“On a Mish” #418 The Training Ground. Omawete Coopers Knob. Port Hills. Canterbury. 15.6.2010. Working on the Routeburn Track gave me an excellent way to earn some pay during the warmer months, and this also put in deep into the hills. Being surrounded by grandeur meant I didn’t have to look far for mountain motivation. When I travelled up to Christchurch each winter, I needed something else to keep my focus firmly on staying fighting fit for when the weather allowed me to go on adventures. Luckily rising above Christchurch’s southeastern corner is a training ground that provides everything needed to be ready for the next mish…
Aotearoa (mainly Te Waipounamu South Island) can be a place that seems like it would be easy to navigate around. At only 250km across it seems so small when compared with its big brother Australia, however the Māori and Early Settlers quickly discovered that the uplifted areas of the Southern Alps weren’t to be taken lightly. To take on the challenges you need to be able to tackle terrain that is usually only seen by creatures that can fly.
As a kid I remember cruising around the hills with my brother and sister, and the elevation and views stuck with me well into my adulthood. So, when I needed a place to keep my fitness levels in check, I would sometimes head to the track off the Summit Road up to Omawete Coopers Knob. And over the years I have been joined by my favourite four-legged friends.
Once loaded into the car, we would normally access the range and join the Summit Road via Gebbies Pass. From the pass it is only a short drive to an unassuming roadside car park and the start of the track. The variety is excellent as the start of the hike is in the upper reaches of Omahu Bush. The small section of forest is a reminder of what used to cover the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula.
After strolling through the bush, the track exits on to tussock of the tops, and it is here you get your first glimpse of Omawete Coopers Knob. Standing at 573m, like many peaks in New Zealand it doesn’t seem that big. However, when standing in a location that looks over half a kilometre down at the Pacific Ocean you get a sense of elevation along with a good workout for your legs.
After wandering along in the open towards the rocky outcrop of Omawete Coopers Knob you get to the base of a small scramble to the top. Depending on which dogs I had with me, I would normally tie them up and then begin the final part of the challenge. But with Dennis (the dog) this wasn’t an option, and he would make sure he would be joining me on the final scramble. Once on top you lose any sense of tiredness as the view is a really good distraction.
From the top you can see across the vast Canterbury Plains to the endless line stretching north and south known as Ka Tiritiri o Te Moana or the Southern Alps. The Māori name means the frothing of the ocean, and when draped in the white snows of winter you can understand why the mountains looked like a huge wave from a far. From the much smaller Port Hills I could look out at the alps and start thinking about my next big mish.
If you ever find yourself in Christchurch and are looking for a good training ground to keep your fitness levels ready for hill travel, then I highly recommend a wander in Christchurch’s Port Hills. They might not seem like much to those of us that have seen proper big mountains like the Himalaya or even the mountains of the Southern Alps when seen up close. But once you get up high in the hills you realise that the Port Hills are the perfect training ground for anyone in Christchurch who is preparing themselves for something much bigger…
