This is a trad rock climbing meet, not an instruction course, and participants are to provide their own rock climbing gear, safety equipment and camping equipment. 

We plan to leave Dunedin by 4pm on Friday 15th November and drive to Mount Somers Domain Campground for the night (approx. 3.5 - 4 hours drive) The pub is 20m across the road from the Domain Campground and we can have our evening meal here, or eat takeaways on the way. Camping is $20 per tent, with showers and kitchen. 

On Saturday we will pack up early and drive from the Domain to Sharplin Falls Reserve (13.3km,13 mins by car). We will walk the Sharplin Falls Track to Pinnacle Hut Track, 5.2km, 3 hours.Once we have dropped gear it’s time to climb….sunrise is 5.51am and sunset is 8.38pm… until Monday morning.

Due to the walk in required for this climbing area we plan to take Monday off work so that a full day of climbing on Sunday is possible. Early birds may also want to squeeze in some morning climbing on Monday before leaving Pinnacles Hut mid morning for 3 hour walk out to Sharplin Falls carpark. Planning to be back at cars around 1:30 - 2pm before driving back to Dunedin (those who need to leave earlier are welcome to head out whenever it suits them...please note your plans in the sign up form).

Would aim to be back in Dunedin by 6pm Monday.

Pinnacles Hut is a popular hut and online bookings are now required in advance (sleeps 19 on single and double bunks). Due to demand I would recommend booking beds as soon as you sign up to the trip. Cost is $15 per night. Water is supplied from either a rainwater tank or directly from a stream. All drinking water should be sterilised, filtered or boiled for 3 minutes before use. Hut has a wood or coal burner for heating but cooking facilities and utensils are not provided. There are also several campsites near the hut if you would rather tent.

To book follow the sign up link on this page:

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/mount-somers-area/things-to-do/huts/pinnacles-hut/

Climbing at Mt. Somers is mainly top quality trad lines in a variety of grades on impressive columns of volcanic Rhyolite. 

For more info on the amazing rock climbing can be found at

https://climbnz.org.nz/nz/si/canterbury/inland-canterbury/mt-somers/pinnacles-hut-area

Pinnacles Hut Area, Mt Somers (106 routes)

Tumbling down the north side of Mt Somers are huge columns of rhyolite which form one of the best climbing areas in Canterbury. The routes are long and sustained outings up grooves and arêtes up to three pitches high. Over the past two years these, together with andesite pinnacles lower in the valley, have been developed mostly by a small group of Oamaru climbers. There are now over 60 routes, grades 9 to 25, with potential for many more.

For more info about the walk in track and topo map location see below:

https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-43.6211,171.3752&z=14&pin=1&lbl=Mount%20Somers%2C%20Canterbury%20%28-43.6211%2C%20171.3752%29

https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/raukapuka/mt-somers-track.pdf

• 3 hour solid hike to Pinnacles hut and then at least 1 hour walk/scramble up steep hill to climbing areas.

• Need a reasonable level of tramping fitness as the 3 hour tramp to Pinnacles Hut is a rough tramping track with several solid climbs and you will be carrying a heavy pack full of camping gear plus trad climbing gear.

• Must be comfortable belaying and preferably leading trad climbing outdoors. If you are not comfortable leading trad then you would need to pair up in advance with someone who is happy to lead and has own trad gear.

• Must be able to clean an anchor and set up a rappel safely.

• Must have own safety gear (helmet/PAS etc)

• Must have full personal climbing kit including own trad climbing gear or organise to share with someone else.

• Guidebook or printouts if you have them are recommended.

• Clothing and equipment for 3 days in an outdoor environment that can have extreme weather including snow at any time of the year. Rain jacket and pants plus warm layers e.g. down jacket, polyprop top/bottoms, fleece.

• Camping gear for tenting at Mt. Somers domain for one night plus staying at hut e.g. tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag. There are currently bunks available in Pinnacle Hut via online booking system but if you miss out on booking a bed then you will have to tent.

• We cook together as a group for evening meals on Saturday and Sunday in groups of four (max), to save weight carrying in surplus fuel bottles and pots. Please bring own breakfasts, lunch, snacks and trip leader will delegate items for you to bring for shared dinners.