Author Archive
Club Night April 2013
Friday, April 12th, 2013
The April meeting was well attended with 2 prospective members present.
Unfortunately the data projector has died so the Club is looking for a replacement as this media is an important way of communicating our activities and enhancing our guest speaker’s talks.
Ann and Steve Leideker are returning to London so the Club thanked them for their contribution during the 3 years they have been here.
Because of poor weather the Club s trip to Mt. Alexandra in the Arthurs Pass area was transferred to a stay in the Avoca Hut near the Torlesse Range, and exploring that fascinating area with views of the West Coast railway viaducts and tunnels, old coal mining relics and cableways. The return journey included a walk through the Cave Stream underground system near Castle Hill for about a kilometre, a cold but exciting trip.
Wednesday Walkers trips have been to Doctors Point near Purakanui with great views of the Otago Heads, Mts. Alexandra and Nobbler from Danseys Pass, and Herbert Forest where a rotted tree decided to fall down on the track very close to four passing walkers. Island Cliff farm was also visited by some where walkers were fascinated with the large ostrich eggs, while the rest climbed Mt. Te Huruhuru in the Hunter Hills.
Coming Club trips are to Mueller Hut at Mt. Cook, a Herbert Forest working bee, the Herbert Forest Guided Walk Day on the 28th April, Mt. Kyburn, and Tekapo. More information is available on the NOTMC website under “What’s on?”
The Guest Speaker was Mark Hay who gave us an insight into travelling in a group by motorbike through Vietnam. Some of the things they saw in their 8 day journey on their Russian bikes were floating fishing villages, a chopstick factory, a 31k long natural cave system with stalactites, and a similar length one dug during the war.
They experienced the wholesome fresh food of chicken, pork, rice and local vegetables, as well as reluctantly sampling weasel coffee and a meal made from a snake.
Vietnam has a young population having grown recently from 28m to 80m. Traffic was coped with under the “he who hesitates is lost” presumption that the locals use!
They marvelled at the huge number ornate shrines some which are still being built, the beautiful scenery, and were fascinated by the motorbikes being used as freight trucks and having to slam on the brakes for a large flock of geese crossing the road.
The final part of the trip included an overnight train trip to Hanoi. They thought Vietnam was an exciting friendly and safe place to visit.
Mt. St. Bathans
Friday, February 22nd, 2013
Sat 16th/Sun 17th February 2013
Six of us set out in two vehicles at 9am on a sunny Saturday morning. Uwe, who was supposed to co-lead with Brent opted to stay home after coming down with a cold on Thursday.
We made our way to St. Bathan’s, where we had a coffee (most important) at the historic Vulcan Hotel and Jac a play with the black lab who enjoyed a game of soccer. We then walked around the well laid out track along the “Blue Lake” or formerly known “Glory Hole”, where at its high time gold was sluiced.
We carried on towards the Manuherikia River and after about 5km of challenging (for me as I haven’t done much of it) 4 Wheel driving with several river crossings we arrived at our destination of Boundary Creek Hut near the East Branch of the Manuherikia. The DOC hut is a tidy 8 bunk hut with a fire place and a very small creek behind. We organised our sleeping arrangements, some of us put up a tent, 3 slept in the hut. Then we set off on foot to explore Mutton Creek track, a 4 wheel drive track over a saddle just across the river. We enjoyed pleasant views as we also tried to figure out a way up the ridge to Mt. St. Bathans, our object for the next day.
After dinner and with an early rise in mind we headed to bed with the chooks (not that there were any).
The alarm went off at 5.30am, all packed up and ready to go we started out just before 7 in low cloud. We followed a 4 wheel track up the ridge for about two hours, and at a height of about 1600m the cloud opened up and the views just got better and better. It was like diving into the other direction, another world up there! In bright sunshine and a bit of a breeze we carried on upwards. As it turned out a boundary fence on the ridgeline had been taken out by big machines, evidence being holes all along the upper track, fence posts and loose wire and ongoing 4 wheel drive track nearly up to the top. With rocks and some interesting rock formations this part looked like the surface of the moon! We arrived at the top after 4.5hrs of walking, just right for lunch!
The 360 deg view was amazing: the coast to the east, Mt. Aspiring to the south west, Mt. Cook to the north west. and the Kakanui Ranges to the north east. Time flew, we spent a whole hour on the summit of Mt. St. Bathan’s at 2086m, taking in the views. Also the cloud had pretty much disappeared in the valleys. The only flaw being piles of rubble including seven black car batteries and wood leftover from a triangle trig.
The way down the same track took only about 2.5hrs, a distance of about 9.5km, and descending roughly 1,300 meters, so we arrived back at the hut mid afternoon. Not long after that we drove back – more 4WD road – via Falls Dam and the settlement of small cribs. The drive took a lot longer than was thought and by the time we got to Palmerston it was 7pm and everyone was hungry. Fish’n Chips filled the gap and there was enough time for Graham to catch the bus to Dunedin for work the next morning.
The rest of us carried on back home, tired, but pleased to have had a great time.
Sylvia for Brent , Jac, Matt, Graham and Jane.
Mt. Dasher Bike Ride, 10th February 2013
Friday, February 15th, 2013
Nine keen riders loaded their bikes onto trailers and travelled to Mt Dasher Station, unloading at Scout Hut. Noel gave instructions as to the route, and the riders left on farm 4 wheel drive tracks to climb up to Mitchell’s Hut. This was a tough climb, with many steep slopes and a lot of height gained in a short distance. All riders made it safely to Mitchell’s Hut, and enjoyed a morning tea break with great views over North Otago. Then it was a faster ride back down to Scout Hut, and we realised the metres we had climbed on the way up to Mitchell’s Hut.
After lunch the riders began the ride down to Clifton Falls, a good downhill but with some stiff climbs to test the legs. The speeds reached required eyes be kept on the road, with stops to admire the views, and for a rest. A steep climb by Mt Dasher Station homestead was the final test before the long sealed downhill to Clifton Falls. All riders made the finish, with no mishaps or punctures.
A great day was enjoyed by the riders, and thanks to Noel and Maurice for driving the vehicles.
Colin, on behalf of Noel, Maurice, Phyllis, Bill, Ross, Graham and Jane, Robbie, Sam and John.
Club Night February 2013
Wednesday, February 13th, 2013
A good variety of tramping trips have taken place since the last report.
The 25th November saw a group climb Elephant Hill, with 5 continuing on a round trip via Mussen.
The day after the Club Christmas party, 8 intrepid trampers scaled Razor Ridge, returning via Mt. David and descending down the south bluffs back to Bayley’s yards. Great views were seen of the surrounding peaks, and Ian Roger’s cairn on Razor Ridge was rebuilt.
An attempt was made by 13 trampers on the Mt. Domet east face in mid January. Although there was an early start from Chinamans Hut, by the time the half way saddle was reached, thunder, rain and lowering cloud had set in, so it was agreed to abandon the climb. A discoloured rising river had to be negotiated many times on the way back to the cars.
The 27th January saw 15 climb Mt Kohurau on a warm summers day. Half climbed the North East ridge, and half went up via the ski field road. The native flowers were well photographed on the way down.
In the last trip 9 bike riders took on the steep uphill 4wd track from Scout Hut to Mitchells Hut on Mt. Dasher Station. It was then mostly downhill to the Clifton Falls bridge for a great 40k bike ride.
Coming trips are to Mt. St.Bathans, and the Herbert Forest. Details are available on the NOTMC Website.
Wednesday Walkers day walks have been to Nimrod Reserve in the Hunter Hills, Kauru Hill and Fuchsia Creek, The North Temple above Lake Ohau, Waianakarua Reserve, Mt. Fortune, Herbert Forest, the Dome Hills big rock circuit, Kurow Hill returning via the Awakino Gorge, Kaiwarua Station down the North Waihao River, Ashlands Road to South Peak near Hampden, Clear Stream in Danseys Pass, and Deep Stream on Waitangi Station.
Guest speakers Brian and Margie Smith gave us a personal and graphic account of their tour of London, Switzerland and France.
We saw the historical and modern London with its sometimes unusual shaped structures and engineering features. Then it was on to the awe-inspiring Swiss Alps with walks among the unique peaks of Mt. Blanc, the Eiger and Matterhorn. Included was a cog train ride up through the Eiger with a coffee schnapps and cream at the top, where they also viewed pristine ice sculptures.
Then it was off to Nolay, in Burgundy, for a stay in a French Villa and a tour of a Chateau south of Dijon.
A stop-over in San Francisco for a ride in the cable car and a view of Alcatraz rounded off a great trip with stunning photos that would entice many to want to follow in their tracks.
Mt. Domett, 19th – 20th January 2013
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
It has been many years since the club has been to Domett from Chinaman’s hut, so it wasn’t surprising to have a group numbering thirteen attempting what used to be the old favourite.
In keeping with this summer’s weather pattern, the forecast was not perfect. However, it made good sense to at least be poised at Chinaman’s hut to give ourselves a chance the next day.
Just the casual walk up the gorge to the hut in perfect conditions, is a bonus, especially for those who had not been to this beautiful place before. One slightly unique feature of this particular trip is that in spite of being in quite a narrow gorge, we get a remarkably good view of almost the entire route that we will be following tomorrow as we approach the mountain. For some, this raises adrenalin levels. For others it may be spoiling their day somewhat as the size of the task ahead becomes more apparent as we get closer.
Total diligence Sunday morning with everyone on the way by 6am and the weather ‘holding’. By 7.15am the easy stuff was completed and the climbing began. Unfortunately, the ‘holding’ , mentioned above, turned out to be holding rain which gradually wasn’t being held any longer. Persevere we did for another hour or so, but with the rain becoming heavier, temperatures dropping and the cloud lowering, common sense prevailed. Back to the hut. Obvious disappointment by some, but also a feeling of relief by others who were caught out somewhat by the severity of the climb.
The wander back to the hut became a very strung out affair and while a brew was being enjoyed someone noted we were one person short. “Not to worry. He will have walked right past the hut as many others have done in the past”. So we pick up his sleeping bag etc and head off down valley expecting to find him returning after he had realised he’d gone too far. But no sign of him, all the way back to the cars . With the creek running a lot higher than it was yesterday there was suddenly a very different atmosphere as a small group of the most experienced trampers headed back upstream. The search was short-lived however, as the missing tramper was met just five minutes later coming towards us. He had apparently missed the hut and turned around just as we had predicted but missed the hut a second time just before we set out down the stream.
On reaching the cars, a very worthwhile debriefing was held to identify all the aspects of the entire trip that could be improved not only to do with losing a tramper for a while, but every other aspect of the trip as well. It was a valuable discussion.
Ironically, the mountain was laughing at us by this time, bathing in sunshine. However, it will be there for another day.
