Monday, March 28, 2016

Chapeau du gendarme (up and over)

Distance: 6.2 km.  Elevation low/high/total: 79/690/364 m.
Difficulty:8.0/10.  Scenic: 7.6/10

A return to the scenic peak known both as Malaoui roi and Chapeau du gendarme.  Pics for the hike are linked to the above pic and the gpx track is here.

From many vantage points around Noumea one can see this distinctive peak, and most refer to it as Chapeau du gendarme.  My family and I climbed the peak some 18 months ago, parking at the Auberge des Koghi and we did a there and back hike.  However, it is possible to climb up the peak as we did and then descend on the south side where one would follow the visible red "scar" one sees from all over Noumea.  It requires two vehicles to do this and so Paul and I did jut that.  We parked one car at the south end - at the terminus of the Route de Yahouè - and then drove to the Auberge des Koghis.  Doing the hike in this fashion meant less climbing (~364M) and more descending (~738m).  In this manner, one could face Noumea and the sea on the way down.  However, the south side is quite steep and chains are installed at several places - without them it would have been near impossible to descend/ascend (at least for us).  Much of the route is slippery steep red mud and it rained much of the day. All in all, an excellent way to spend a work holiday.