Closed tracks bring opportunity

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Trampers turned away from the Routeburn and Milford tracks are being encouraged to check out the Mount Somers track in Mid Canterbury and the nearby Hakatere Conservation Park.

Hundreds of trampers attempting the southern tracks are looking for alternatives after over a metre of rain fell in Fiordland in just 60 hours. The Routeburn is now closed for the foreseeable future, while the Milford Track is closed until at least the end of February, as well as the Hollyford Track.

Mid Canterbury’s Mount Somers track is already popular with trampers and accommodation in huts is by Department of Conservation tickets.

The area features rugged bush, open sub-alpine tussock lands, historic coalmines, impressive volcanic formations and deep canyons.

Mount Somers Walkway Society chairman Charles Ross said while the huts were busy at this time of year, there was plenty of room for those with a tent, who could use the other hut facilities.

Tracks in the area are well maintained by DOC and volunteers and there were plenty of off-shoots for trampers to explore, he said.

"We have no river issues, good tracks, there is not the same rain and it is an interesting area to explore. There are off-shoots people can do from the marked track to make the whole experience pretty memorable."

Mr Ross said his favourite area of the track was at the back of Mt Somers, near Morgan Stream.

"All the tracks are a little different. Mount Somers has very interesting geology and very unique bush."

In the wider Hakatere Conservation Park, trampers could choose from at least half a dozen tracks into huts, including Manuka Hut, Double Hut, Cameron Hut, Upper Hakatere Hut, Boundary Hut and Potts Hutt.

 

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