Trip Reports
Big Ben
Tuesday, August 20th, 2013
Big Ben
Sunday 18 August 2013
Four hardy souls gathered in the car park on the second day of north-easterly rubbish. They departed optimistic that the weather either would be better inland, or would improve as the day went on. As they travelled up the Waitaki Valley, they were encouraged by a glimpse of the top of Station Peak above the low cloud. They set off from the car just after 9am in dry weather and an apparently brightening sky. The fools. Soon the cloud closed in and, as they climbed, the wind got colder and the rain heavier. After about 1 ½ hours they stopped for a snack and were astounded to see Bill emerging from the mist – or it may have been a cloud of steam – having slept in and made up half an hour on the main bunch.
Given the poor visibility, the intrepid five stuck to the track rather than attempt shortcuts. Nevertheless, they reached the peak about 11.45 to be greeted by a classic Leidecker view. Lunch was eaten quickly, photos taken, and the return journey commenced. It proved to be straightforward, notable only for some visibility returning in the lower reaches and a brief encounter with three teenage hunters with two dogs, an ATV and a trail bike. The cars (now two) were reached just after 2pm. All agreed the experience had been much better than sitting in front of a roaring fire watching television. The optimists were John A, Brian, Sam, John C – and Bill.
Herbert Forest Working Bee
Sunday, August 4th, 2013
3rd August 2013
The old saying many hands make light work, was very true when an unscheduled working bee to clear the tracks of recent storm damage was held on Sat 3rd.
A good turn out of ten members plus Chelsea Anderson, 4yr old daughter of John. Armed with loppers, handsaws,grubbers and two chainsaws we split into two teams. Hoods Creek track was the target with one team going in at the Pa Road end and the other at the top end of Breakneck Road. With the chainsaw operators going ahead cutting the large trees and the follow up brigade coming behind clearing all before them. The two teams met near lunch time,while one small party went over to the Podocarp to cut the large trees left exposed after a previous clearing around them.
The Glenburnie Loop was checked by John and Phyllis and declared clear.
Drizzle which had set in certainly did not deter the enthusiam of the group to achieve this wonderful result finishing at 3.30pm.
A follow up working bee will be held next Sun 11th to repair bridges and reinstate some track surface,contact Robbie Verhoef. This should put all tracks back to pre storm condition.
Thanks to, Ross,Robbie,Noel,Sam,Neville,Brian,John Chetwin,Phyllis,John and Chelsea Anderson. Maurice.
Benmore Range
Wednesday, July 31st, 2013
Sunday 28th July.
Permission was not granted to go up Mt Saint Cuthbert so plan B was adopted, which was to go to the Benmore Range and climb to the conservation area.
For a change the weather was in our favour and was a lovely sunny day for most of it. Seven trampers left Oamaru and picking another one up on the way. We passed a tussock fire at the rock drawings just out of Duntroon, but was all but out when we passed by. (Saturday night entertainment for someone, they had set fire to the garden out by the road!!)
Around 10 ish we were heading up the track, following the markers along the fence line. Only a few minutes into the walk we had our first obstacle, a wee creek and a boggy area. Now us HARDY trampers didn’t want to get our feet wet at this early stage, so a bit of walking up and down the stream (which was quite deep and swift) to check out a suitable crossing but in the end most of us got one foot wet ! Once over the stream it was up hill from then on in, with the occasional down and a bit of cross country and still keeping our eyes on the orange marker poles.
Lunch was had behind some rocks as a nasty wee S.W. wind had got up. The views were magnificent, looking out to L.Ruataniwha,L. Pukaki, Twizel and onto Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. We carried on up until about 1.30 and some decided to call it a day, however 3 continued on so they could see the conservation sign at the top. (which was the same as the one at the car park!) The wind had got up by now and was very cold and we were pleased to get down to the warmth again.
A good Winter walk with great views, best done on a fine day. Thanks to Noel for organising the trip and to – Phyllis, Maurice, Lynda, Bill, Murray, and The Swedish Nurse for their company. Bronwyn. 
Sullivans Dam, Mt Cargill
Monday, July 15th, 2013
Sullivans Dam / Mount Cargill 14th July
Undaunted by the unfavourable weather forecast, nine members set off from Oamaru to go tramping in the Mt Cargill area. As we approached the Dunedin Northern Motorway we encountered the sweeper truck spreading grit on the fresh coat of snow which blanketed the road. For the time being it was fine but cold so after parking the cars down Leith Valley Road we donned parkas, overpants, hats and gloves and set off past Sullivans Dam and followed a sometimes muddy track beside a pipeline. This lead us to a fence crossing, a bash through a forest of recently pruned pinus radiata, two more fence crossings and into farmland. Brief views of North Dunedin appeared from here before the black clouds and snow came in again.
Once over a stile and shelter from the storm, we entered a forest of pine trees where we encountered
snow laden gorse which had collapsed onto the track after the recent storms. Relief from the pin pricks came when a formed road called The Three Peaks Track appeared which was followed until we turned off and made our way up a hill of milled timber following faint pink markers to reach Cowan Road. Meanwhile the snow began to fall once again.
The A H Reed Track lead us up to Mt Cargill, but unfortunately there were no views at the top.The wind whistling through the communications tower on top could be heard long before we arrived there. The snow encrusted bush on the side of the track made it look like Christmas Card scenery. For our return, an attempt was made to follow the Escarpment Track, but after about 10minutes descending it became impenetrable with all the windfall damage. A quick lunch break in deteriorating weather near the bush was taken at mid-day before we decided to re-trace our steps back to the Three Peaks Track. From there we were able to link up with the Cloud Forests of Leith Track which also had a lot of damage. Extra care was taken as the snow and damp conditions made the board walks very slippery. Nine trampers finally emerged from the snow laden bush to walk around Sullivans Dam and back to the cars at 2:30pm. Of course we couldn’t pass Palmerston without stopping for an icecream.
Thanks to Jo, John A, Murray (who were all on their first outing with the club) Evelyn, Linda, Noel, John C and Maurice for their company while braving the adverse weather conditions and getting “out there”
Phyllis
On top of Mt Cargill
Sullivans Dam car park
July 6 & 7, Big Hut, Rock and Pillars, Potluck Dessert Trip
Wednesday, July 10th, 2013
Too cold for shorts?
The prevailing snow conditions and an expected very high wind situation brought about a change of trip for this weekend.
Saturday morning saw 7 members heading out to go and do something around Mt Somers and when we collected in Geraldine for a quick coffee etc a discussion took place and we decided to head for the Pinnacle Hut. Hut tickets were bought at the Stavely Store and the request was made to drop back in on our return to report on conditions as no one had been in since the storm.
We were ready to go by 11 and away up to Duke’s Knob, we encountered only moderate damage to the trees and track at this stage. A deviation to Sharplin Falls was well rewarded with a spectacular display from the extra water in the river due to the meltwater. Lunch was had on the top of the knob with a view. We had gusty NW winds and fine weather but not overly warm. Down the other side and down to the Bowyer River, a brief encounter with an Iranian man who had returned after finding the track too hard to find beyond a slip made us slightly apprehensive. The damage to the track was now extensive with many trees having just fallen over in soggy conditions followed by a large snow dump. The snow was still there in many places and the track was quite hard to follow as it simply disappeared for extensive sections, it was also quite deep, deeper where the track beneath provided water channels and the snow had been hollowed out providing plenty of spots where legs vanished and were hard to retrieve, you know how that goes.
Up the last steeper slope and the little pass from where the hut can be seen, it looks so close from there, in good conditions taking just quarter of an hour. This time it took another hour to get here, the snow being quite deep. It was very good to get here by twilight, it would have been more difficult in the dark. The hut was well stocked with dry wood and some coal and it didn’t take long to warm the place and get hot drinks happening followed by food. The hut is usually serviced with running water in the hut but not now, the intake from the creek further up has probably come unstuck. Water was not far away with plenty of meltwater close by. Getting to the loo was also harder than usual and did involve close encounters with the cold snow.
We enjoyed a very good night up there, especially the very abundant dessert spread. One member showing exceptional abilities when it came to the consumption of whipped cream, not heeding in the slightest the many dire predictions made on the state of his intestinal tracts. We all ate plenty and felt very good indeed. Some merriment followed with the silly vegetable game providing plenty of laughs.
The following morning dawned with deteriorating conditions, more blustery wind and overcast. It was unanimously decided that a return the same way was the only thing to do given the snow conditions and the weather. It was much faster returning along the route clearly made the previous day and we were out for lunch in the carpark just as it started to clag in and looking backwards on the drive home the entire mountain was enveloped with cloud and it was clearly raining. Icecreams in Geraldine where it was fine and warm and home in good time. A very enjoyable winter weekend that provided plent of adventure and exercise. Thanks to Jac, Uwe, Sylvia, Maurice, John, Phyllis.
Robbie
The first of many for this member!!