The drive in to the Cobb Valley is spectacular in it's own right, 20kms or so of steep sided valley, river and native bush. Just before the final descent to the reservoir itself, a viewpoint gives a great view of it’s whole length.
The Cobb Reservoir from the Cobb Dam road.
The track to Balloon Hut would, without snow, be very easy. It is well benched and marked. The first part climbs easily to Mytton's Hut, just 15 minutes from the start and then through open bush to eventually reach the Bushline on the Peel Range. There was snow here too, but having been in the sun all day it was soft.
Looking north west up the Cobb Valley.
Mytton's Hut, 15 minutes in to the walk.
First easy snow above the bushline.
However we never got much further than the otherside of the ridge, just far enough to get a glimpse of Lake Peel. Here the track had been transformed in to a snow bank, which although only very moderately angled was solid ice with a long run out. With numerous slopes like this to cross as we would have rounded Lake Peel, we had no sensible choice except to backtrack.
Mount Peel and the Lake Peel bain.
The route to Lake Peel - doesn't look too tough does it?
We camped at the campground just down from the start of the walk. This established, but basic DOC campsite had toilets and picnic tables and was a great place to spend the night, though a strong gale billowing down off of the ranges kept us awake for a while.
Cobb Valley camping ground, right on the edge of a weather front.
Cobb Valley camping ground, tuesday morning.
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