Herbert Forest Working Bee 29 September 2024
Eleven of us gathered at the Swallows Carpark on the first morning of daylight saving summer time. A good effort from the usual crowd who come to the working bee’s. There were a variety of jobs on the list from cleaning up after wind events to step building and timber walkways to general snipping and tidying up.
A big effort to retrieve some of the steps deposited in other places so that the new walkway over a muddy slippery hole before the ladder on the Hoods. Most of the effort went into the Hoods and this walk has become better as a result.
The track is almost ready for the summer season, with just a bit more ongaonga control needed in patches and a bit more board walk over some particularly muddy bits.
After many years spent doing these jobs I have realised that there will always be more to do, but generally all the tracks are very walkable and show off a great slice of native bush.
Those who came were; Maurice and Phyllis, Mike, Jenny, Neville, John, Bess, David, Noel, Julian and Robbie
Herbert Forest Bike Ride
Sunday 15 September 2024
Eleven members turned out to the Reid Rd carpark with their bikes on a cold but dry morning. The forecast was not flash with a Southerly change bringing rain by about 1pm.
There had been substantial rain in the preceding days and this precluded a lot happening on the actual bike tracks, which were likely to be muddy and slippery in places.
So it was suggested that we would stick to the roads and maybe head up Mt Misery Road from Pa Rd. Away we all went up Breakneck Road, onto Pa Rd and turned into Glencoe Rd, but some had issues and before too long 2 had pulled out and headed back down and by the time we got to the Orchid Reserve another one pulled out and headed home once Mt Misery Rd was reached.
The rest of us headed along the very scenic ridge road with great views of some of the still snow clad hills to be had. The track without the gravel was pretty sticky and before we reached one of the last hills to go down to the Red Hut some more of the party stopped.
But 4 of us did venture into the muddy track and had our lunch at the Red Hut. The weather did turn nastier here so not much time passed before we headed back too. It is pretty much all down hill, very speedy, down to the Middle Ridge Gate and further down Middle Ridge with just a deviation through track number 3 which was fun.
On to South Ridge and down to the Carpark at Reid Rd. The other 4 had got back just a little bit earlier.
Quick pack-up and away home before the rain set in.
Thanks to all who came and made this a fun ride.
Robbie
Orbells Cave
Sunday 8 September 2024
It was a good day for tramping: clear blue sky, warm sun, but with a strong westerly gale and some rain forecast for late afternoon. As it happened, the wind dropped as the cloud came in mid-afternoon and the rain held off until we were on the way home. The drive in was long – 98 km, 24 km of which was on gravel roads in behind Waikouaiti. Blucher Road wound tortuously along a ridge south-east from Bucklands Crossing, then turned south to become Lamb Hill Road which wound its way some more to the Bendoran Huts where it became a farm track. It was a spectacular drive with tussock clad peaks, deep valleys, hairpin bends, switchbacks and steep drop-offs.
Ten trampers had left Oamaru in three vehicles, picking up another at Maheno and the twelfth at Waianakarua. We parked by the Bendoran Huts and, just on 10 o’clock, started walking a couple of hundred metres down the road to turn left through a gate up a short hill before turning downhill and south-west, walking into the teeth of the fierce westerly. The 4wd track we were following wound around the hill before turning down a side stream to meet Orbells Creek at the bottom by some stock yards. Across the creek was a prominent rock which offered some shelter and, as it was now after 10.30, we settled down for morning tea on a sunny bank beside some stock yards.
After smoko, we took a track which climbed up the hill behind us and down the other side to meet the creek again. (On the return journey, we spied a track which followed Orbells Creek on the true left and would have avoided this hill.) We crossed the creek and followed it for a short distance before leaving it to climb 200 metres over a saddle and drop down to a side stream. Rather than follow the track which climbed again, we decided to sidle down the valley to the left. Some went down the true left, others on the right. Some on the left crossed to the right; those on the right crossed to the left and back to the right on meeting the main creek which had followed a big loop to the south. Routes were available down both sides until the valley opened out where the destination caves could be seen in a prominent schist rock face above the true left. A short walk down the creek, through some yards, across the creek and up a short climb took us to the caves: two large openings in the rock offering airy shelter. One had a small spring which watered a small patch of lush grass. Both had clearly provided bedding for livestock, so care was needed in selecting luncheon seating.
We had reached the caves shortly before 1 o’clock and enjoyed lunch on the sunny hillside below the caves. From there we could look down the valley to the Three O’clock Stream which Orbells Creek flows into and which, in turn, joins the Taieri River near Hindon. At 1.30 we set off on the return journey, climbing four hills to reach the cars at around 4.30. A fairly strenuous day in interesting country new to many was enjoyed by Rex, Lorena, Bess, Julian, Lynette, Neville, David, Keith, Jenny, Jane, Robbie and John.
Grampians- Aug 25th
With a few members new and old expressing interest in advance, there weather was optimistically forecasted to be ‘okay’ and the rain to hold off. As we arrived at the top of the Hakataramea Pass at 8:30, the wind was very much in evidence but we pushed through that and set off just before 9am up the spur leading from the cattle grid following the fenceline.
Wind carried on blasting us from the side as we made our way up, stopping occasionally behind the rocks for shelter. Around the 1300m mark there quite a few wilding pines – a job for another tramp in the future?
When we reached the first of the snow fields at approx 1600m, the wind dropped significantly and plans of retreating were put away. The snow was in very good condition, not much post-holing, and good grip with a combo of normal boots and walking poles.
Quite a lot of snow at the top (point 1901 on map) and was great to be up in that different environment. Down and up the saddle to the highest point “Black Rocks”. After a quick stop for lunch we aimed down the ridge to the east, to intersect with the farm track. Some bum sliding on theh snow to speed the descent where possible! at approx 1150m left the track to take a shortcut back to cars – down by 2:30pm. Everyone enjoyed the trip and made better by the persistent rain almost the whole way back to Oamaru whilst we avoided all the bad weather until then.
Hawdon Valley 10/11 August 2024
Friday afternoon saw 3 members leave town bound for Arthur’s Pass. The forecast was reasonable given the time of year with just some low temperature predicted for Saturday morning. A lucky decision saw us stop in Ashburton for dinner rather than a stop in Springfield. The latter being completely shut by the time we drove through.
We arrived at the Hawdon shelter by 9.00 and quickly erected our tents and put the billy on for a cuppa after which we settled in for what promised to be a chilly night. We all got up before daybreak and it was pretty cold so without mucking around we got on with it and by 7.15 we were donning packs and heading up the Hawdon Valley. It was misty but as the sun crested the surrounding hills it didn’t take too long to burn off. The river crossings were deep and cold enough though and the grass and tussock was white and crispy. The track is a 4wd track until the confluence of the East Hawdon, after which it becomes more foresty through mostly beech forest. The peaks around were spectacular with a good covering of snow. We reached the Hawdon Hut within 3 hours, found no-one there and got our gear sorted before an early lunch was had. With just daypacks we headed on to Walker Pass. This is one of 3 passes when traveling to the Edwards River, or one of 2 if going west to the West Otehake. The rock faces were rimed up with ice on the way there which made for some tricky moves to avoid slipping. We followed a snowy little track for some distance where the route flattens out and bird prints later identified as kiwi led the way for a remarkably long way. After passing the small lake which had a very low water level we reached Walker Pass and stopped for a look and photos. A nice place but offering no decent places for any camping for anyone contemplating this. The return to the hut took about the same time and we found a few other trampers had arrived. More folk kept trickling in throughout the remaining afternoon and by evening the 25 bunk hut was mostly full. A pleasant evening followed although Five Crowns was not played due to 2 members who left home with packs of cards not taking them for a walk in, a minor hitch.
The morning saw us first up and away from the hut crowd and the weather was still ok and the walk back out was enjoyable. It meant an early departure from the Hawdon Shelter and an early arrival home after a 4.5h drive.
A very enjoyable winter trip with some good company.
Those who came were Julian, Lorena and Robbie
