Wild Things - New Zealand's trail running community
New Zealand's trail running community

Login



don't have an account?

Oates for Breakfast, Canterbury

Trail Directory proudly supported by Further Faster

Update Your Header Picture

Oates for BreakfastIntermediate - Experienced

Submitted by Mike Steel

Info Info
Map Loading

Trail Information

29.00km

1500m

1500m

 

Canterbury

Arthurs Pass

Back country - remote

Loop

Mountainous

Native bush
Riverside
Lakeside
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops

Intermediate - Experienced

9:00 (Slow)
7:00 (Moderate)
5:30 (Fast)

-11.1%

+12.4%

Download PDF Guide

Fastest Known Times (FKTs)

Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.

Men

There are currently no male FKTs for Oates for Breakfast.

Women

There are currently no female FKTs for Oates for Breakfast.

Filter FKTs

The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.

Missing your time?

Register or login as a VIP and get yourself on the FKT leaderboard!

Register Now

Description

Another fine summer-time alpine circuit at Arthur's Pass, up the Mingha River to Lake Mavis, and back down the Edwards valley from Taruahuna Pass to the start. To add to the adventure you'll climb up Mt Oates (2041 m) via its west ridge, a prominent feature seen clearly from the highway a little north of Klondyke Corner. Mt Oates was named after Captain Lawrence Oates who perished on Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova Antarctic expedition, and is best remembered for his final words: "I am just going outside and may be some time".

Starting from near Greyney's shelter, follow the markers (which now lead under the railway line) and follow them down to cross the Bealey River then start up the Mingha valley (mostly on the western side). Note you are doing the last half of the Coast to Coast run here, but in the `wrong direction'. Pick up the track over Dudley Knob (tree roots and occasional slips makes this section a little slow) and head past Mingha Biv and the spectacular Kennedy Falls, after which things open up a bit and you start climbing to Goat Pass (much of it on boardwalk).

Somewhere near the high point on the pass (before you start to drop down to the hut) leave the track and climb directly uphill keeping left on a broad ridge that takes you to the beautiful alpine Lake Mavis. Step across outflow of the lake and head east up grassy slopes and start climbing scree/rock towards a deep (partly hidden behind a large buttress) gully that leads to a col on the west ridge of Mt Oates. At the top of this col join the airy west ridge which provides pleasant rock scrambling (alpine grade 1+) directly to the official summit, with great views en route. The southern summit of Mt Oates is slightly higher but it requires care and time to negotiate the steep traverse down and back up again to it (and return). Instead head north along the main ridge, and descend towards a tarn and slopes leading towards Taruahuna Pass (don't drop straight down from Mt Oates into the Edwards as it is bluffed below). From below Taruahuna Pass you rejoin a track that leads through very scenic open country down-valley to the Edwards hut.

The track then continues on the left of the river before climbing the bush above the river to avoid a waterfall. Once you've dropped back down and passed the Edwards River east branch it's open and easy running in the riverbed and bush section back out to the road.


Trail Community

Find people who are interested in this run.

You must register or login to view this content.

Features of interest

Alpine lake, high waterfall, two picturesque valleys, spectacular mountain views.


Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 30%

Technical Single Track: 20%

Moderate Single Track: 50%


Route Data

Reviews:

You must register or login to view this content.


Overlapping Runs

The following trails overlap with this run to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate Strava activity for each


Photos:

You must register or login to view this content.

Your Trail Wishlist

All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).

Add to wishlist view wishlist

Your Trail Dreamlist

The runs you most want to do (limited to 10).

Add to dreamlist view dreamlist

Wild Explorers

I did it!
  • Access

    Greyney's shelter (about half-way between Klondyke Corner and Arthurs pass) - there is a new parking area and signposted track (which now leads underneath the train line)

    5 km

    5 minutes

    No

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Moderate.

    From Lake Mavis don't try and gain the west ridge nearby (low down) - the first bit of the ridge leads to a big drop! Instead (as mentioned in the Detailed Description) head around the lake and up into a gully that leads up to a col. Also from the summit of Oates don't try and drop straight down to the Edwards valley.

    Non-existent.

    Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Compass, Map.

    Plenty of water for most of the way (in rivers/streams)

    Only possible in summer when the ridges are clear of snow.
    Also, not possible after heavy rain as the rivers will be too high.
    Good visibility and settled weather is also advised.

  • Post run indulgence

    Sheffield Pie Shop
    Sheffield
    http://www.sheffieldpieshop.co.nz/
    best pies ever

  • Blog Posts and Articles
  • Sponsor this trail

    If you are interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch below:

    Submit

Got a favourite trail? Tell us about it.

Share the love and add your favourite trail(s) to our growing trail directory.

Submit A Trail

Become a member today

Start enjoying the many benefits to becoming a member of our thriving community.

Become a member

Great brands at great prices with our VIP member's discount

Stay up to date

Sign up to our newsletter for latest offers and trail guides

Share this trail with a friend:

VIP Membership

Please register as a VIP or login to your VIP account to view this content.

Cancel Login Register

Membership Required

You can see up to three trail guides without being logged in but after that we require you to be logged in to your Free or VIP account. If you don’t yet have an account you can register here.

Login Register