When this trip appeared on the CTC website, I had no idea where it was. After a quick bit of research, I discovered that Mt Tripp is a relatively low-lying peak (1368m) in the Moorhouse Range within the Tenahaun Conservation Area. The track to the peak follows the hilly slopes of the Rangitata Gorge for its entirety, which intrigued me right from the start.
Two cars of trampers drove from Christchurch to the car park by the Rangitata River Intake at -43.769017, 171.240635. From there, we continued about 500 metres along the gravel road to the start of the Tenahaun Track, which we followed for the next couple of hours. The track was pleasant and gently undulating, a mix of farm and sheep tracks through sheep paddocks. It’s reasonably well-marked, though a few sections where matagouri encroaches on the path could definitely use a trim.
After about two hours, we reached the bottom of the track leading to Brown Saddle. It looked like an old, abandoned 4WD road. This section was quite overgrown but still manageable. From the saddle, it’s a free-for-all – a short, steep climb along a prominent ridge in the NNW direction is followed by a gentler tussocky walk to NW to Mt Tripp.
The views from Mt Tripp were extensive and spectacular. It was amazing to see the Ashburton Lakes and the snowy peaks of several ranges from up there. After a well-earned lunch break, we packed up and retraced our steps back to the car park.
It was a fantastic trip to a lesser-visited area. Many thanks to Rachel for leading – she definitely chose the perfect time of year to visit!
Stats: 29.3 km, 7 h 57 min, 1288 m ascent. The route on NZ Topo Map (GPX download below)
Participants: Rachel Perkinson (leader), Michal Klajban (scribe, GPX, photos), William King, Russell Croy, Benjamin Still, Emma Rogers, Charlotte Littlewood, Jason Bartlett, Jimmy Philpott, Max De Lacey
Tramped on 3rd November 2024.
Photos
Map
Max elevation: 1365 m
Min elevation: 376 m
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