Mt. Patriarch (Tasman)

From the marked start of Chummies track on the roadside, immediately start with a crossing of the Wangapeka River. Put yourself in second gear for a long, generally steady climb up a good track up the beautiful wooded ridge to Pt. 1292 (with a few steeper bits, and a few descents to keep things interesting).

Just past Pt. 1292 the track narrows considerably as you start the traverse along the steep hillside to John Reid Hut. Fill up with water at the hut as this is the last opportunity until Kiwi Saddle. Follow the snow poles straight up the hill from the hut to make the main ridge. From here turn left and generally follow the ridgeline, with a few sections where you'll need to drop down a gully to get over some bluffy bits - notably southwest of Pt. 1507. This is the highlight of the trip, with amazing views distracting you from some technical untracked ridge running.

Eventually you reach the start of the track down to Kiwi Saddle where it is decision time. If you have time and are still feeling good, make the steep climb through the spaniards to the summit of Mt Patriarch (lightly cairned) and return the same way. The views are amazing and definitely worth it, but keep in mind that you are not even half way distance-wise and likely time-wise too (depending on confidence on overgrown trails and fatigue during the 'easy trails')

After making the return trip to Patriarch, it's a marked track the rest of the way. Follow the track down to Kiwi Saddle hut, at first steeply down then undulating along and around the ridgeline. From the hut it's a steady descent down to the Wangapeka River/Kiwi Stream confluence. This section would be very runnable if it weren't for the copious amount of hook grass and other foliage covering the track as of writing (March 2021).

After crossing two large swingbridges over Kiwi Stream and the Wangapeka, you're on the Wangapeka Track - turn left to get back to the car. Keep your eyes peeled for Whio as you run through the easiest section of the trail, although the small climbs in the undulations certainly take their toll after 30km! The end point is Rolling River Carpark, where you'll either meet the second car, stashed bike, or have another 5ish km along the gravel road.