{"id":29627,"date":"2017-02-28T08:56:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-28T07:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/atteindre-les-sommets-sur-skyline-track\/"},"modified":"2020-07-06T10:05:46","modified_gmt":"2020-07-06T08:05:46","slug":"reaching-summits-on-the-skyline-track","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/reaching-summits-on-the-skyline-track\/","title":{"rendered":"Reaching summits on the Skyline Track"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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After a few days visiting the surroundings of Wanaka, I embark on the ascent of Roy\u2019s peak \/ Skyline Track. The start of the hike is on the road from Glendhu Bay to Wanaka. This is probably the most famous hike in the region. It takes about five hours to reach Roy\u2019s Peak at an altitude of 1578m and ten hours more to do the Skyline Track which continues on the ridges then descends on the Cadrona Road about ten kilometers before Wanaka. The time to pack my bag, leave my excess stuff at the campsite and reach the start of the trail, it is already 10am. The sun is shining in a cloudless sky, the day is forecast to be very hot. After following the lake I arrive at the entrance of the path. The parking lot is already full! A hundred campers, pick-ups and camper vans are on site. I did not realize it, but the hike seems to attract a lot of people. I almost advance in line. Not really my cup of tea. Especially since the road rises damn hard. The dirt road advances in steep zig-zags across the mountainside covered with tussocks. Not a tree on the horizon. At least the view is beautiful. But on the negative side, I heat up quickly.<\/p>

The climb is long. People look at me a little surprised. Most are in shorts and thongs with a small bag. Nothing to do with me carrying my big hiking bag. It takes me almost five hours to reach the top. But then what a view! Lake Wanaka and its various islands stretch before my view as well as the entire region of Wanaka and Glendhu Bay. The U-shaped lake, the result of glacial erosion (like most lakes in the region) is huge. A whole bunch of islands are present in the middle of the lake, from the smallest (Ruby Island) to the largest (Mou Tapu Island). The Southern Alps (the name given by the Kiwis to the mountainous region of the South Island) reveal their steep peaks with Mount Aspiring on the left. Difficult to look away from the landscape as it is so impressive. Seen from above, the Wanaka area looks almost flat. While in reality, the ground is quite wavy. I experienced it<\/strong><\/a> on my bicycle. The perspective is treacherous.<\/p>

At the top, it is a bit like musical chairs to find a free place and take pictures without tourists in the frame. It chats in a melting pot of languages. People line up to immortalize themselves in front of the landscape. A photo seen again and again on social networks. I walk away leaving the hustle and bustle to find calm, continuing on the small path of the Skyline Track. I plan to rest until about 5p.m. while waiting for the temperature to drop. Then continue on the Skyline Track to reach Mount Alpha, spend the night bivouacking and descend via the ridges the next morning.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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