Author Archive
Hakatere Conservation Park
Wednesday, February 11th, 2015
Hakatere Conservation Park
Glenrock Stream – Redcliffe Stream
6th – 8th February 2015
A trip with many river crossings is best with fine weather and low river flows, but with the weather forecast for high winds and snow to low levels leading into the weekend a close eye was kept on the updates hoping for an improvement.
With a team of eight, we were on the road by 8am on Friday travelling to Double Hill Run Road on the South bank of the Rakaia River. A short break was taken at Geraldine for those who needed a coffee fix.
After dropping off the team at Glenrock Stream easement the vehicles returned to Redcliffe Stream carpark where one was left for our return on Sunday. Back to Glenrock Stream Bill and Maurice set off to catch up on the advance party who were having lunch on the side of the track in the sun. The 4WD track took us into the conservation area with Turtons Saddle looming before us. A series of zig zags on an easy gradient brought us to the summit where a very cool breeze made our stay brief despite the wonderful views of down the Rakaia Valley. A skiff of snow coated the tops but the sun was still shining. It was downhill to “A” Frame hut where we passed a mountain-biker grinding up hill after a day trip into Comyns Hut. As we descended to the river terrace of the North Branch Ashburton River, Comyns Hut came into view and soon we were resting with a brew at this old 8 bunk station hut after almost 6 hours tramping. With no one else arriving, tents were not required and the cool evening had us in our sleeping bags early and for those slow to sleep, listening to the array of noises from within the hut.
A new day arrived and with it clear skies for our venture down the river. All packed and away by 7:30am the forward scouts found an old bulldozed track on the true left which we followed where possible and then the many crossings began.
It is always quite exciting not knowing what awaits you around the next bend, as the river enters the gorge section but with river levels low and water warm enough, the journey was enjoyable. Leaving the gorge section, progress improved and 5 hours later, Cookies Point was reached. A lunch break was taken by the big rock away from the nearby seagull colony. (Can’t be too careful). The day temperature had returned to Summertime and a very hot trek crossing where necessary up the Swift River to Tribulation Hut, our destination for the day. As it was only 3pm it turned into a leisurely afternoon, bathing in the river and then resting in the shade. The six bunk musterers hut has been renovated providing a tidy basic shelter for five of our party. Two tents were erected for the night with Jane testing her new tent for the first time. It was a perfect night with a clear starry sky, full moon and a very light breeze. How the weather can change within 24 hours.
Sunday morning and even Jane was up by 6:30am. with tents dry and all packed up we were on the homeward journey by 7:30am. An easy 3 hours over Redcliffe Saddle with some wonderful views across to the Craigeburn Range and up the Rakaia River brought us to the car park. A water pipe standing up out of the ground with a tap on top near the exit gate was made good use of before changing into our homeward bound clothes. After retrieving Bill’s vehicle from Glenrock we made our way to Methven for a very enjoyable lunch at the Blue Pub before returning home from a successful weekend in the company of;
Bill, John, Tim P, Bron, Jane Noel and Phyllis
Maurice.
Mt. Pisgah
Wednesday, February 4th, 2015
1st Feb 2014
6.30 Sun am.- what a pleasure to see the sun shining ‘pinkly’’ on Pisgah with a clear-ish sky above after a somewhat claggy time in the hills. Did wonder why I was looking at it from one side, why we were travelling right around to the Maniototo side to climb it. However 11 bods were enthusiastic for this venture, even though high temperatures and thunderstorms were predicted for the day.
135km later and a bit after 10am we were ready for the climb with the Summit almost in view. It was all up, hot and humid. Relaxing over lunch with 360 degree views amongst good company, we knew it was all worth it. Tim [1] decided to use amazing ‘flying’ ability and transverse the ridge. The rest of followed a suggestion of more leisurely decent, down a ridge further north to lead back to the cars. This ended up with a rather long traverse on steep-ish terrain, and basically not such a leisurely decent as we may have imagined. It was made a little more dramatic as we watched [and some made bets] as to whether the thunderstorms would catch us or not.
A satisfied, weary 11 then made the trip home to Dunedin or returned N to our favourite icecream shop. Thanks Tim x2, Betty, Maurice, Phyllis, Noel, Bronwyn, Lynda, Bill, John.
Jane G
Top Dingle
Wednesday, December 17th, 2014
Fine weather was ordered, and delivered. Both days were sunny with blue skies – a rarity this season. Saturday started with a cool northerly breeze, which later swung around to the south. Sunday was calm and warm.
The two 4wd vehicles with seven trampers arrived at the bottom of the track to the Dingle Saddle at around 10am on Saturday, after a 2 hour drive up the Waitaki and Ahuriri Valleys. The climb up the well-graded zig-zag track to the saddle (thanks Maurice) took 1 ½ hours. A pause for an early lunch and to take in the extensive views was followed by the one hour descent to the Dingleburn Valley floor. The track down initially sidled at an angle to the south, then turned steeply down a ridge, the last section being through beech forest.
The six-bunk, ex-Forest Service Top Dingle Hut is situated by the forest edge at the top of a gentle slope leading down to the river. The surrounding open grassland offers excellent campsites, so three tents and one bivvy were set up to house six of the seven. The afternoon was designated for free activities and it was spent exploring, and photographing, the valley and the river. In the early evening, the two prior occupants of the hut returned from a successful day’s fly fishing further down the river with a large trout, which they cooked in wet newspaper over wood embers and generously shared with us. Tasting the trout, cooking dinner, and swatting away sandflies occupied the evening.
Sunday morning saw a leisurely breakfast and packing up, setting off around 8am up the steep 1 ½ hour climb to the saddle. There, packs were dropped and we headed north along the ridgetop for about 2 ½ km, stopping on a knob just above a small tarn. There we spent some time taking in, and photographing, the stunning million-dollar panorama extending from the mountains of the Barrier Range to the east, across the top end of the Ahuriri Valley with Mt Huxley at its head, Canyon Creek and the snowy bulk of Mt Barth, to the head of the Dingleburn and its saddle overlooking the Hunter. To the south extended the ridge, including Mt Gladwish and Puke Makiriri, which separates the Dingleburn and Ahuriri valleys. A return to the saddle for lunch preceded the one hour descent down Morrie’s Motorway back to the vehicles and then home, with an ice-cream stop in Omarama.
The relaxed introduction to the festive season was enjoyed by Bron, Phyllis, Maurice, Noel, Neville, Tim and John.
Club Night November 2014
Sunday, November 16th, 2014
A goodly number attended our November meeting in spite of twenty-four walkers being away on the four-night, Banks Peninsula Track.
Wednesday Walkers kept up their varied programme with walks to Anderson’s Lagoon near Palmerston and along the coast to the Shag River mouth; a new walk around the Livingston diggings; from the Leith Saddle towards Mt Cargill and through bush and logged-over forest to Sullivan’s Dam; Black Cap across to Scout Hill and Scout Hut. These Wednesday walks are a great way to explore what’s on our very own doorstep.
NOTMC held a successful “Getting Out There” day in October to give prospective members a taste of day tramping. A walk from Tulliemet Rd to Devil’s Elbow, back down to Round Knob and back was a good introduction to Otago’s accessible high country.
Labour Weekend saw an intrepid group of seven, travel down to Borland Lodge near Lake Monowai then the following day, venture by kayak and powerboat, to Rodger Inlet on the lake.
Speakers at our November meeting were members Phyllis, Maurice and Bronwyn who earlier this year tramped the Northern Circuit on Stewart Island. This walk is not for the faint-hearted. It’s an eight day slog with no room in packs for unnecessary treats – and rain and mud are practically guaranteed. The group walked in a clockwise direction – from Freshwater Creek out to Mason’s Bay then up around the coast and back to Oban – though it tends to be tackled anticlockwise. The circuit included numerous interestingly named places such as Chocolate Swamp, Hellfire Pass, Long Harry Bay, Christmas Village Hut. Coastal vistas were stunning even through misty rain and it was hard not to feel lured to this vast, largely untouched part of Stewart Island.
Getting Out There – Devils Elbow, 19th October 2014
Tuesday, October 21st, 2014
Lunch on Round Knob, Mt Miserable behind
Thirteen trampers left from the parking area on Tulliemet Road and set off up the track in cool (6 deg C) but fine weather. Obi and Siberia were in cloud , but otherwise visibility was fine. After the short climb, the track led across the rolling tussock-clad tops in a south-easterly direction. After an hour or so a trig came into sight and a branch of the track led off to the west to the Devil’s Elbow itself. Time was taken there for a snack and to admire the views in all directions (except Obi), particularly those down into the steep valleys of the Waianakarua North Branch and its tributaries, and the rugged rocky outcrops all around.
The trampers then backtracked to the main track and followed it down to a boundary fence and then up and down along a spur which, after another half hour, took them up to the Round Knob. The sun was out, air temperature rising and, with the shelter of the rocky knob, comfortable spots were occupied for a relaxed lunch.
The return trip followed the track out through tussocks whose colours were changing with the sunlight. By now conditions were warmer with the temperature in double figures and the cloud had cleared from Obi to complete the vista. The cars were reached by 2 o’clock. This easy introduction to North Otago’s accessible high country was enjoyed by Noel, Theresa, Michael, Vanessa, Marcel, Bill, Jane G, Neville, Melvin, Roz, Jac, Jane M and John. Thanks to Hamish Patterson of Mt Stalker Station.
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