Trip Reports
Mid Winter Bike Ride
Sunday, July 14th, 2024
Sunday 14 July 2024
Enfield Bike Ride, Sunday 14th July 2024
We left Medway car park at 11am, meeting up with one rider by the gardens, and two riders at the Weston Rail Siding. One more rider joined us at Fort Enfield, giving us a total of thirteen riders, two of which were leg powered riders.
The weather was chilly and overcast, but when we reached the top of McLeod Rd, all were warmed up. The ride continued along Ridge Road, with the temperature a low 5.2 degrees celsius.
We saw only two cars on the bike ride, along Tussocky Rd. From there we rode down Pine Hill Rd and on to the Alps to Ocean bike trail, then made our way back to the Enfield pub for refreshments. We then made our own way home in our own time.
Thank you to the E-Bike riders for being patient and waiting on the leg powered riders.
Total distance biked was 47 kilometres.
Noel Pullan
Conical Hill 945m
Friday, June 28th, 2024
22-6-2024
10 of us met at the car park in Oamaru all looking for a good day in the hills. The weather
forecast was fine but cool with a change late afternoon in which time we would be out by
then.
We all piled into two Vehicles and headed down to Palmerston where we met two other
members from Dunedin. We then headed about 20km inland on the Pigroot Rd to we
turned off into Kinross Station. There is an easement through Kinross station to the top of
Conical Peak with a car park and a DOC sign being just off the Pigroot Rd, but we had been
in contact with the farmer that we were going to be on this property and he was happy for
us to park in his yards.
At about 9.30am we headed off up the easement track which has orange poles on the fence.
At 10.30am at about the 600m mark we stopped for morning tea with views north-
northwest towards the snow-capped Kakanui Mountains and the southernmost peak of Obi.
We then carried on up the track and at about the 750m mark we got a view of the top of
Conical peak and of the headwaters of the South Branch of the Waianakarua River.
At about noon the 1st of the party reached the top of Conical Peak 945m and the rest of the
party that wanted to get to the top all arrived over the next half an hour. A leisurely Lunch
was taken in fine clam conditions with 360 degree views and views of the North and South
Branches of the Waianakarua River and to the northwest to the start of the Kakanui
Mountains and southwest across to the snow-capped Rock and Piller Range.
At about 1pm we headed off back down the track with the cloud that had been sitting out at
sea all day was starting to roll in, all arriving back at the cars about 3pm with everyone
agreeing it had been a good day out in good conditions for a winter hike.
Over the day we covered 15.5 km, an 800m climb from the cars to the top and it took us
about 5 ½ hours. On the way home we stopped at the Dunback pub but it was closed so it
was back to Palmerston where there was a thick drizzle. A debrief of ice cream and coffee
was taken and to farewell our two Dunedin members.
Thanks for making it a good day out; Maurice, Phyllis, Ross F, Geoff, John, Rex, David N,
Rodney, Helen and our two newbie’s Sarah and Rory.
Neville
Ben Lomond
Wednesday, June 19th, 2024
16 June 2024
Ben Lomond is the highest point on the ridge separating the Maerewhenua and Otekaieke valleys.
After a week of fluctuating weather forecasts, the day dawned fine and nine trampers left Oamaru
at 8 o‘clock, picking up a tenth at Duntroon, and turned down Special School Road to park just
before the farm track dropped down off the terrace. After a preliminary discussion it was decided
that six would head for the top while four would aim for a shorter walk. Among the latter was the
supposed trip leader who had left his boots at home.
All set off just before 9 o’clock dropping down off the terrace to the valley floor and crossing the
Otekaieke River by a stock bridge. It was then through a couple of gates to start up the steep climb
to the Ben Lomond ridge. The main group took a direct route up while the shorter walkers followed
the zig-zag track.
The group who were attempting a longer distance headed towards Lower Ben Lomond (994 metres)
where they stopped for lunch at about noon. A discussion was held whether they try and make it to
Ben Lomond itself, but with what looked like a change in the weather coming and shorter amount of
daylight available it was decided to turn back after lunch following the high path for the views rather
than descending into the river valley.
The other four stopped at a fenceline about half-way along the top ridge (about 830 metres) and
lunched on a sheltered knob with fine views of the mountains in the St Mary Range. Two returned
down the fenceline while the last two (including the bootless leader) returned by the track.
All ten met up before the bridge and returned to the cars at 2.30pm. The Duntroon Hotel debrief
concluded that it had been a very good day with fine weather, great views and a good workout. So
said Roz, Lorena, David, Robbie, Julian, Neville, Rex, Neil, Jane and John.
Staircase Ridge 12 May 2024
Monday, May 13th, 2024
Seven trampers turned out for this walk which does have quite strenuous climbs in it. It was a fine chilly morning as we set off down the hill to the Middle Branch of the Waianakarua River. Birdsong was unusually loud and the big descent was undertaken in good spirits. We had been joined by two younger potential members so some observation was required to see if they were going to be ok going up the Staircase ridge. As many members will know, the river part of this trip is particularly slippery at this time of the year, but luckily there had been no frost and fairly dry conditions meant it wasn’t too bad.
It was the same for the very steep climb out of the river bed going up the initial part of the Staircase ridge, probably as dry as I have seen. One of the young fellows developed blisters fairly early on which were dealt with on a few occasions during our walk, hopefully it didn’t put him off altogether. The track had ben trimmed since the last time I was there and the going was relatively easy.
DoC has taken on the maintenance of both the Tabletop and Staircase tracks and the track markers put in are probably better than ever, well done to the 2 local rangers responsible. This group set no speed records and by about lunchtime we had reached Pt 499 which provided some good views and a good place to have a leisurely lunch and the chance to have look around and pick out the various landmarks.
It was decided to return from whence we had come at this time and a pleasant, mostly downhill journey brought us back to the river and the last grind up the hill back to the vehicles by 3.30. A very pleasant day’s walk in good company with good accompanying birdsong along the way. Thanks to Neville,Neil, Helen, Rodney, Henry and Archie for coming.
Robbie
