Most have heard of the Seven Summits challenge, where the highest point on each of the world’s seven continents is climbed. But there’s also a seven summits challenge much closer to home.
Given fair conditions, a circuit beginning and ending at Mitre Flats Hut (370m) linking seven points above 1500m, including Mitre, at 1571m the highest point in the Tararuas, can be completed in a day.
It was this circuit that a friend and I did in summer. It took us twelve hours – longer than we had expected on account of a particularly arduous section linking Baldy Ridge, our exit route from the tops, with Mitre Flats Hut. This image - Beneath Peggy's Peak, with Girdlestone behind.
It’s only a short but spectacular stroll from Peggy’s Peak to Mitre. Here we enjoyed a brief glimpse of our route north-west to Brocket (1538m) and then south-west to Girdlestone (1546m) and on to Adkin (1450m) and the Three Kings – North King (1535m), Middle King (1521m) and South King (1531m). This is all along classic Tararua tops, sometimes on knife edged ridge. This image - Looking south from beneath the summit of Mitre (1,571m) to Peggy's Peak (1,545m).
Mother Nature's treasure trove - location Mitre (1,571m).
Probably the steepest, most exposed section, comparable if not more so than the descent off the north-western side of Mitre, is coming off Girdlestone. In clear weather the entire route linking the seven 1,500 metre points is quite obvious to follow and, whilst a dramatic constantly undulating landscape, in summer is mostly quite straight forward to negotiate. This image - Descending south from Girdlestone towards Adkin (1,450m).
But then we were engulfed in cloud – a blessing and a curse. It offered relief from the sun, but made for much more challenging route finding. At a couple of points we needed our compass – particularly coming off Girdlestone, which is the junction point for several ridges.
As the day wore on we oscillated between striking vistas and white out. Beyond Girdlestone the route is sometimes on steep and exposed rock. This adds to the interest level and keeps you focused. It would be a rather different story in high winds or icy conditions though – this terrain deserves respect.
This image - The rocky ridge between Girdlestone and Adkin (1,450m - centre). The Three Kings, Broken Axe Pinnacles and McGregor are above and behind Adkin.
Between Girdlestone and Adkin, there are views of the craggy Broken Axe Pinnacles. These were beyond our route though, as Baldy Ridge descends south-east just before they are reached.
If you want to break the trip there is the option of dropping about 350m down the east side of the ridge, between North and Mid King, to Mid King Bivy. There is also a good camping option in fair weather beside a tarn directly above Baldy Ridge.
This image - The Broken Axe Pinnacles (1,425m) and McGregor (1,540m - far right).
View southeast from South King (1,531m), to the Broken Axe Pinnacles and McGregor (far right). Baldy Ridge stretches left and down
Looking back up Baldy Ridge, from Baldy (1,325m) to, from right, South King (1,531m) the Broken Axe Pinnacles (1,425m) and McGregor (1,540m).
In the record breaking heat of February, we opted for a river exit via the Waingawa River from Mitre Flats Hut. This was a slower but more interesting and refreshing alternative to the up and down, root-ridden bush route on the true left of the river.
View on the Waingawa River descent from Mitre Flats Hut - there's no way to avoid getting wet on this route, with several narrow bluffy sections.
View southeast from South King (1,531m), to the Broken Axe Pinnacles and McGregor (far right). Baldy Ridge stretches left and down 
