Club Night, February 2014
The Club has been quite active since the last report with many and varied tramping trips.
Staircase Ridge was attempted in lousy weather with wind damage necessitating a return trip rather than a round trip via Table Top.
An overnighter at Dumb-bell Lake via Freehold Creek, Mt. Sutton and the Ohau Ski field was enjoyed in good weather.
The Alps to Ocean bike trail from Quailburn to Tasman Point was ridden over 2 days.
Fourteen people attended a skills weekend at Trotters Gorge where they learnt about packs and gear, meals, how to use maps and compass, river crossing skills and trip planning and survival skills. They put their knowledge into practise the next day with a trip to Trig L.
Thirteen trampers walked the three Herbert Forest tracks plus a cris-cross down the Waianakarua River from Cosy Dell.
On Waitangi Day weekend two groups walked part of the Te Araroa Trail between Lake Tekapo and Mesopotamia Station in brilliant weather, a group starting from each end. The highest point in the Te Araroa Trail was crossed at Stag Saddle – 1925m asl. during the four day tramp.
It wasn’t all tramping though, with the Christmas party being again held at Parkside Gardens.
The Wednesday Walkers had day trips to Evensdale Glen, Earthquakes and surrounding farmland, Freehold Creek where the mistletoe was in full flower, the Blackcap Scout Hill circuit, a combined Puketapu Hill and Trotters Gorge Bush Track day, West Maerewhenua gold diggings, Studholme Bush, Pleasant River to Bobbys Head, Clear Stream in Danseys Pass with the option of a swim in clear water, Domet loop, sweet briar cutting at Omarama or track clearing up the Awakino Gorge, and last week a climb up Mt. Studholme. Numbers walking varied between 12 and 42.
Coming trips are Mt. Kirkliston, Mt. Domet, and Nimrod Reserve. More information can be found on the NOTMC website.
Our Guest Speaker was Club member Murray Gifford who explained the history of the Routeburn Track.
Originally used by Maoris to access greenstone, it was then used by gold prospectors with limited success, before graziers attempted to find new sheep pastures via the Harris Saddle which was quickly abandoned. It was then thought it could become a trade route to Martins Bay for goods transhipment to Australia, but two ships foundering on the Hollyford Bar put an end to that. The only lasting use was tourism which started in the 1890s and is still flourishing today with 30000 trampers a year enjoying what is arguably New Zealand’s finest walking track.
We were then treated to what was for many of us, a walk down memory lane, with photos of his and his daughters walk around the Routeburn and Caples tracks three years ago.