PTC - 2025DaleTopsMtAdams

Dale Tops and Mt Adams

16-19 December 2024

Raymond’s Lake Mavis trip had to be cancelled due to the weather, so Geoff suggested a mid-week alternative to the West Coast in a forecast fine period. Birthdays and FMC meetings prevented a leisurely trip west the day before, so it was an early morning start, followed by a scenic drive through the fire-damaged Craigieburns, over Arthurs Pass, collecting Joke and Andrew, before arriving at the Parker Creek access. The ridge disappeared steeply into the clouds and a 1500m ascent, starting at 1.30pm didn’t look like an enjoyable afternoon’s activity. It wasn’t.

The start of Andrew’s recently cut track was not easy to find and the recent rain had brought down additional obstacles on the ridge. We were glad of his navigational guidance. Light rain became torrential with lightning and thunder as we approached the bush-line. The rain then eased but the wind made progress unpleasant. Multiple tops on the ridge required slippery snowgrass sidles or ascents. We finally reached the top at about 8pm and started looking for campsites but numerous tarns were more suited to surfing than camping until we descended into the comparative shelter of a large basin. Most of us retreated to the tents, leaving Geoff to cook Sonja’s risotto, before we finally went to bed, about 11.30pm.

We emerged the next morning to what felt like a different planet, without a breath of wind or a cloud in the sky. The Dale Tops were revealed in all their splendour. Small streams linked a series of tarns that reflected the high peaks of the Main Divide, from Tasman and Cook to the south and the peaks around the Garden of Eden in the east. No one had much energy after the day before and the prospect of a comparatively short day enabled a leisurely breakfast and photograph session before a 10am start. The route led across the basin and some steep snowgrass sidles before a crafty Andrew route though a ravine led to a low saddle into the head of the main Dale River.

The vista opened with a view of a series of impressive spurs leading up to the Mt Adams Range. The route on the true left to the upper basin, through a system of rocky ridges, allowed reasonable travel. Some discussion about campsites resulted in a final climb to a sheltered terrace at about 1600m. Geoff headed up onto the range to recce the route for the next day and then he, Andrew and Joke departed for a post-dinner trip to the saddle, discussing routes up Escape Col and down into the Little Man River. Curious kea arrived with the evening light, looking for entertainment, possibly considering the claw resistance of the Dyneema fabric on the tents.

The next day was the big one, the traverse along Mt Adams Range. We climbed the spur between Dale and Little Man Rivers, reached the range at 1824m and gazed in awe at a significant spire just ahead. Raymond and Geoff kicked and cut steps up a gap between the rock face and snow bank, while cloud started to stream westward, threatening to settle for the day. Joke decided that she didn’t want to get to Escape Col, find that she couldn’t do it and have to retreat and down-climb the spire. She and Andrew decided to turn back and, while the rest of us wavered, Geoff persuaded us that we could continue. Soon after climbing the spire, the cloud disappeared completely. We sidled left on many of the rocky peaks before arriving at Escape Col. The central snow gullies looked potentially blocked but the rock to the west looked reasonable, and so it proved, solid and climbable. That led to easier snow slopes above, and by 4pm we had arrived at 2100m, the top of next day’s descent route. The 2208m summit of Mt Adams beckoned and we set off in good crampon conditions and reached the top by 5pm. It was glorious, with little wind, some low cloud on the coast and visibility stretching from the Olivines to the Paparoas. The opportunity to be on top in those conditions is rare, so we didn’t leave the top until just before 6pm.

2024:12:17 12:33_Upper Dale Basin and Mt Adams Range. Photo by GS

We returned to the packs, decided to drop to lower terraces while the snow was soft, and reached a series of terraces at 1740m by 8pm.

Our last day meant some serious height loss with consequences for the knees. The first section with a definite foot trail to the turning point at 1545m was easy in comparison to the Dale Top track. The next section to the bush-line was subject to some serious erosion into the gully to the north. Large cracks were apparent and, while we tried to keep south of them, we kept encountering further cracks hidden in the tussock. Heavy rain or an earthquake would send large sections of ridge down the precipice. The track descends steeply from the bush-line at 1200m and it was a relief to reach Little Man River for a refreshing swim.

The river has changed significantly, with large quantities of gravel after recent floods, and under normal flows does not require crossing. It was a great trip to a rarely-visited area. Andrew’s re-cutting of the track has allowed access and the opportunity for a round-trip incorporating an ascent of Mt Adams.

Trampers: Andrew Buglass, Raymond Ford, Joke de Rijke, Sonja Risa, Geoff Spearpoint (leader) and Gary Huish. GH

On Mt Adams. Photo by SR

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