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Chinaman’s Cave
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
Chinaman’s Cave Blue Mountains Trip Report 18/5/2014 It was good to get out tramping again after all the wet weather and trip cancellation. Nine of us met at the car park and we met two more at Hampden. The forecast was for fine weather in the morning and then a southwest change and a few showers in the afternoon. We headed up Duncan Rd in three 4WDs to park just below the microwave tower. We started hiking down an old track and then crossed a fence and sidle around the top of a gully till we reached the 4WD track that goes down to pigeon bush. As we walked down the track the birds were full of song in the bush. Half way down we turned off and headed up another track in a southwest direction. We walked along the hill tops before dropping down and crossing the top end of trotters creek which someone had made a sign and called it Christmas creek. It was then up again and we then got a view of the Lime Works on the hills opposite us. It was not long after that we came to the wee valley we had to go down to the cave. As we came down we crossed over a lot of pig rooting, they had, had a really good go. The creek where the cave is was soon reached and then it was a scramble around the rock look for the cave. I seen a worn track headed up the rocks to some bush, so I followed it and soon the cave was found. We all explore the cave for about 10 minutes, signed a visitors’ book and then it was back down to creek below the cave for lunch. After lunch we headed off along the valley floor below the lime works in a northwest direction for about 3km, past a wool shed till we came to the valley that headed northeast towards the microwave tower. We followed a 4WD track along this valley past some nice bush where the birds were busy in song again till we come to the 300m climb. After about 40 minutes we were back up on top, where we pasted the microwave tower and back along to the vehicles. Us we got back to the vehicles the first shower of rain came though so we timed it just right. The whole trip took about 5 hours. Some of the tracks we have hiked before along Duncan Rd are starting to get over grown with gorse which is a bit of a shame. Also they are going to do a 1080 drop in that area in the next few weeks. It was back down the road to Hampden for the usual ice-cream stop. Thank for the great company, Dave, Linda, Bill, Jane, John, Jo, Ross, Bess and Jane & Sara on their first day out with the club. Neville
Alps to Ocean Part Two
Wednesday, April 16th, 2014
Following on from a weekend riding the lake sections of the A2O Trail late last year, section 8, Duntroon to Oamaru was the mission for Sun 13th April.
Most of us only wanted to ride one way, but Uwe set off at 7am for Duntroon arriving just as we were unloading the bikes from the trailer, nice timing. Bron was already there doing warm up laps up and down Duntroon’s main street.
The team of seven left Duntroon at 9am in overcast conditions, stopping to visit the Maori rock drawings and other information panels on route. Bill who had intended to ride so far with us then return to bring the car back to Oamaru, got a work call, and so returned earlier than expected.
As we pedalled past the limestone cliffs of Island Cliff I gained a new appreciation for this very scenic natural feature, followed by panoramic views of North Otago as we rode the high section of Peaks Road. A nice long downhill bought us to Windsor township where lunch was had on the step in front of the old Windsor store.
With riders refuelled we were on our way to complete the last section of our journey which included a bumpy ride on the trail next to the Weston Ngapara Highway and a short section of the old railway line ending the journey for most riders at Grasmuecks for coffee and hot-cross buns. Jane and I made the last dash down the railway and the new trail to Oamaru via the picturesque Oamaru Public Gardens to the waiting vehicles.
Thanks to, Bron, Silvia, Phyllis, Bill, Uwe, Jane, – Maurice.
Herbert Forest Working Bee:
Tuesday, April 8th, 2014
April 6th 2014
There were two main concerns for this day – firstly would be have sufficiently good weather and secondly, how many people would turn up. The day started fine and 12 people turned up, so all was well. We were also fortunate that we could have an extra hour in bed!
Meeting at the Swallows car park, we divided into 4 teams that spread themselves around the tracks. Our team worked hard up until 1.00 , in fact so hard that it wasn’t until we went into a clearing for lunch that we discovered it was lightly drizzling. We also realised at this stage that we should have spread our efforts over a larger section of the track. I understand the other groups were more successful in doing this.
The weather did not encourage a picnic atmosphere when we all met up, so there was a reasonably quick debrief that included some suggestions for the ‘open day’, then we smartly left for home.
A BIG thanks to all those who turned up – and especially to Bron ,Tim and Jo who travelled some distance to help. Also to Bess, Neville, Jac, Roz, Noel, Robbie, Colin and John. Trust your backs and hands are not in agony like mine.
Too busy for photos!
Jane
Arthurs Pass. Lake Mavis via Goat Pass & Edwards Valley
Friday, March 28th, 2014
22nd – 24th March 2014
The enjoyment of tramping is not only while out there doing it, but the build-up with the wonder of what new country we will see, catching up with fellow club members and will the weather be kind.
The journey began with a long distance drive to Arthurs Pass to our accommodation for Friday night at the Christchurch Tramping Club’s hut, then down to the Wobbley Kea Cafe for a giant sized pizza for dinner. This was for half of our party as the other three had to leave Oamaru later. Our team of six spent a very comfortable night at the hut with storytelling and the usual taking the mickey out of things, before lights out.
At 7am Robbie was first up to have breakfast and prepare for the day ahead. After parking the cars at Greyneys, packs shouldered, we were on our way across the Bealey River to Goat Pass Hut via the Mingha Valley which is the route used in the Coast to Coast Run.
Fog blocked the views to the tops, but that soon improved. River crossings appeared more numerous than previous visits from what I could remember. Finally the crossings ceased and the hill work began ending on Dudley’s Knob where photos were taken with the element of a “Liedecker View”.
An early lunch was enjoyed in the sunshine at the Mingha Biv. The clever graphics on the inside walls of the biv were photographed and we were off on the last lap to Goat Pass Hut, arriving five hours after our start – a gentle way to break into the tramp. With the hut to ourselves, brew in hand and sitting in the sun life was as good as it gets. Later after a short walk across snow grass from the hut and up to a high point we were rewarded with great views up and down the Deception River and across to the tops above Temple Basin. We could also see our intended route up to Lake Mavis for the next day. As the day wore on more people started to arrive and by the evening there were at least thirty looking for a bed in the twenty bunk hut. It was interesting to note that a good number of these people did not have any form of bed mat. Lessons to be learned here.
Little sleep was had by some of us so it was pleasing to see daylight on Sunday morning and get breakfast over early so we could get on our way in clear skies with no fog. One hour uphill and Lake Mavis began to show. Several people had camped up there for the night and were making their way down. After shedding our packs we had time to explore around the outlet while waiting for the sun to appear over the ridge to paint a new picture of the lake.
The next stage to the crossing point on the ridge one km north of Mt Oates consisted of a rocky sidle then a climb ending with another grand view across the Edwards Valley to Tarn Col, Falling Mountain and the large tarn, our lunch spot 150mtrs of steep scree below.
The route to the valley floor began with more rock hopping followed by tussock to the steep gut which with care released us to freedom. Edwards Hut appeared with some attractive board-walked tarns in the foreground after nearly two hours of valley walking. With only our party in the hut for the night it made for a more peaceful place than the previous one. Uwe was first up at 6am Monday and lit all the cookers . Not sure what that was all about but it made for a leisurely breakfast while awaiting daylight for travel in the bush. A short distance from the hut we were rewarded after Robbie’s announcement “Blue Ducks” whereby a pair came floating downstream right past us while another pair flew overhead. It was good spotting as some of the party had not seen Blue Duck in the wild before. The ducks can be hard to see as they blend in with the water well.
The track down to the river flats demands your attention as it is quite rough with steep steps in places. Once out on the flats with easier going we stopped to chat with a camping party, the two girls about to bathe in the stream nearby obviously not expecting company. “Nothing we haven’t already seen before!”
After negotiating a steep rock wall with the help of a series of chains, the highway traffic could soon be seen and the last river crossing took us back to the cars, journey over.
Thanks for making a good trip that much better.
Bron, Jane, Phyllis, Uwe, Robbie
Maurice.
Kirkliston Range
Friday, March 14th, 2014
Kirkliston Range
Sunday 16th February, 2014
The Kirkliston range is on the West side of the Hakataramea valley. The actual location of this trip was changed as the runholders’ of part of the route could not be contacted. The trip was changed to tramp up onto the north end of the Kirkliston Range. Permission was kindly granted from the Milnes of Invercroy station. David Milne was waiting for us at the gate as two carloads each of four eager trampers arrived. He had a prepared a map for us, with a marked route, which should ensure good views. The morning fog hindered our early route finding and it wasn’t long before we were climbing up through tussocks and spaniards. Finally the fence on the ridge line came into view and the fog was below us. Morning tea was enjoyed as was the surrounding views. John with his trusty saw took to two wilding pines. We followed the fence which led to a track that slowly climbed the range. After lunch, in the middle of a tussocky plateau, we did the final climb to the top of the ridge at approximately 1500 metres. The views were magnificent 360 degrees – Twizel, Tekapo river, Mt Cook, Mt Dobson the Hunter and Kakanui ranges.
The trip back was steadily downhill and after a day of over 6 hours walking we were glad to reach the cars. Eight trampers enjoyed their big icecream at Kurow after their pleasant day of exercise.
Thanks to Bill, John, Tim, Wendy, Linda, Colin, and Bronwyn for their enjoyable company.
Dave Mellish