Elevation: 2289m
Elevation Gain: Via Treble Cone roughly 2500m total elevation gain return as you have to go over TC twice.
Distance: Roughly 24km return.
Difficulty: short 2nd class scrambling, Mostly cardio, route-finding is pretty straightforward.
Access: Treble Cone Parking Lot. I believe if the gate to get to TC is locked there is a code you can get from the TC website.
Description:
I had decided to go to Black Peak solo after hearing about it from someone at work. Black Peak is a pretty iconic mountain in Wanaka as it is this very distinct black pyramid that sits over town.
The first part of the track is basically following the road to the top of Treble Cone resort. From here I dropped down a snowy scree fan to reach the descending ridge on my right. From here there is a trail for a good portion that shows up and disappears randomly throughout the trip. You work along the ridge past an old, sketchy fixed rope (I would recommend not using it). You’ll follow the proper ridge until you see the valley bottom between the two peaks. Take the path of least resistance down.
From the bottom of the grassy valley you’ll aim for the ridge leading to black peak again. Follow this grassy ridge properly and you’ll ascend a dirty slope. You’ll follow a grassy ridge that eventually steepens up. You skirt this little point on either side. I found climbers left was the least sketchy. I took the climbers right on the way up and it was really dense dirt over a steepening slope. It goes but I would suggest not trusting it.
The next segment is a long rock ridge. Use your judgement as to when you leave it or use it. This ridge leads to a scree hill that opens up to an open basin. There is a mellow ridge on the climbers left. Follow that easily to the summit of Black Peak. Follow the same way back. It can be a bit crushing going back into that grassy valley a second time.
On a side note, I had the cutest Kea join me for the trip. He would watch me run past and then go on to mock me. He’d skip along behind me before getting bored and flying off to the next spot. He repeated that until we ran into his friend. He basically followed me to the summit of the peak. It’s nice making new friends.