Tour de Taylor 4 (Canterbury) Traditional Cache
Tour de Taylor 4 (Canterbury)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This cache is the highest of a series of four caches on Mt Taylor, most easily accessed via Double Hut, where there is a further cache (GC3JK1Q). See that cache for suggestions on getting to Double Hut.
Double Hut - 900m altitude - (GC3JK1Q)
Tour de Taylor 1 - 1160m altitude - (GC3JK21)
Tour de Taylor 2 - 1600-1800m altitude - (GC3JK2K)
Tour de Taylor 3 - 1800-2000m altitude - (GC3JK30)
Tour de Taylor 4 - 2333m altitude - (GC3JK37)
These caches will be of interest for anyone trying for the cache "Get Your Boots on Challenge" GC2V5HV
In the listings for this series of four caches, the real coordinates for Tour de Taylor 1 and 4 are given, but Tour de Taylor 2 and 3 are puzzle caches, with the real coordinates and hints being found in the logbook for this cache Tour de Taylor 4 which is on the summit of Mt Taylor.
From Double Hut, take a 1hr walk up the South Branch Swin River (just by the hut), pass through the small gorges with amazing rock formations, and reach a stream junction where you will find Tour de Taylor 1. The streambed is easy travel, and you can make use of grassy terraces. In winter be very careful of frost and icy stones. Do not travel up the stream after heavy rain.
You are now entering an alpine environment - make sure you are suitably prepared, with warm clothing and strong boots.
Take the northeast stream branch, and travel upstream for about 20min until you near a tussock route onto the main ridge that runs eastward from the stream junction to the summit. This stream is shaded in winter, and when I placed the cache in May, there was ice all over the stones. Be extremely careful - particularly on your way down.
Climb the ridge to locate Tour de Taylor 4 on the summit of Mt Taylor.
It will take about 4 hours climb from the stream junction to the summit.
The map NZMS 260 K35 Coleridge shows the stream junction and the ridge to Mt Taylor.
The views from the summit are magnificent - Aoraki, Mt Tasman, Mt d'Archiac, Mt Arrowsmith, Mt Whitcombe, Mt Evans, Mt Murchison and Mt Rolleston, as well Lake Heron and the Canterbury Plains.
The cache is a black 400ml snaplock, with logbook, pencils, etc, inside double snaplock bags. Please take care of these bags to make them last. Please REPLACE THE CACHEBOX UPRIGHT to prevent leakage. Please replace the stones over the cachebox to keep it safe from muggles and keas.
The cache is under a small cairn 2m NNE from the summit marker pipe.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)