View over Ilôt Montravel

Distance: 14.2 km.  Elevation low/high/total: 89/298/507 m.

Difficulty:8.1/10.  Scenic: 8.5/10

With the hot weather residing, we embarked on a hike up along a mountain a ridge with nary a water hole. Somewhat challenging and varied terrain  Pics for the hike are here and the hike gpx track is here, the drive to get to the start of the hike is shown here.

It seems to be getting tougher and tougher to find the time to get out on a hike but Paul and I finally made it out of town today.   The drive is a good 1.5 hours from Noumea and includes about 25 km on red dirt roads winding among windmills.  The hike goes through brush (wear something to protect your lower legs), along some narrows ridges (watch your balance!) and up and down red clay hills.  Saw a few birds and several patches of pitcher plants.  The highlight though are the views you get from almost everywhere.  We were treated to alternating blue skies and brief rain squalls.  Paul did most of the hike on a bad ankle but braved it out.  There is no water anywhere along the hike so carry plenty.  At the end point, one can see a deep blue pool between the peninsula and Montravel.  It was very tempting to hike down and try a swim there but ... the hike already took longer than planned.

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.

Cascade de Tao

Distance: 2.0 km.  Elevation low/high/total: 10/123/130 m.

Difficulty:2.6/10.  Scenic: 9.0/10

North of Hienghene lovely waterfall is just a 2 km round trip.  Geotrack is here, album of pics is here.

The entire region surrounding Hienghene is beautiful and less visited by non-residents than most of the rest of Grand Terre simply because of the distance and relative lack of "nice" facilities.  No worries there - we camped just outside of Hienghene and this lovely waterfall is about a half hour drive (and includes a cable ferry river crossing!) north of Hienghene.  The hike is pretty much exactly 1 km to the falls (the path is a little tough to follow at the 3/4 point but persist) and there are several places to stop and swim along the way.  And many folks were swimming at various pools and riffles.  However, at the top, at the biggest pool where the falls end their drop ... there was only us!  It did start raining almost as soon as we arrived but the warm drizzle just added to the warm wet experience.  Very highly recommended as a hike - for the young or old!

Rivière des Pirogues

Distance: 8.6 km.  Elevation low/high/total: 62/113/180 m.

Difficulty:4.1/10.  Scenic: 8.3/10

Fun hike along a beautiful river - with swimming and fishing holes!Click pic above for picture album, gps track is here

It's quite warm here in New Caledonia  this time of the year.  Thus, Paul and I seek out hikes near water during the summer and the river system along the road to Yate is just spectacular for that purpose.  This particular river we explored is the Rivière des Pirogues, where one also finds the Pont des Japonais where we've been many times.  We drove Paul's 4WD truck some 5 km inland over a close-to-undriveable old mining/logging road.  The plan was to hike back to the main road, near the Scout Camp that Paul has long been involved with, and he would mountain bike back to his truck to get a little extra work out.  Well, the hike back from the parking spot was awesome and we found a couple of excellent swimming holes. We also encountered sizable fish populations feasting on the bits of granola bar we happened to drop in the water.  After some good swims and a bit of a hike we decided that wasn't enough hiking and we just hoofed it back to his truck to make it an overall 8+ km hike and drove back out.

I returned the following week on my own to try out the fishing.  Sadly, almost immediately upon arrival, a drenching rain began and basically continued all morning as I moved form fishing hole to fishing hole.  I did catch three of the little bass-like fish (there are bigger ones to be caught that would make a fine meal ...), and now I'm trying to identify them down to species level. 

A good hike to do with kids - it's flat easy to follow and so many places to swim even in times of low rainfall.

La forêt de Thy

Distance: 13.8 km.  Elevation low/high/total: 18/248/646 m.

Difficulty:5.8/10.  Scenic: 9.1/10

A hike into an area that is generally avoided.  But the payoff - a fantastic "baignade" made it worthwhile.  Click pic for album, the geotrack is here

First hike in a month and a very nice one.  the region is not one that is often hiked apparently.  But we had an uneventful time and ended up at a baignade (swimming hole) that appears to have been in use since the early 1900s, likely established a "resort" area for mining crew.   (Note added after some research: The spot is apparently called the "Grosses Gouttes" and we found a written record of Scouts visiting there in 1935, but no discussion of who built the place.  We also got more confirmation that this is a dangerous place to visit given tension with the nearby tribes). There are steps and concrete sitting area built into the hillside lining one side of the natural pool.  No one else was there except us and a sizable number of very hungry fish.  The hike is relatively flat; the flora is as diverse and interesting as anywhere I've seen on the island.  We saw giant taro,a bamboo forest, picked and ate wild raspberries and even passed through a birch tree grove.  Definitely worth a return visit.

Riviere We Puci

Distance: 5.8 km.  Elevation low/high/total: 105/135/103 m.

Difficulty:3.6/10.  Scenic: 7.3/10

A solo hike this time, in the vicinity of the Pont des Japonais.  This river (We Puci) is better than the one crossed by the Pont (Pirogues).  Click pic for photo album, the geotrack is here.

Just needed to get out for a simple hike so decided to return to the region near the Pont des Japonais.  I'd identified a different access point from which I could hike along the Riviere des Pirogues to return to the great swimming hole near the Pont du Japanais we'd found last year.  But ultimately I failed at finding the entrance track.  Instead, I found a different track and just 4-wheel drove towards the river, which turned out to to be the Riviere We Puci,  until I didn't feel safe driving further.  But I was able to get within a 100 meters of the river so it was grand.  Two swimming holes provided welcome relief from the rather warm conditions and next time I'll explore further upstream.  The trail is narrow at times and long pants, or at least protection for the shins is suggested.  Besides the vistas, there are still lots of old RR track beams and crumblingcreek-crossing wooden bridges and even an old RR car all along the trail.

Vallee N'Go

Distance: 11.5 km.  Elevation low/high/total: 75/453/586 m.

Difficulty: 5.1/10.  Scenic: 5.2/10

An easy 11.5 km stroll.  Click on picture to view album.The geotrack can be downloaded here. A slightly longer track, showing the access road to hike start is here.

After a lengthy much-needed vacation off the rock, I returned and easily convinced Paul to accompany me on another hike.  We knew this one would be relatively easy but ... but it was still great to get out on this lovely day. Before setting out, we did a bit of four wheel driving in Frog and some exploration around the tree farm behind which this walk started.

We made the hike a bit more interesting than would happen by sticking to the main track ... which is essentially comprised of various old mining access roads, in various states of disrepair.  We hiked up one of the early hills tot he nearby windmill farm and found a great set of views and worked up a sweat.  Afterwards, it was all downhill to we finally recrossed the N'Go river which we first saw where we left Frog.