Treble Cone (2058 m)

Before describing the track itself it is worth describing how to get to the start of the track since it is a bit unusual.
The Treble Cone ski area is closed down outside of the ski season. To get all the way up to the resort there is a gravel road that has a gate almost at the start of it. This gate is locked and to be able to unlock it we need to register to a website whose purpose is to ensure safe and respectful access to this alpine environment.
The website is Zero harm: Treble Cone.
There it states "Sign In & Out via Zero harm, each time you or your group visits Treble Cone. There is a lockbox which houses the key to the left of the gate at the bottom of the Access Road. Once through please lock the gate behind you. The code to the lockbox will be provided to you once you sign in."

The process sounds complicated but it's actually quite easy: Register yourself on the website, read the safety and code of conduct documents and somewhere there you will find a 4-digit code to unlock the lockbox that you will find at the left-hand side of the gate. That lockbox contains the key to open the lock on the gate itself.
One more thing, the day before you are going to visit the area check-in on the web with the day and expected hour to arrive. This way they have some control over who has been in the area on which days.
Once you leave the area you need to check out from the website to tell them when you left.

This area seems to be quite popular for paragliders during summer time. They come through the gate and jump out just a bit before getting to the ski resort.
The gravel road that leads to the ski resort is quite steep but I managed to get through it in my regular car without any trouble.

We park the car at the completely deserted ski resort and we start walking following the ski slopes. It looks like it's a 4WD road since it's quite wide although steep.
For about 3 km we follow the ski tracks and then we leave the track to get to the ridge. This ridge is about 1 Km long and will take us all the way to the summit. There is a narrow track following the ridge that shows that we are not the first ones following this route. At some spots the track seems to disappear but we should not worry since there is only one way to go up.
We keep walking up and we find some areas where the slope gets steeper but not difficult.
Halfway through the summit ridge I looked up and I thought it will be too difficult to get to the summit. You see the big rocks at the summit and it looks like the only way to get there is with climbing gear and lots of expertise.
I resolved to continue to see how close I could get to the summit before things got too difficult and to my surprise I kept finding a walking track that took me higher and higher going around the rocks until the tracks ended and I found myself at the Treble Cone summit.
There are only a few meters of rocks above but to get to the top of those rocks you really need climbing gear. Never mind I considered that spot a very valid summit.

We get down exactly the same way we came up just being careful not to slip down on the steeper areas.
I forgot to mention the great views from the summit ridge, not only of Wanaka lake but also the valley we find on the other side.
One last thing to mention, when going down, at the end of the summit ridge, you make a right turn out of the ridge to get back to the ski slopes. In the gps track you could see two options there. When coming down I missed the point that I took on my way up and continued a bit further down on the ridge. I recommend you take the shorter one, although nothing happens if you prefer to take the longer route.

Once you get back to the car don't forget to take a picture of you with the frame and the Wanaka lake as background.



Full description and more pictures at Back from Summit: Treble Cone