A recent walk, tramp or hike on a very hot day to Little Mt Peel on a clear day was well worth the copious quantities of sweat and tired muscles. Leaving home at 8:00 am, a short trip to Blandswood at the start of the track up Deer Spur saw Ian and I on the summit at midday.
Walking poles certainly helped, particularly on the way down where three points of contact prevented me slipping on loose rocks. Plenty of sunscreen was also necessary.
The small hut at the top provided a good place to put the billy on for a hot cuppa, refuel, rehydrate and cool down before the descent.
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| The three peaks of Mt Peel. |
Little Mt Peel (1,311m or 4,301ft) is the peak to the right with a long ridge extending to Middle Mt Peel (1,583m or 5,194ft) and along again to the high peak, Big Mt Peel (1,743m or 5,719ft)
Mt Peel is a very distinctive feature when travelling along the Canterbury Plains from Christchurch to Oamaru. They jut out into the plains and form a great vantage point of the Canterbury Plains from near Christchurch towards Waimate and further south.
The following photographs are taken with my phone as I didn't want to lug my heavy camera gear up the hill. The camera phone being suitable on this occasion.
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| The irrigation ponds on either side of the Rangitata River |
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| Looking across the Rangitata River towards the Port Hills of Christchurch |
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| The Rangitata meanders down with Mt Somers to the left of Mt Hutt in the centre. |
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| The trig on the summit of Little Mt Peel. |
After getting back to the car, going with gravity was certainly much easier the going against it!
An ice cream stop in Geraldine was most welcome after a hot day.
