A long but excellent walk to the summit of Mt Charon (1560m) from Jacks Pass, also taking in the peak named Dumblane (1303m). Great views and very attractive heath vegetation.
We wanted a quieter walk to do on our first trip to the Hanmer Springs area, and this was a great choice. We met nobody else on a Sunday doing this long but very enjoyable walk to the summit of Mt Charon (1560m) via Dumblane (1303m) from Jacks Pass (870m). The very colourful heath vegetation was a real highlight, as were the views towards numerous other mountains, over the Hanmer Plains, and into a few valleys. Going as far as Mt Charon felt satisfyingly remote, but the much shorter trip to only Dumblane and back would also be a good option.
Very maroon as we began the relatively short ascent of Dumblane. Bluffs on the way up. Colourful heath as we walked the last bit to the summit of Dumblane. Sophia on the summit of Dumblane (1303m). Looking north here. From the summit of Dumblane (1303m), or at least quite nearby. Looking back down to Jacks Pass and the Clarence River Valley.
On our way from Dumblane to Mt Charon in these next pics…
Such colourful heathland. This was a real highlight of the walk.
Loved the colours and patterns of these plants. Mt St Patrick (1774m). Looking roughly east along the ridgeline from point 1437m to the summit of Mt Charon at 1560m. Getting close to the summit.
Looking north from the summit of Mt Charon. Me on a knob, where I took a few photos. Sophia took this on the summit of Mt Charon. Looking north-west from the summit.
The rest of these photos taken on the way back…
Sophia looking towards Maukuratawhai. Looking east. I liked this mountain Maukuratawhai (1615m), which looked quite climable only it’s on the other side of the Clarence River. Ghost Gully centre, which joins the Styx River coming from the left, and then the Clarence River, which runs left to right here. Maukuratawhai to the right. Returning to Dumblane. I liked these alpine plants. Not sure of their name. Looking up to Dunblame. So colourful. We drove up the Clarence River Valley the next day as far as Lake Tennyson. Viewed here with the help of my telephoto lens. So many interesting alpine and subalpine plants on this walk. Descending back down from Dumblane. Maukuratawhai centre left.
Track Notes
A marked track as far as Dumblane, then off track to Mt Charon, although there are some old metal poles leading you down from Mt Dumblane for a while. (They eventually lead you down into the valley to the south – not sure where after that.)
A marked track as far as Dumblane, then off track to Mt Charon, although there are some old metal poles leading you down from Mt Dumblane for a while. (They eventually lead you down into the valley to the south – not sure where after that.) We got our track notes from Canterbury Foothills and Forests, but the map here should be enough info.
It’s fairly easy walking the whole way, and navigation will be straightforward in good weather. I estimated the walk to be 16-17km long with about 1000m change in elevation: it will take roughly 8 hours at a steady pace. The most tiring ascent is probably to point 1437m on the way out, although the shorter descent and ascent on the western side of Dumblane is quite steep.
Walking only to Dumblane and back would be substantially shorter, but still quite a nice walk.
It starts off on a vehicle track from the car park at Jacks Pass, but soon turns into a foot track.
Thanks for the inspiration and the trip notes! We did this today in very good conditions, with plenty of stops for snacks, photos and water it took us 8 hours. In case this helps anyone: our GPS measured the distance at just over 19km, with 1400m of elevation gain.
The silvery leaf plant looks like the leaves of a Celmisia (mountain daisy), probably Celmisia semicordata. You have Celmisias in some of your other alpine pics. All very nice!
Thanks for the inspiration and the trip notes! We did this today in very good conditions, with plenty of stops for snacks, photos and water it took us 8 hours. In case this helps anyone: our GPS measured the distance at just over 19km, with 1400m of elevation gain.
Cheers Josie. It’s quite a big walk isn’t it. I think I’ll return to do this again one day.
The silvery leaf plant looks like the leaves of a Celmisia (mountain daisy), probably Celmisia semicordata. You have Celmisias in some of your other alpine pics. All very nice!
Hi Molly. I can picture the flower now. I probably haven’t noticed the leaves so much when the flower is blooming. They are very nice 😀👍