Silver Peaks, 14-10-12

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

After a very wet Saturday, I was pleasantly surprised to see a big improvement in the weather on Sunday as nine trampers left the Oamaru carpark bound for Silver Peaks, stopping on the way to pick up two more at Maheno and then meeting a further two at the Double Hill Road intersection.

With the cars parked at the locked barrier, a few showed their skills at kicking a flat rugby ball around which had been dumped along with other rubbish on the side of the road. Not a pretty sight.

A five kilometre road walk bought us to the start of the Tunnels Track.Underfoot was wet and slippery on the steep descent to the Waikouaiti River South Branch but most were able to stay upright. After the below knee-deep crossing of the river we made our way up the ridge through the trees and bush until we came to the new 4 bunk Philip Cox Memorial Hut where we had No1 lunch at 11:45 am. It is a delightful hut and a fitting memorial to a well-liked man who was known to some of the members of the party.

Onwards and upwards, the Yellow Hut site was bypassed as we headed up to the junction of Rocky Ridge and the Gap. Because of the time factor, all selected to walk along Rocky Ridge so didn’t venture over to The Gap. Conditions were cool and windy but clear on the ridge where at times we became separated as we followed the vague tracks over scrubby undulating ground while the keen photographers had plenty of opportunities to get some scenic shots.

The Hermit’s cave was sighted off track but time didn’t allow us to visit it. Jubilee Hut could also be seen in the valley.

Lunch No2 was taken in the tussocks out of the wind. Later after leaving the ridge, we passed by Pulpit Rock and on towards the Green Hut site for a quick rest stop and snack. The wind had calmed down considerably by now.

At about 6pm, thirteen trampers arrived back at the cars after more than an eight hour circuit in the Silver Peaks

Thanks to Browyn, Robbie, Noel, Linda, Ross, Bill, Mark, Colan, Els, Dave,  Wendy and Maurice for the company on a great trip in a great place.

Phyllis

Mt Stalker

Monday, October 8th, 2012

I headed down to the carpark at 8am to meet up with 10 other trampers all ready to go and we picked up another two at Maheno which gave us a grand total of 13 which was a great turn out. The day was fine in Oamaru but the forecast was for rain in the morning clearing by afternoon. We all headed for Herbert where we turned off and went up Tulliemet rd into Mt Stalker station. We carried on driving on a farm road for another 6 km till we came to the place where we parked the cars and started our hike for the day. It was very foggy and a cold wind, so we put on our warm gear and headed off. We started off by hiking along the hill tops at about 900m and every now and then the fog would lift just a little to give us a peak of the great views around us. After about 1 hour hiking the fog lifted and it came out fine and the views were awesome. We then dropped down to the valley below to where we visited our first hut for the day. We had morning tea at the Gentle Anne Hut by the creek and by now it was getting quite warm. From here it was all uphill to about 1300m and a 10km hike to our next hut but Maurice looked at the map and thought there might be a shorter root up a very steep and rocky Mt Stalker so Maurice, Robbie, Bill, Steve and Ann all headed off to have a look and we decided that we would all meet up at the next hut. The rest of us crossed the creek and started our steep climb up a 4.w.d track for about 1 and half hours till we came to the main 4.W.D track that comes up the Otepopo Spur. By this time we were getting a bit hungry so we stopped for lunch. From our lunch spot we had great views from the sea right up the pig root to the remarkable mountains. After lunch we carried on up the Otepopo Spur, getting up to about 1300m with some small patches of snow still lying around. We finally came to our next turn off the track that comes up the Cayenne Spur. This track carries on up to Obi, Kattothyrst and Siberia hill of which we had great views of but we were going down this track towards Cayenne Hut to where we would meet the others. We arrived at the hut about 2.45pm to find the other relaxing in the hut so we join them for about half an hour. They had been there for about an hour. This hut has had a major rebuild over last couple of years. It was a short steep uphill from the hut and then it was an easy hike back to the cars, arriving there at 4.30pm just as the fog was starting to roll back in. All in all this was a 21km round trip, with awesome views and great company.

Thanks to – Robbie, Els, Uwe, Sylvia Maurice, Phyllis, Steve, Ann, Sam, Bill, Linda, Colin

and me Neville

An Unauthorized Version
News has come through of  a remarkable first ascent of Mt Stalker in a remote mountain range in the South Island of New Zealand. The expedition group included 3 New Zealanders  and 2 English climbers  and the successful ascent was via the south face , previously thought technically impossible . The expedition was lead by Maurice Gray and the Verhoef  express and later the group joined 6 others in an equally arduous circumnavigation of the area . The day was marked by a complete absence of what has become know in elite mountaineering circles  as the Leidecker view.
Notices have been placed in the Times of London , The  Mail of Oamaru  and the Saint- Emilion gazette.  Congratulatory telegrams  have been sent by the Governor General of New Zealand and  the Queen ..

Orienteering With Weston School

Friday, September 21st, 2012

On Thursday afternoon, Ross, Maurice and I met the two girls and six boys at Weston School who were taking part in a programme of being in the outdoors. Previously, they had participated in three different tramps in the Herbert Forest, so some instruction on the use of a compass, maps, locator beacon and GPS was in store for them for the afternoon.

Firstly, Maurice explained how to find North with the compass and then in pairs and with a compass each they did a little exercise on Weston Park. Once the four GPS’s were distributed to each couple, they were eager to put them into use. A course of ten way points had been set around the school grounds and the Park, with some lollies and chocolate bars hidden at two of them. The ten waypoints had been loaded into the GPS’s and with some instruction, the teams took off in various directions.By 3pm all teams had arrived back to “ homebase” successfully finding the waypoints and hidden treasures. Ross then handed out some maps he had printed off for them to do a little excercise at home.

Thanks to Stacey, Nakayla, Alex, Tony, Michael W, Michael A, Dillion D, and Dillion H for taking part and showing so much enthusiasm in the exercise.

Phyllis.

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