Purple Peak Perpendicular

You won't find many routes that have you ascending so relentlessly for 1000m plus of vertical, and then the icing on the cake is a magnificent technical scree running descent. This is true mountain goat country.

Starting and finishing at the camping/ carpark area just beside the highway and the top of Lake Pearson you initially need to pick your way around the lake shore around towards a low saddle to the north end of Purple Peak. If the lake is low, this is straightforward around the rocky and occasionally boggy shore. Beware though, quicksand like conditions can prevail at times so where in doubt skirt back around the firmer vegetated perimeter. Don't be tempted to take a shortcut across the last bit of lake head, you will sink knee to thigh deep into the mud, stay on firm land here!

Once you've made it across to the northern slopes of the hill commence your ascent. Just follow your nose really, either head straight up the ridge or zig zag your way if the calves are screaming too hard at you. It's steep but steady going as you relentlessly scale the hillslopes and it gradually steepens more until you hit more defined ridgeline nearer to the top. From here you are likely to find a trail of sorts and even the odd cairn. Don't forget to look back when you stop for breathers, the views rapidly improve as you slog your guts out on the way up.

The ridgeline along the top is pretty straightforward but very exposed. It would pay to give it a miss on a windy day, in fact if the weather is not good you really shouldn't be here at all. After maybe two hours of sweat and effort you'll gain the Purple Peak summit and here you can sit down and take in the 360 degree world of wonder at your feet. The views are really something to behold here.

Having fueled and watered up at the summit you need to continue a wee bit further along the ridgeline summit until you are positioned at the middle of the top of the massive screes that flow practically down to the middle of the lake. You'll want good footwear here, perhaps even an older pair of shoes that you are willing to sacrifice to the scree gods. And gaiters to keep the rocks out! Perhaps even tramping boots.

The descent is fast for the first half, wonderful elevator like scree running if you have the right technique and confidence levels. Don't get too cocky though, it can rip you up pretty bad if you take a tumble! Further down ,the scree gets a little more bony and less runnable. Pick your way though the thickening matagoury shrublands through obvious gaps and faint animal trails out onto the tussock/ grassland fan that slowly leads out and round to the right to lake level.

From here pick your way around the lake shore to regain the route taken to the ascent area. A short 20 mins or so retracing your steps around the top of the lake and you'll be back at the car with a real adventure under your belt, and the ability to look up that scree slope every time you drive past in the further and say with a steely eyed grin that you have been up there.

NB: if you want a shortcut from the scree to the highway, its only a quick 5 minute swim from the fan across the narrow neck of lake. Less if the lake is low. But you will get everything wet!