“On a Mish” #185 Paradise from Above (Part One). Ari / Mt Alfred(1375m). Glenorchy / Routeburn Road. 12.12.2009. From the first time I saw Mt Alfred(1375m) from the viewing area at Bennetts Bluff, I knew I wanted to stand on top of the small chunk of a mountain located in the middle of Paradise (literally). Surrounded by giants, the small peak is located at the head of Lake Wakatipu alongside the always impressive waters of Te Awa Whakatipu / Dart River. And at one stage you used to be able to sneak up to the top to see Paradise from above…
This is the account of my first mission up the mountain via the west face track, which was located near the Drat River. Since this adventure I have also climbed the peak from the eastern side. However, nowadays sadly, access to the peak is cut off to the public and must be tackled with the company of local guides.
I had gone an entire season guiding on the Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks and only driven around the base of the mountain. Each time I was left wanting to top out on the well-placed peak and see the view from the summit. So, along with a camping / tent testing trip up the Glacier Burn, a plan to finally climb the peak was hatched.
I spent the night at the spectacularly scenic Sylvan Campsite (near the Routeburn Track), and in between my battles with the local Te Namu / Sandflies, I could stare up at tomorrows objective Mt Alfred(1375m), and picture myself on the summit looking back down at my campsite on the edge of the mighty Route Burn as it enters the many braids of Te Awa Whakatipu / Dart River. Also, I will be able to see over the other side into a farm that is named ‘Paradise’. I was really looking forward to seeing Paradise from above.
An early-ish start the next day revealed a moody sky and definite change in the weather. The new day also gave me the realization that in my rush to get out of the guide flat in Queenstown I hadn’t checked any weather reports for the area (rookie). All I could do was hope for the best, and if it got really rough, I could just turn back.
Now that I was fully committed to the mish, I drove the short drive from the Sylvan Campsite to the roadside car park at the western base of Mt Alfred(1375m), and I was off into the beech forest that covers the lower reaches of the small mountain. It had taken a few years to put feet onto track, but I was finally beginning my quest to see Paradise from above…
