Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Craigieburn Traverse
Castle Hill Village, Canterbury
Submitted by Rose Pearson
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Grunt Factor: 125 ?
Gnarl Factor: 91 ?
43.5km
3330m
3550m
2194m
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Castle Hill Village, Canterbury
Submitted by Rose Pearson
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Grunt Factor: 125 ?
Gnarl Factor: 91 ?
43.5km
3330m
3550m
2194m
Back country - remote
Point to Point (one way)
Very hilly
Dog Friendly
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Gravel Road
Untracked / Route only
Average Uphill Gradient: +14.6%
Average Downhill Gradient: -14.6%
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Not suitable
Slow
13:00
Moderate
8:00
Fast
Begin the route at the Porters Pass ski-field sign. Run 5km up the access road, until deviating off the second to last switchback (the one before I did on my GPX) and ascend the ridge to Blue Hill. From here, stick to the ridge for the next 30km until you reach Baldy Hill. Descend its north spur before heading left near the bottom into a gut that will take you to Cass Stream - sidle left out of it at the last moment to take a nice scree slope the final 50m to the river. It looks scrubby, but you can pick a clean route through. Follow the DoC track back to the Cass Track car park. Hitch or car shuttle back to the start. Route would run as well in other direction.
This trail includes the peaks Baldy Hill, Hamilton Peak, Mount Cockayne, Mount Cheeseman, Mount Izard, Mount Cloudsley, Mount Enys, Willis Peak, Blue Hill and Nervous Knob.
A tour of the Craigieburn club ski-fields.
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
Parking on side of SH73 of just off the Porters ski-field access road.
9 km
7 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Nav will be difficult in cloudy conditions. There are few if any places where you have to worry about bluffs, so you could happily follow a GPS trace in cloudy conditions.
Generally good.
Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival bag, Cellphone, Compass, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries, Crampons / microspikes (for winter conditions), Gaiters
Tarn basin with a 200m descent just before Cheeseman ski-field.
In winter there is avalanche hazard and it would be better to do as a ski tour.
The Yelloshack Cafe
Springfield, Canterbury
The nearest food between the trail end and Chch. Delicious pizza.
The Springfield Pub
Springifield, Pub
Open late.
The Wobbly Kea
Arthurs pass
http://www.wobblykea.co.nz/
Delicious food.
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Craigieburn Traverse
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Tough but fun. Go in prepared for a long day on rough terrain. I recommend taking burly shoes with a rock plate. Be careful with your line choice on the final scree descent. Some of the scree is quite shallow, making for unstable footing.
The views of the Craggieburns, Torlesse, & Main Divide are hard to beat.
March 26, 2021
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