Andrew's Adventures - Avalanche - Bealey Traverse (16 January 2021)

Arthur's Pass has a number of routes that would be considered classics. Some of these like Rome Ridge on Rolleston are largely reserved for climbers, though a summer loop of Avalanche Peak, Lyell Peak and Mt Bealey is a pleasant and scenic option available to those of reasonable tramping competencies.

Most people do the loop anticlockwise, which provides the option of descending Bealey via a large scree run into Rough Creek. Starting off in the village, the Avalanche Peak Track initially ascends steeply through bedrock and subsequent forest until the bushline is reached. This section has some lovely views, both across to the eastern ranges and also the pass proper.

A rocky section of track on the climb to Avalanche Peak.

Looking across to the gentle contours of Arthur's Pass proper.

Across to Mt Cassidy, the Cons Track comes up the spur on the bottom left.

At 1300m or so, the track abruptly breaches the bushline and gives a nice view down the Bealey Valley as well as the remainder of the route.

Looking through the last of the canopy, pt. 1760 with the Rough Creek scree run beyond.

Looking down the Bealey Valley to the confluence with the Waimakariri.

Wider view ahead - Lyell is the high point centre right, Bealey the triangular peak in the centre.

From the bushline, the route travels up tussocked spur for perhaps half an hour until the summit block becomes prominent.

Wandering the well formed route up towards the summit of Avalanche Peak.

The final approach to the summit ridge, the trackline visible centre right sneaking between the cliff bands.

The trackline finally impinges the ridge crest at around 1800m, which leaves a short albeit slightly exposed traverse across to the summit proper.

Looking back down the summit ridge of Avalanche Peak.

The view from the summit of Avalanche Peak is lovely. The main vista is probably looking up the Crow Valley to Mt Rolleston, but peaks like Greenlaw and Franklin are also visible in the distance.

The Crow face of Rolleston.

The traverse across to Mt Lyell is straightforward, easy benches and a broad summit.

Heading across to Mt Lyell on a beautiful Canterbury day.

From Lyell, the travel to Bealey is a bit more complex. It's very possible to follow the ridge crest proper (and a reasonably large proportion of parties do), but the eastern aspects of Arthur's Pass generally have poor quality rock and the spine is at times narrow and fractured. I started on the crest and would have preferred to stay on it, but I found it unpleasant travel and took the easy sidle to the south. I'm not a purist, and the sidle itself is lovely with tussock benches and tarns - choose whichever option appeals more.

The broken section of ridge, obvious ground trails to the right.

The ridge crest beyond, easier travel but still quite loose and ugly.

Tarns in the basin south of the ridge, Mts Greenlaw and Harper prominent behind.

Dropping into the basin probably does add a bit of elevation, but the reclimb onto Bealey is easy and it's the third summit of the day ticked off. Dropping down beyond Bealey itself is easy-ish, but there are a couple of rock steps to work through and a bit of exposure in places.

Looking back to Mt Bealey from near pt. 1760, the descent looks involved but it's not bad on the ground.

It's possible to drop back to the valley floor via two means - Rough Creek, and the Mt Bealey Track. I've never done the latter, but the Rough Creek option is lovely. It's really important to get the right scree entrance, the one which drops NE off pt. 1760 - the other one (west of pt. 1760) hits the creek higher up in committing terrain.

Dropping down excellent scree into Rough Creek.

Some minor vegetation to pass before gaining the creekbed proper.

Once in the creek, it's an at times bouldery hop down for a few kilometres before the creek opens out and soon hits the state highway. From there, it's a few kilometres back to the car to close out one of Arthur's Pass' classic loops.

Rough Creek, confined in places.

Note: The GPX file in Rough Creek is wildly inaccurate, a combination of using a cheap phone in a confined valley. The travel just goes straight down the bed, changing sides as necessary to obtain the best line.