Another Canterbury foothill trip: Mt Thomas
Another day trip this time to the summit of Mt Thomas in North Canterbury. I just need to climb Mt Oxford and I have tramped on all of the major Canterbury foothills.Banks Peninsula from the top of Mt Thomas |
From Wooded Gully to Mt Thomas
There are several tracks to the summit of Mt Thomas, you can do this circuit in either direction. I walked in a clockwise direction but you may suit yourself. The Summit Track is steeper than the Wooded Gully Track which informed my decision.
I parked the car at the Wooded Gully car-park, there is also a DOC camp ground in the area on a river terrace next to the track entrance. It was fairly busy on the day as it was a long weekend.
The track's start from the far side of the clearing shown below, you can just see the DOC track signs from the edge of the clearing.
The track is nicely maintained for about the first kilometer or so it then deteriorates into your typical rough as guts back country track.
The first track junction gives you a track to Mt Thomas (left) or the Waterfall Track (right). This is also the way to the Summit Track if walking in a anti clock wise direction.
As you can see the track has started to deteriorate and assume the usual character we know and love...
The target for this climbing is the saddle at the head of Wooded Gully, the track crosses from side to side of the valley following the line of least resistance.
You are mostly in the forest so this is one of the few views of the plains you get until you reach the Ridge Track at the head of the valley.
The track is steep in places and there is a degree of mild rock scrambling involved, it is a far cry from the well manicured lower reaches of the track.
The upper reaches of the Wooded Gully are quite dense and thick: almost reminds me of West Coast tiger country...
The top end of the Mt Thomas track switches between steep, root covered track and stream bed acting as a track. This section was muddy and windy as there were strong gusts being channelled up the valley and over the saddle.
Eventually you reach the saddle and Ridge Track: turn right for the summit of Mt Thomas and left to follow the old No. 2 track back down to the car-park (3-4 hours).
Once you reach the open terrain along the top of the ridge there are excellent views of the Canterbury Plains out to the south east. The track is well maintained easy walking, it only took 20 minutes to walk from the edge of the forest to the summit of Mt Thomas.
You eventually reach the summit, it is a broad flat plateau with a trig and radio repeater on the top. I had planned to stop here for lunch but the strong cold wind gusts put paid to that idea.
The access road up the rear slope of Mt Thomas is a well used route for out MTB brethren, it could also be walked but would be a long, dusty and fairly uninspiring tramp.
Spectacular views of the Canterbury Plains from the summit as well as into the Lees Valley and the ranges further to the West.
I was mildly worried about the dark cloud on the horizon but luckily the rain did not start until I was on my home down the access road so no need for the wet weather gears.
It is difficult to see in the photos but it was really windy with strong, cold wind gusts blowing across the summit: I did not dally for long as it started to get cold.
Mt Thomas summit to Wooded Gully
The descent back to the car-park starts with a 10 minute walk down a 4 W/D track before the track branches off and heads down a spur covered in exotic pines.
The Summit Track is an old bull dozer track which descends one of the spurs leading down from Mt Thomas. It is steep but easy travel...
The view below is of the ridge I had climbed up earlier in the day, the Wooded Gully Track gradually climbs along the ridge before crossing to the other side of the gully and rising steeply to the saddle.
The lunch of tramping champions: tuna, crackers and water enjoyed al fresco...is there anything finer!
The track down through the exotic plantation is very nice, although steep. I passed 12 people making their way up the slope, this is obviously the preferred way to the summit.
I had a particularly fat Keruru following me along the track for some distance, I also saw some Fantails, Quail and some other exotic birds. There was a lot more bird life in the exotic forest than in the native area's.
The final section of the track follows alongside the forestry road, before dropping down to the car-park and camping area.
Another excellent day trip and another mountain off my list of peaks to tramp on. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of the native and exotic forest, it is almost two tramps in one.
Access:Wooded Gully picnic area is about 65 km north-west of
Christchurch and is reached either from Oxford or Loburn.
From Oxford continue on the road past Ashley Gorge and
the Glentui Bush Road turn-off to Hayland Road, a further
5 km on. From Loburn, take the signposted road to Oxford
for about 16 km to the Hayland Road turn-off. Wooded
Gully picnic area is about 4 km away at the end of Hayland
Road.
Track Times: From Wooded Gully car park, 1.5-2 hours to Ridge Track, 1 hour along Ridge Track to Mt Thomas, 1.5 hours to car park on Summit Track: 4-5 hours total
Miscellaneous:Moderately steep tracks in places, no potable water source along any of these tracks, Ridge Track exposed to weather.
Hi Jon. Love your blog. Am intending to go to Wooded Gully for two nights in early May. DOC have been unable to tell me what (or when) might routinely close the campsite. It's a long way to come from Taihape with ferry trip included, to find it is closed for 1080 drop or such like. Not lambing or calving time. Thought you or your followers may know of regular types of activity that go on there and how long notice might DOC give of a closure? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat is a nice wee campsite at Wooded Gully. I always check the DOC website before I head out as they are generally good about notify closures for pest control, farm operations and weather damage.
ReplyDelete