Big Hut Annual Pilgrimage – August 2012

Saturday, September 1st, 2012

It  might be to the same place each year but it is always different, winter time brings many changing moods to this spectacular landscape.

After the drive to Middlemarch and a car shuffle we began the trip from the Lug Creek car park. The party of six spread out finding their own pace for the long journey up the 4WD track. The day was overcast with a fresh Northerly wind increasing as we approached the Rock and Pillar tops. Sheltered behind a rock at the snow line we refuelled ourselves and donned parkas to protect against the bite from the wind off the snow.Our route took us via Leaning Lodge ,which is now under renovation by the OTMC From the hut there is now a marked track which will be helpful in foggy conditions but it was clear for us with the snow firm to icy in places. Once on top our party separated to take photos and view this stunning landscape also meeting up with two members of the OTMC out XC skiing while on our way to Big Hut.

Out of the wind and a brew on it was time to settle down and catch up with Bruce Mason the hut warden. Bruce and the Big Hut Trust have done a grand job improving and managing the hut, with the reclading and other renovations the hut is now a lot warmer. If all else fails there is table tennis to get you warmed up. Last year two of our party from England (poms) played two from NZ (kiwis) and the poms won. A whole year we have had to suffer this humiliation. This year change of rules, we would play singles.I am pleased to report the kiwis won both singles rubbers returning the Big Hut TT trophy back to NZ.

The kitchen was the place to be ,with the evening meal cooking and the thermo siphon warm air system operating the temperature reached 9*c. With the main course over it was time for the pot luck deserts. Such a spread there was easily enough for all the five others in the hut. Some of the dessert I was carrying didn’t make it to the table as it decided to escape into my pack.(The things you do)

Retiring early to a warm sleeping bag listing to the wind attacking the hut thankful that I was not in my tent tonight.Noel and Robbie were up early to capture the sunrise in photo,returning later cold and wind battered. You have got to be keen.

Breakfast including some left over dessert was had before heading out on Bruce’s Hobbit Trail leading to Stonehenge and Museum Rock. Well wrapped up against the very strong wind we made our way to this very picturesque place. Cameras recording the amazing rock formations. The return journey with snow softening and head wind was a bit of a grind.But back at the hut after early lunch hot brew, pack up and down the hill with the wind unrelenting. Retrieving the car from Lug Creek car park we were at the end of another great trip to Big Hut.

Thanks to :  Noel, Phyllis, Ann & Steve, (poms) Robbie & Maurice, (kiwis)         

                                                                                                            

Bike Ride From Port Chalmers to Aramoana

Monday, August 20th, 2012

The N.O.T.M.C. trip for 19th August was a bike ride down the Otago harbour from Port Chalmers to Aramoana led by Noel Pullan. Wendy, Ken and I as slower riders, talked one another in joining the ride and even though it was a dry foggy day we had a fabulous time. With winding flat road and no wind, we enjoyed a cruisy ride with tranquil views of the harbour. Aramoana has a few cute cribs, some of characteristic construction, and a Mole of rocks with a track atop that stretches out into the sea to protect the Otago harbour entrance. We rode to the end the Mole where a seal posed like a statue on a prominent rock beside the navigation mast marking the harbour entrance.

Back off the Mole a broad sweep of beach stretches along sand dunes known as ‘The Spit’, to the narrow entrance of the harbour itself. The tide was low and sands hard so we rode to the end of the beach and around to an old jetty where we found a sheltered posie from the now rising N.E wind to have lunch. A container ship entered the harbour for our entertainment. It was so close that we could hear the crew calling to us from the ships railings. We continued around the harbour-side of the beach and back into the township to visit the Memorial for the people shot by David Gray, a sobering moment. To top off our Aramoana adventures we tootled around the streets having a good nosey.

 

A delightful coffee stop at the Carey’s Bay Pub topped off our ride back to Port Chalmers. Temptation to explore further took us to the steaming mountain of wood chips at the wharf and on to circle around the shoreline of Port Chalmers Township back to the cars parked on the Main Street.

 

A great day was had by all fifteen adventurers.

 

By Tricia Pope

 

Ben Ohau – June 2012

Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Ben Ohau stands as a sentinel overlooking Lake Ohau and forming the southern tip of the Ben Ohau Range.  At 1552 metres, it provides a 1000 metre climb from the road.  The Greta Stream carpark at its base is 165 km from Oamaru and is reached via SH83, SH8, Max Smith Drive, over the Ohau A power station and west alongside the Ohau Canal to the Glen Lyon Road.  The tramp is entirely on conservation land.

Six set off on a fine Sunday morning, cool with a light westerly breeze.  The day was to provide a short window of fine weather in between storms.  We left the Greta Stream carpark at 10.30 am and started on the steady climb up the old 4wd track which initially zigzags, then proceeds in a long sweep across the northern face to its highest point.  From there we climbed up a fence line, over a mixture of rock and sub-alpine vegetation, to reach the summit at around 12.15.

After being buzzed by a light plane which approached from the direction of Twizel, we perched on rocks protruding from drifts of old snow to lunch and enjoy one of the great vantage points – with views from Pukaki, Twizel, Lakes Benmore and Ruataniwha, the Benmore Range, Omarama, the St Cuthbert, Ewe, Diadem and Ohau Ranges around to Lake Ohau and the Neumann Range.

A chill breeze encouraged us on our way by 1.45, back down the fence line to the 4wd track where we turned east and followed it along the ridge towards Twizel.  After about 3 km, at the lowest point on the ridge, we left the track and turned north down a tussock face which narrowed to a gully before coming out on to the Greta Stream at around 3.30.  On the way we spooked a small black pig and dispatched a wilding pine.

From there, we headed back west, following a disused farm track down the Greta Valley, through a small gorge, impressive rock faces and colourful dracophylla and snowberries.  After 5 stream crossings, the track led up the bank on the true right through some remnant beech forest and along a poled route across tussock terraces toward Lake Ohau. At one point the poles stopped and the track came to a sudden end in a patch of scrub.  This required a climb over a fence on to an old farm track which continued the descent to the road, where a DOC sign confirmed we had been on the correct route.  The final leg was ten minutes along the road to reach the cars dead on 5pm.

The day provided a 16km walk with 1000 metres ascent and descent, mountain and valley terrain, and tussock, forest and sub-alpine flora.  Bess, Brian, Jane, Linda and Sam added to the entertainment.

John.

Otehake River Hot Spring – Queens Birthday 2012

Sunday, June 10th, 2012

Trip Report for the Queens Birthday Trip of 2012 to the hot springs on the Otehake River at Arthur’s Pass

 

This trip turned into an all boys trip with 5 lads setting off early on the Saturday morning. A fairly uneventful trip punctuated only by the eating of some delicious muffins en route saw us arrive at the village of Arthur’s Pass just in time for coffee which was drunk as we carried on over the Pass to  Aickens and the carpark where the Taramakau River valley is accessed. A rapid change into tramping gear, gobble down another muffin and we were off getting wet feet within the first 15 minutes as we crossed the Otira River and headed up  the Taramakau. We carefully avoided the spot where Maurice had plunged in to a deep hole on a previous trip in this area. The walk improved dramatically after the turn off towards Lake Kaurapataka with giant trees making a spectacular appearance as we ambled up the track. A wide selection of rimu, miro and red beech, as well as many smaller species like marble leaf , horopito and broad leaf filled the forest with abundant ferns covering the forest floor. Very pleasant. Eventually the lake appeared and a second lunch spot beside the lake edge was found. Plenty of other vegetation here with abundant regeneration of rimu and lancewoods. On around the lake with even bigger red beeches, some of the largest seen yet, fantastic views over the still water of the lake and the reflections of the tree covered hills surrounding the lake. The walking now a little trickier with lots of slippery roots as we sidle around to the head of the lake. A small saddle and down a very steep gut got us down to the Otehake River. It was higher than I had seen but we head up the river and through the gorge, with many crossings to make as we weave from one bank to the other as bluffs bar the way. The day gets short now and darkness looms as we cross the last time. The smell of sulphur getting stronger as the daylight fades. Time for the GPS and we don’t have far to go now, lucky I brought the right GPS this time, this one has batteries, it tells us that it is only a few hundred meters to the hot spring and the camping spot that is the destination for this trip. Luckily the small entrance up to the camping area on the island in between the 2 branches of the river appears, it is well hidden with the cairn being very mossy and the shrubbery having covered most of it.

 

Great relief as the tents are pitched and the camp is set up, torches on as the meals are prepared. After tea, we search out the springs which are often hidden due to the fickle nature of the river, one very hot spot is found and quickly expanded to accommodate a body. It is too late to get into too many excavations but everyone has a turn with the pool big enough to hold 3 people but only for short duration as the temperature soon gets too much. Some in the party rate the experience particularly highly, higher than anything else indeed. The hot baths lead to exhaustion in the end and getting to bed is the right thing to do. During the night the weather changes as predicted and mild drizzle eventually turns to rain. The morning dawns grey and wet putting the planned walk up the hill towards Koropuku Hut right off the menu. Instead with combined effort and newly found spade the pool site is developed into a fully fledged thermal resort, all temperatures are catered for and the only thing missing is a qualified masseuse (no Swedish nurses within a bulls roar). The morning flies by and with some reluctance we return to camp for lunch and a Nana nap for all, all that exercise has been our undoing.

After naps the weather improves, again as predicted, but alas it is deemed too late for walking and in any case the river is too high to cross. More lounging in the various pools instead with some being much more susceptible to the effects of heat and sulphur than others and having to retire to other pursuits. Eventually towards the latter part of the day a lone German appeared on the bank of the river, a hardy soul indeed as he had come from the Otehake Hut which by his declaration doesn’t get too many visitors with the hut book dating back to 1992 and still being less than half full. The German did not waste any time before jumping into the lovely hot water. A little while later more bodies were seen on the horizon, firstly 2 more looking very wet and exhausted and eventually another 9 appeared being members of the Christchurch Tramping Club. They had spent the previous night at the Koropuku Hut and climbed back up the very steep gut and over the hill and along the high water track up the Otehake River. With so many bodies now looking for a spot in the pools, our small group retired and busied ourselves with the building of a camp fire, no mean feat with the wet state of our surroundings. Eventually after 3 fire starters we had ourselves a fire although most of the heat went into drying the wood. We had a late night and it was well after 9 when most had retired, but what a good sleep after our exhausting day. In the morning I snuck out of bed at 6.45 and headed for the hot water only to find that Ross had beaten me to it , what a good way to start the day, with a hot bath, not the usual smelly trampers us. Other bodies soon joined and before long the pools were full of people……. time to go, after breakfast we headed back down the river and after one shallow crossing came to the high water track and decided to take that for a change. A radical change it was, very steep ups and some downs, very neglected it was, the only thing in its favour was that there were plenty of markers to show the way. To cover just over a kilometre took an hour and a half, I guess its fair to say none of us will want to do that bit again. We followed the same way out and had lunch in our old spot by the lake. It was good to be amongst the big trees again. Eventually we got back to the vehicle to discover that some more needy person than us had decided to relieve me of the spare wheel. It sort of popped the bubble a bit really, but looking on the bright side, at least they didn’t take the whole vehicle nor smash any windows to get into it. Off to the village for a coffee and then we hit the road to home, stopping in Geraldine for what for the 4 of us who ordered a roast meal was probably the worst roast meal that we had ever had.

Still we had a lot of laughs during this weekend and that provided enough mirth to get us all the way home. Thanks to Steve, John, Ross and Bill for a fine trip.  Robbie

 

A Walk In The Dunedin Hills – May 2012

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

The hills surrounding Dunedin are laced with a myriad of tracks catering for the hard nuts to the once in a while walker.
With a long weekend approaching some of our party were out to test themselves for the up and coming trip. Strong northwesters and some rain predicted didn’t stop nine members of the N.O.T.M.C. from an 8am start. The journey to Dunedin encountered heavy rain at first then sunshine as we neared our start point, the car park over Williams Creek Waitati Valley Road.

Following the Pipeline track which is mostly flat going was a good warm up for the Rustlers Ridge Track. A steady climb in the shelter of the surrounding bush with the melody of bird song along the way bought us to the lookout knoll above Burns Saddle. A snack break in the shelter of the flax bushes was enjoyed before moving on to the junction of tracks on the saddle. Burns Track having been recently cut made for easy going to the intersection of Swampy Track. As we made our way up Swampy Track the strong nor-wester made its presence felt , but the views at the top were worth it . Lunch in the shelter of a nearby building where the wind was all but forgotten then back out onto the road and wind around to the Leith Saddle Track. A stop at the look out point for some more excellent views over Dunedin then on down to the shelter of the bush and the pathway back to the road. A short road walk back to the cars concludes a nice leisurely day out.

Thanks to, Bess, Bev, Dave, John, Bill, Neville, Linda, Phyl, – Maurice