Hanthana mountain range ridge traverse: quartzite slab scrambles and leech prevention?
What are the route-finding landmarks and footing precautions along the seven-peak quartzite ridge crest of Hanthana outside Kandy?
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3 Answers from travellers
The Hanthana Range features seven distinct peaks composed of fractured Proterozoic quartzite and biotite gneiss dipping sharply toward the Kandy valley basin. The traverse follows a steep ridgeline alternating between exposed rock scrambles and dense Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) meadows. Trekkers should wear footwear with sticky vibram soles; the quartzite bedding planes are slippery when wet with morning dew. Begin the hike by 7:00 AM from the Ceylon Tea Museum base. After 11:30 AM, unshaded quartzite rock slabs bake under intense solar radiation, rapidly elevating heat exhaustion risks.
Tall razor grass along the ridgeline causes painful skin scratches; wear long synthetic trekking trousers and breathable lightweight gloves.
High winds on the fourth peak can destabilize hikers on narrow knife-edges; crouch low when traversing narrow gaps between quartzite outcrops.
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