Location: Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands
Track / Route: Foggy Peak
Adventure Type: Overnight mission
Distance: 5.5km
Duration: 2 Days
Huts / Campsites: Camping on top of Foggy Peak
Who went: Solo
This short microadventure after work gave me a quick escape into the mountains and allowed me to reset while enjoying the beautiful New Zealand landscape.
After finishing work for the week, I drove about an hour out of Christchurch to the base of the popular Foggy Peak route.
Foggy Peak is one of the closest and most accessible peaks near Christchurch, offering beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Lyndon. The sun was starting to get low in the sky and I did not have much daylight left.
Shouldering my small Black Diamond Distance 22 pack, I set off aiming to make good time up to the top of Foggy Peak.
Making my way up Foggy Peak.
A Steep Climb Before Sunset
Foggy Peak had been on my list for a long time. I had heard about it before I had even moved to Christchurch, but for some reason I never got around to going up it.
The route is a steep but well-worn trail through the scrub and tussock before reaching the gravel scree, where it can feel like a constant two steps forward and one step back.
The route to the summit is short, only about 2.7km, but it gains around 800m of elevation over that distance. Combined with the loose scree underfoot, it can be a slow trudge upwards.
The sky was very dramatic as I pushed myself higher. I remember stopping a few times to take in the beautiful scenery, definitely not to catch my breath.
Lake Lyndon was a stunning sight, with the fiery horizon making the lake appear to glow. It was a sight to behold.
Lake Lyndon.
I managed to reach the summit in just under an hour, with the last of the sun's rays sinking behind the mountains.
I was quite exposed to the wind on the rocky summit and was incredibly grateful for the awesome rock wall that someone had built on top.
Approaching the summit, with Castle Hill Peak in the background.
Camping on Foggy Peak
Knowing the type of location I would be camping in, I decided to bring my Outdoor Research Helium UL Bivy on this trip.
The bivy is well suited to this type of campsite. Its low profile meant I was not as affected by the wind whipping across the summit.
With the sun setting and the view down to Lake Lyndon getting harder to see, I organised my sleeping gear and boiled some water with my SOTO Fusion Trek Stove.
The stove was another piece of gear well suited to this type of terrain. Its wide, stable base gave me confidence while cooking on the rocky and uneven ground.
As darkness enveloped my isolated world on top of the peak, I polished off my Radix dinner and headed off to sleep.
Home for the night.
A Sunrise Worth Waking Up For
I had a great night's sleep tucked into my bivy and woke just before the sun in preparation for the sunrise I hoped to see.
It did not disappoint. As I made myself a coffee, the sky lit up in a dramatic blaze of red and orange.
The morning sunrise.
The cloud inversion below only added to the incredible scene.
Getting coffee on the go with my SOTO Fusion Trek.
After coffee, a bite to eat and that amazing sunrise, I packed up my camp and made good time back to the car.
I almost halved my time from the way up, enjoying running down the loose scree and letting my feet move with it down the mountain.
Packing up camp after sunrise.
Feeling refreshed and invigorated, I began the drive back to Christchurch. I was looking forward to the rest of my weekend and glad to have fitted in a microadventure in the mountains.
Gear Notes
Outdoor Research Helium UL Bivy
An excellent piece of kit for this type of environment. The low profile meant my shelter was not as affected by the wind, while the bivy helped block drafts and trap some heat.
This type of shelter may not be the roomiest option, but it packs down small and does not weigh much, making it well suited to fast overnight missions.
SOTO Fusion Trek Stove
A remote canister stove that boils water quickly and cooks well. This stove has become a favourite of mine.
Its low profile and stable base make boiling water and cooking on uneven ground much easier. The Micro Regulator also helps the stove perform when temperatures drop or the gas canister is running low.
Black Diamond Distance 22 Pack
A compact and lightweight pack that carried everything I needed for this quick overnight mission without adding unnecessary bulk.
