Lat, Long: -42.94310, 171.53608

29 March 2017

On the second day at Arthur’s Pass I was fortunate enough to have another day of perfect weather.  I got started in the morning just as the fog was beginning to burn off in the valley.

Today’s hike was to the top of Avalanche Peak at 1833m (6014 ft) above sea level, and a 1100m climb from the valley floor.  It is a steep climb that took me five and a half hours to hike up and back.  The views along the entire route were amazing and well worth the effort required.  It was a good workout, and my legs were pretty wobbly by the time I got back down.  My legs are still sore even now 2 days after the hike.

A couple of notes for if you think you might take this hike.   Be sure to bring plenty of water.  I brought 2 litres with me and drank every drop by the time I got down.  Also consider how well you do with heights.  In a couple of places near the top, the trail passes very close to shear drop-offs.  And the final 50m to the peak is a narrow trail that drops off quickly on both sides.  I was glad to have my trekking poles with me to give me better stability, although they were a bit of a hindrance when I had to use both hands to scramble over a few boulders.   If you are short on time or are concerned about the paths near cliffs, you can still go about 2/3 of the way up and enjoy fantastic views.