; snowy Mt Hutt; Taylor Range; Old Man Range; snowy Mt Somers; Moohouse Range, incl Mt Pukanui; Peter Range; Surrey Hills. Canterbury Plains: meandering Rangitata River NE side of Deer Spur; braided Rangitata River SE side of Deer Spur; braided Orari River; farms; towns, like Timaru; Pacific.

Track Conditions: Low cloud, both tracks, muddy, slippery after rains.
South Ridge Track: Steep, rough, muddy, slippery. Well sign-boarded, marked with DOC marker poles & arrows. Rock scramble near summit hut & trig beacon.
Deer Spur Track: Steep, muddy, slippery. Deep ruts in places. Some DOC duckboards through dracophyllum / flax scrub. Well sign-boarded, marked with DOC marker poles & arrows.

NB: Hill walking fitness, Topo50-BY19 map, strong shoes, walking sticks, all weather gear, water, food needed. Beware exposure & unbelievably fast, DOC sign-boarded times: 3h 30min up South Ridge! 2h down Deer Spur!

Mon 27.3.23. I climbed Little Mt Peel again, only Deer Spur track that time.

My Stats:
4h up from Blandswood carpark (DOC sign, 3h. Unbelievable!)
4h down from summit hut, Little Mt Peel / Huatekerekere.
Approx 1000 vertical metres climb from Blandswood carpark. Met 6 other trampers en route. Someone kindly left beers in the summit hut.
Track conditions: Sunny day. Muddy. Wooden duckboards near summit, good condition. Wooden steps through Peel Forest, bad condition, many just mud boxes, many broken & dangerous. DOC needed to do repairs!
Little Mt Peel summit: No cell phone coverage.

Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.