Picton range circuit

[iaindtiler]

Am looking to do the Picton Range circuit this weekend if the weather holds. Having looked at the Chapmans book, The Abels and maps, the distance for the circuit doesn't sound huge, though terrain sounds like slow going at times. So question is ; The Chapmans state a 3-4 day walk. Is this true? Having recently done Adamsons at a leasurely 8 hours with many stops, my pace and fitness are good. Any help regarding time frames from past experiences would be much appreciated. Cheers much , Iain.

[ollster]

I've only done Picton/Sth Pictons as day walks, but they're both in the realms of 7hrs return or thereabouts (including bagging the relevant peaks, and some downtime for lunch and pics). I think that's pretty much in line with Chapman's times?

The in between bits will definitely slow you down. How well you go depends on your offtrack skills I guess. I usually budget for 1-2km/h off track depending on terrain. Given it's about 6km from Mt Picton to Mt Champan, plus decline/incline... I reckon 3 days is about right, especially in winter with the short days. You also need to factor in bad weather (ie: hard navigation).

[stepbystep]

I've only done the same routes as Ollster but I did camp at Square Tarn for a cpl nights on one trip. If you aim to camp at Steanes and Square Tarn, that day in between would be a pretty big day on your own if the conditions were crappy slowing navigation. Camping on the ridgeline is very exposed for the most part, grand in good weather I would think though.

[wander]

3 days is a bit big and you would have little time contemplation. Planning 4 and a possible weather day would be more sensible. Picton is very very often in cloud. Anything off track is very very slow. Do not ask how I know this. If it is too blowey at Picton to camp drop down to the camp between Glassworm Tarn and Lake Riveaux, easy trail to find / follow and very sheltered.

[iaindtiler]

Thanks for all the info. Either an added day to weekend , or an overnighter elsewhere. Decisions!! Thanks again , iain.

[stu]

Ditto for me, been up Picton twice (including once by myself where I became lost up on the tops in white out conditions & 100 km/h winds) & also a couple of day trips to the South Pictons.
I remember maybe 4 years or so ago a large (HWC?) party had to be rescued on the circuit when they became lost...i'd be very cautious indeed at this time of year & alone.
I know scrubmaster has done the circuit, i'd suggest sending him a PM.
Maybe better off doing a trip to the South Pictons as it is a great area with some of the best views in the state IMHO - best to be appreciated with time?
Either way, good luck!

[ILUVSWTAS]

I've done Adamsons in just over 4 hrs return, and I probably wouldnt allow less than 3 long days for the Picton circuit.

My Ex Bro in law has done the circuit as a daywalk.. but he's also done the Western Arthurs in a weekend...

[north-north-west]

I did it in three, quite easily - although the days were a bit longer back in March.
Day one, to the Steanes campsite with a sidetrip up to the summit of Picton. This would be an easy day in good weather. You'd probably even have time to follow the track out to Steanes for a quick look if you left early enough.
Day two, from the campsite to Pineapple Flat. Long hard day. The rockhop around Picton is further than it looks from both the summit and the camp, and there's that scrubby bit around Pine Tree Saddle. You can lose a lot of time if you take the wrong line through there.
Day three, over Chapman, out to Burgess, back to Abrotanella and out via Square. Moderate day's work. Lot of cutting grass on the bottom of the track, although the correct route is taped.

You'd want to make sure you had very good settled weather before heading around from Picton, however. You really don't want to get caught out between there and the southern range.