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Lindis Peak
Thursday, September 28th, 2017
17 September 2017
Eight of us were interested in this tramp and six of us arrived at the car park at 7.30am. The weather wasn’t great, fickle I would call it, but we all agreed that we just wanted to do it. .Omarama was our first stop the weather was cold windy wet and just YUK. A conversation took place and we decided to carry on and meet at the top of the Lindis Pass Saddle. Low cloud and fog still didn’t put us off and we continued until we turned into Old Faithful Road.
We started climbing up the 4wd track at 0950hrs with all our wet weather gear insitu. We stopped about 10 minutes up the hill when the sun shone for us and a lovely rainbow appeared. As we climbed the hats came off first, then the gloves then the mid-layer. The low cloud persisted as we climbed and the fog floated around us, as well as down in the valley far below. We had a great walk up the zig zag, then nearer the top we came across the gorgeous rock formations and the golden brown spaniards that were dotted around.
We had lunch around the schist rock area about 20 minutes from the top. It was windy cold and the view wasn’t the best. We walked across to the top to the Lindis peak took a few photos and decided we would come again in the summer. We were all back at the cars by 1430hrs and decided to meet at the Wrinkley Ram in Omarama for coffee and cake. We all had a great day and felt fit and young.
Cheers. Roz, Neville, Vicky, Michael, Jo, Jac.
Lindis Peak – 1226 metres – 17-9-2017
Six of us turned up for this day out. The weather was fine in Oamaru but there was meant to be a bit of light rain in the Lindis Pass area in the morning and clearing in the afternoon. We headed up to Omarama where the clouds were getting blacker and when we got into the Lindis Pass there was some heavy rain. We arrived at the start of the track by Old Faithful Road in light rain.
With the forecast of clearing weather we put on all our wet weather gear on and set off. After about 15 minutes the cloud cleared and the sun came out, so it was off with all the wet weather gear plus some more for the walk to the top. The track is a 4WD track that zig zags its way up a ridge to rocky out crop and then along the top to Lindis Peak. Half way up the cloud rolled back in and the wind pick up with no rain but we had to stop and put some gear back on. About 12.15pm we got to the rocky area and climbed in behind the rocks out of the wind for lunch.
After lunch it was a short walk to Lindis Peak with some great views (Not). We could see Lake Dunstan and Cromwell, but the cloud covered everything else. We didn’t stay long on top because of the cold wind but we took some photos and headed back down. On the way down the rain started again, so it was back on with the rain jackets and it stayed like this till we got back down to the car and the sun came out.
We then headed for Omarama for coffee before headed home.
Apart from the weather it was still a good day out and I thank Ros, Mike, Jo, Vicki for the company and Jac for organizing the day. Neville
Club Night August 2017
Monday, August 14th, 2017
Two New members were welcomed to the monthly Club Night.
Trip reports:
The Herbert Forest tracks were too wet to do maintenance on but the traps needed to be rebaited.
This resulted in a good catch of a large variety of pests.
5 members travelled to Alexandra and biked the Mellinium and Upper Clutha trails and 8 didn’t go to the South Temple because of heavy rain causing flooded rivers.
Wednesday Walkers:
There was a round trip to Cape Wanbrow in the rain, a cold walk on Kuriheka, a round trip across farmland in the Earthquakes area on a nice fine day and a circuit from Tapui Homestead to Davidson Road and back on an “almost Spring” day.
Coming Trips:
A new circuit in the Mt. Studholm area, a walk in to Liverpool Hut and a bike ride along the A2O to Rakis Tunnel and back via Victoria Hill.
The rest of the evening was an information sharing time.
John Chetwin led a discussion on risk management. He pointed out that risk equals likelihood multiplied by consequences. This was followed by a discussion on the risks of losing trampers, injury, and the weather.
Bess Allan showed us how to read a map and use a compass.
Neville Cory talked about crossing rivers. Always put safety first and don’t cross if it looks too dangerous. Study the river looking for the best place to cross, eddies, boulders and where to exit. This was followed by a demonstration on how to cross with others. Pointers emphasised were to have a strong tall person on the upstream side, take small steps and be prepared to turn around if the river looks like becoming impassable.
Members appreciated brushing up on these survival skills.
Mount Obi
Saturday, May 20th, 2017
14 May 2017
Six of us met in town on a fine Sunday morning all looking for a good day out. We picked up one more in Herbert on the way and meet another two in Palmerston. The nine of us then headed into the Pigroot to park in the rest area by the Pigroot creek bridge. It was then on with the day packs and up the creek for about 2km till we came to a 4WD track and our first 600m climb. We then zig-zagged our way up this track for about 1 and half hours to point 1125m on the map. We then headed along the tops in a easterly direction with a we bit of up and down till the track climbed up about 200m to meet the main track that comes up from Shingly Creek Rd. It was then the final climb of about 150m to the top of Obi, getting there about 12.15pm. Lunch was had by the communication tower building getting out of the cold breeze. We had 360 degree views along the coast, up the Pigroot, all the peaks of Kakanui Mountains through to Mt Cook and Tasman. After lunch we headed back down the main track for about 3km till we came to a junction in the track. We turned right and took the track and headed in a westerly direction slowly descending back down to meet up with Siberia Creek. It was then down Siberia Creek pushing our way through a bit of scrub till it opened back out to flat paddocks and soon we were back at the vehicles.
Thanks to Bron, Phyllis, Maurice, John, Rodney, Helen and our newbie’s Jim and Carolynfor their company for the day.
I would also like to thank the Farmers for giving us access to their land to do this trip.
Neville
Grampians
Friday, February 3rd, 2017
29 January 2017
If asked to sum up this trip in one word -it would be ‘windy!’. But with the crazy summer weather we have been having, and that this was the first trip in almost 2 months, I think all 10 of us were just happy to be out in real mountains without rain.
It took a couple of hours to get to the top of the Haka Pass after picking up Bronwyn, Helen and Rodney and rearranging 4 cars into 2 at Duntroon. Boots on and we were on our way -all up for 2 ½ hours of steady climbing up 1000 odd meters to 1921m near Black Rocks. Some of us spied the rear ‘black daisy’ and Bronwyn many other species she could name.
Lunch was had with our back to the marvelous view of 7 [imaging one could see Middleton] but shelter was essential. Photos were taken, but I found it difficult to hold the camera steady.
With the wind increasing in intensity, we carefully braced ourselves to maintain our standing during the first section of our descent. After that it was all down at various speeds, averaging about 1 ¾ hours. Replenishing our bodies, those with mathematical/accounting skills were delegated to work out the complexities of the petrol. These 2 functions were completed at Kurow in a pleasant 29 degrees.
8 of the 10 had not been up the Grampians, and by the pain in my quads. a couple of days, it was obvious some had not been up 1000m recently!
Thanks for the company of Jim, Colin, Maurice, Phyllis, John, Bronwyn, Neville, Helen and Rodney. Jane G.
