Mt Cloudsley via Long Spur, Craigieburn Forest Park, Canterbury NZ
Great views in all directions as you climb to the accessible high peak of Mt Cloudsley (2107m) in the Craigieburn Range near Castle Hill.
This was my first time to climb a 2000 metre high peak from the bottom (the bottom being at 760m in this case), and was also the highest I’d climbed in New Zealand. Despite these numbers it is a fairly straightforward climb up Long Spur to the summit of Mt Cloudsley (2107m), the second highest peak in the Craigieburn Range. It made for a great winter walk after some fresh snow, with views along the Craigieburn Range and over to the Torlesse Range, and from the summit, views south-west over a jumble of topography around Lake Coleridge, and north-west towards numerous peaks in the Southern Alps.
Low cloud around the summit limited my photography a little, but the views were clear enough for you to get the idea. And the cloud cleared as we began to head back down, so I got good pics north and east. Track notes at the end.
The rocks at Castle Hill, and our target for the day, Mt Cloudsley, somewhere at the back. Viewed from the road on our drive in. This is probably a nicer scene in the lilac hues of very early morning, but the bright primary colours of this not so early morning were nice too. There’s an easygoing walk around the rocks that we’ve not done yet, and I think the rocks are popular with climbers.
Mt Cloudsley via Long Spur: The Scenery
Looking back at Castle Hill Village and the Torlesse Range, which was to be obscured by cloud until we began our descent. Walking along the Hogs Back Track after we emerged from beech forest. Peaks to the north of Mt Cloudsley visible here, although they were to remain obscured by cloud for quite a while on our way up to the summit. Sophia on the Hogs Back Track. This is used as a Mountain Bike Track, although it is closed to bikers in winter. Leith Hill (1384m) to the left. The last bit to the summit of Mt Cloudsley. Quite snowy in places. Mist was coming in and out so I was constantly grabbing my camera to take pictures of this scene as it cleared. I think that’s Mt Izard (2009m) centre left. Sophia with clouds swirling around behind her. Getting up high here. Sophia approaching the summit of Mt Cloudsley (2107m) in low cloud. Looking towards the jumble of mountains around Lake Coleridge, with Mt Ida in the centre mid ground, and Mt Oakden, which we climbed the week before, behind Mt Ida. The tops were lopped off the distant peaks of the Southern Alps, but we could see Mt Olympus, in the mid ground here stretching from left to right.
The following video gives you a reasonable impression of the views from the summit, partially obscured by cloud as they were:
Setting off from the summit with peaks to the north in the Craigieburn Range beginning to emerge from behind cloud. Leaving the summit of Mt Cloudsley. Looking north along the Craigieburn Range. All these peaks around 2000m high. Looking NNE with the Craigieburn Range to the left, Purple Hill centre right, and Broken Hill to the right. The Torlesse Range brooding below grey clouds. Looking back at bits of the Craigieburn Range. Sophia backed by a few hills including Purple Hill to the left. A few people liked this shot when I posted it on social media, so I’m including it here. A bit more of an atmosphere shot as this scene was quite a long way from Mt Cloudsley, and so didn’t look quite like this. Lovely shapes and textures though. Sophia looking happy with our walk. Nearing the bottom of Long Spur here. The Hogs Back Track is off to the left. The Torlesse Range at the back.
Track Notes
Starting off on the Hogs Back Track, you leave this very shortly after an intersection with another track, heading up Long Spur to the summit.
You start this route on the Hogs Back Track, a mountain biking and walking track, that passes at first through beech forest, then emerges into grassland/scrub. After a while you arrive at an intersection with another track that returns to the forest – a few metres on there is a track of sorts that runs up conveniently to join Long Spur near the tree line. From there it’s straight up Long Spur to the summit through tussock, then scree and rocks (although mostly snow for us).
This was fairly easy walking in winter after some fresh snow, but without there will be patches of scree that might slow progress. I’d also read that there was some easy scrambling to be done but it hardly felt like that to me – perhaps snow helped. It took us about 4 hours to the summit, and it’s a fairly easy descent back down the same route. Roughly 1350m of ascent/descent over 6km.
Great climb and photos
Seen my book about castle hill area
Might enjoy it
John and charles enys castle hill runholders 1864-1891
Cheers Jenny. I’ll look into that. I’m reading a historical book about living and working on a Canterbury High Country station at the mo.