Mt. David
Sunday, 6 December 2015
The day dawned fine, after a wet Saturday evening which had left a dusting of snow on the mountains, with a light south-westerly breeze promising to keep temperatures down. Two cars took just over an hour to ferry the seven trampers the 68km to the sign-posted turnoff from the Danseys Pass road to the top end of the Otekaieke Bridle Track. They parked by the locked gate a few hundred metres down the side road and set off on foot at about 9.20am.
The route took them across the Danseys Stream, over a paddock, past some sheep yards and down across the shallow Otekaieke River on to a 4wd track which climbed up into a valley and then forked northwards towards Mt David. Half an hour or so up the gently climbing track, the group paused for a snack and to consider options. The choice was to go up a fence line on the south-western corner of the mountain, or stay on the track, climb further to the west, and head up one of the scree-filled guts. The second option was chosen and, after climbing further on the track, they headed up the steepening slope clad in snow-rimed tussock towards a gut which promised to take them steeply, but directly to the top ridge.
It didn’t. When it became unclimbable, they clambered over or around a rocky spur to the next scree-filled gut to scramble up until it too ran out, and so on, and on – initially working around to the west and then back to the south. Finally, about 3 hours after leaving the cars, they reached the top ridge at point 1366m, paused to catch breath, and then walked for another twenty minutes to the 1412m summit, marked by a large cylindrical stone cairn. The 3600 views were stunning. Immediately to the north, the Dometts loomed with Grayson, Cone and Mt Kyeburn to the west. Further west, the Danseys Pass road could be seen snaking up the valley, flanked to the south by the snow-capped Kakanuis. Further south, Mt Dasher and the elusive Kattothyrst marked the area some of them had tramped the previous weekend. Then the long ridge of the Ben Lomonds blocked the view of the North Otago downlands, though Cape Wanbrow and the Weston escarpment could be seen. The panorama was completed by the familiar shape of Otekaieke Hill and the track down it to the Boundary Hut.
After lunch, the group struck out north-west along the top ridge, meeting up after about 2km with a 4wd track which led to a saddle and then descended to the east and south-, initially following Jacksons Creek. Some 3km down from the saddle, the track crossed the creek and headed south-west along a valley which ran parallel to and north of the Otekaieke River and Bridle Track. This track frustratingly dropped into and climbed out of a succession of side gullies but compensated by offering changing perspectives on the south side of Mt David. Finally, the Otekaieke River and the flats were re-crossed and the cars reached, 3 ½ hours after leaving the summit and 7 ½ hours after setting off; a longish day but a satisfying one as some had not climbed Mt David before, and others not for some time. It was enjoyed by Linda, Bill, Neville, Phyllis, Maurice, Jane and John.
