Distance: 8.8km   Time Walking: 4hrs 07min   Elevation: Max Alt 1174m    Vert Ascent: 701m

With a crisp morning start we knew we would be in for a cracker day in the mountains.  Cake-icing snow sparkling on the Southern Alps, we settled in while Callum our coach driver set a course for the trip to Mt Alford just south of Mt Hutt.  President Peter welcomed visitors: John, Ailsa, Glenys, Sun, Soo and Tessa and reminded folks about making sure to indicate on the booking sheet their pick-up point.

Setting off over the squishy ground

Even before we reached the track proper our boots were muddy from the boggy lead-in to the second gate and there was a group from West Melton who were just setting out ahead of us.  The Standards were aiming for the top while the Alternate group would climb as high as they wanted.  It was a pleasant day but even so the lower reaches were still icy with frost in the shady spots.  We could see a peak of sorts but wise heads knew that the main goal was much higher and obscured at this early stage.  Continuing through the bush-clad lower slopes of the reserve, there were patches of squishy mud which made the going tricky but soon this gave way to firmer ground and we made quite a fast time to the morning tea spot just shy of the upper bush edge.

A little more scrambling after the break and we pushed onto the open hillside with wider views of the surroundings.  Sunshine modified the cool northerly and as we got higher, we could see that skiers would be happy: Mt Hutt still retained a good covering of the white stuff.  When we reached the picnic table, leader Janne gave everyone a heads-up about the climb ahead – it was going to be about an hour of trudging steeply upwards for lunch on the top and invited those who wished to drop off to savour the sun and mountain views until the top party returned.

Happy trampers on the summit of Mt Alford

At about 650m we encountered the snowline and the going changed.  The crisp crump of boots on snow was punctuated by frustrated grunts when a foot broke through the crust to sink knee-deep to be followed by a struggle to extract it and move on.  The final ridge was in sight and it was a relief to push over the top to the summit.  What a stunning 360⁰ view of plains, foothills and ranges of the Main Divide! The effort had certainly paid off.  Lunch was very welcome but because of time and the cool breeze at this altitude, we could not afford to linger too long and soon the descent began.

Having to gingerly pick our way carefully down the ridgeline and back through the snow made progress slow.  As it was, there was still a bit of slipping and sliding until we were out of it.   Below us we could see a small observatory and support buildings.  I have not been able to find out why it is there or who operates it.  Interestingly though, in the 1880s a local marine and civil engineer Isaac Jacobson, planned “Diamond Town” at Mt Alford after he announced the discovery of diamonds there.  Geologists at the time said that the diamonds were only small quartz crystals (you may have noticed the pinkish and buff coloured rocks stemming from the local volcanic rhyolite as we climbed) but this did not stop people flocking to the area.  However, the rush soon fizzled and Diamond Town remained a just dream and lines on a map.

Tired but happy after our exertions, everybody remarked on what was a perfect day’s tramp: fresh mountain air, tremendous views and great company.  We were looking forward to a little snooze on the way back to Christchurch to ease body and soul.