Mt. Arthur Challenge

Story by: Marc Palmano / Shuttersport - Photo by: Marc Palmano / Shuttersport

A late flurry of registrations saw a party of over 50 attempt the third and most testing '20 Summits' challenge to date, the mtf Mt. Arthur hike.

The walkers, amongst them Search and Rescue volunteers armed with 2-way radio and personal locator beacons, set off in cold but promising conditions at about 8:30am this morning after a short safety briefing.  The first section of the track through the cover of bush saw the walkers emerge at Arthur Hut and a chance to refuel and kit up for the alpine section that followed.

Once on the ridge above Arthur Hut and out of the lee of the wind,   the challengers were exposed to  a bitter south-westerly crosswind, gusting at times to an estimated 70km/h, which forced some, especially those with younger children, to abandon the challenge early.

_{Mt. Arthur's summit shrouded in cloud}

Those that chose to endure the conditions made it up to Winter's Peak (1600m) and a little bit beyond but with the summit shrouded in cloud and conditions seeming unlikely to improve the decision was made not to push on.

Even though the challenge was unable to be fully achieved the bracing conditions were invigoratiing and the clear skies away from the summit made for some great views.