Mt Herbert, practical peak for beginners

Press, 30 December 1982, Page 12

Mt Herbert, practical peak for beginners

By

ROSEMARY BRITTEN

No other sensation is quite like that of standing on the summit of a mountain you

have spent long hard hours climbing — a heady feeling, especially when you are still at primary school and this is your first peak. True, Mr Herbert is a minor Everest, 3015 feet according to the map, or 919 metres if we must be up to date; more a goodly hill than a mountain, and not so much a climb as a long steep walk. No boots or ropes needed here, it can be done quite comfortably in sneakers. However, it is the highest point on Banks Peninsula, and the sense of achievement is there.

The view from the top is spendid: the whole sweep of Pegasus Bay right up to the Kaikouras on one side, over Lake Ellesmere and on till

the coast disappears into the horizon on the other. To the east are the tumbled hills of the peninsula, and to the west, Lyttelton Harbour and the Port Hills, Christchurch and the plains, and the white peaks of the main divide. A good starting point for the climb is from the road near the Diamond Harbour store, where a sign post points to the Mr Herbert Walkway. Four hours to the summit, it says, a reasonable estimate if no time is wasted. The track descends to the beach, and then follows the creek up through mixed native and exotic trees. It crosses the main road and the old Purau-Charteris Bay

road and continues up through farmland. The route is clearly marked by posts with the walkway symbol and there is a stile at every fence. This detracts from the feeling of being an intrepid explorer but it does prevent people wandering vaguely over hillsides which all look alike to the untrained eye. The way is steep in places, and above the warm tussocky slopes skylarks flutter desperately, singing their little hearts out. The skylark may be a blithe spirit to some people, but to an unromantic 12-year-old it sounds like an electronic game. All the way up, there is a constantly changing view as the bays of Lyttelton Har-

bour are revealed, and the open sea dazzles from sev ; eral angles. The winding road joining Purau and Port Levy is seen from above, as is that remarkable landmark, the rocky outcrop known as The Monument.

Having forced aching muscles into the last hard scramble to the summit, it is a little disappointing to find a sign already there, saying “Mt Herbert.” After all, you do know you are at the top when you run out of hill. Here too are the tall masts and solar panels of a radio repeater station, used in search and rescue work. A little below the summit is a well-built wooden shelter, again an intrusion of civilisation, but a most welcome respite from the wind which blows great gales at this height and is icy cold, no

matter which direction' it comes from.

From the shelter, another well-marked route leads down to Charteris Bay. This way is shorter and steeper and prettier. After a large unfortunate swathe of gorse the track passes through remnants of native bush. Here be bellbirds, and no-one would dare suggest that they sound electronic. Less pleasantly. healthy growths of the native nettle, onga-onga. wait for the unwary. The track passes close to the flat-topped craggy peak which until recently was called Mt Herbert but has been renamed Mr Bradley. The peak the track descends

from used to be Herbert Peak and is now Mt Herbert. These changes of name are presumably to avoid confusion but, until everyone forgets the earlier names, do not help miich. After Orton Bradley Park with its stands of English and Australian trees, picnic grounds, and historic farm buildings, the track emerges on to the main road at Charteris Bay. It is still a long trudge back to Diamond Harbour but at least it is comparatively level going. Our party, which included children of 11 and 12. made the round trip in eight hours and a half including a half hour stop for lunch.

Mt Herbert is a good peak to test the fitness of those who are perhaps too young or too old for the big ones. It is not always’ trouble-free; prospective climbers should remember that weather conditions can change dramatically. and prepare accordingly. For Christchurch dwellers there is an added attraction. When you live on the flat and are accustomed to looking up to the Port Hills, there is some satisfaction in looking down over their tops to the city and the plains beyond, and on to where the. real mountains beckon, snowcapped and shining against a pale sky.