August Monthly Report

There were 26 people present at the August meeting
We were treated to an account of 11 days spent as volunteer wardens on Ulva Island over the last Christmas and New Year, by Brent Wallace and his wife and daughter, The island is 10 minutes by boat from Stewart Island. The first picture we saw set the scene for the rest – a kiwi standing on a track, and pecking at Maria’s boots. We saw pictures of a profusion of birdlife – wekas and chicks, parakeets, kaka, pigeons, tui, morepork and beautiful saddlebacks and also saw and heard videos of a number of these.The dawn chorus was amazing. The hut the family stayed in had solar power and was close to a bush fringed beach with was was a feature of all the island’s beaches , and food was easily harvested – blue cod and abundant shellfish, although much of the island is surrounded by Marine reserve.There are 3-4 km. of formed and signposted track and part of wardens’ duties was to keep them in good order and rubbish free and keep 2 toilets clean. There was a radio call each morning from DOC and 50 traps for rats and other vermin to be regularly checked and reset.Sandflies were not so bad!A dog was being trained during their time there, to sniff out rats, and visitors arriving there are requested to check their gear for seeds and rats. All visitors must leave by dusk. A headstone on private land marks the grave of an early postmaster,Charles Traill, who died in1918, and his wife, Henrietta. Maria discovered that letters can still be written on the back of muttonbird scrub(brachyglottis)leaves.
A truly beautiful and magical place.

The Tramping Club had an interesting month in spite of variable weather.
In mid July, 6 members walked the Heaphy Track .with 3 starting respectively from the Karamea and Collingwood ends, and exchanging car keys at the Mackay Hut where they met and stayed the night. Going south from the top end they stayed at the new Perry Range Hut and climbed Mt. Perry and then over the Gouland Downs, home of the enormous native snail and where 3 blue ducks were seen in a creek, and then Mackay and down to the West Coast and the 32 bed Heaphy Hut with nikau palms and a splendid sunset.Being winter they had encountered about a dozen mountain bikers on the way. They met up with the northwards walking group at Murchison to stay the night before the trip home. The longest distance walked in a day was 24 km. and the weather was good for the whole trip.

During the month there was also a trip up Mt. Ida where increasing depth of snow and decreasing visibility meant that the top was not reached although some went over Little Mt.Ida.
Ben Lomond, off the Waitaki Valley, was climbed by a group of 10 and afforded wonderful 360 degree views from the top. Return was back down the Bridle Track- a 21 km. walk in all with a climb of 1100m. and taking seven and three-quarter hours
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Wednesday Walkers had some good trips – up Mt. Dryburgh on a round trip and with an excellent view down to the Waitaki Hydro; a group going up Big Ben in good weather encountered knee deep snow.Seven went on to the top.There was a well attended beach walk from Hampden to Moeraki during which a frost fish and a barracuda were collected. From Moeraki groups went variously to the Lookout and by road or round the beach to the Kaiks, and return was back along the beach to Hampden via, in some cases,the Boulders Cafe. A Ngapara farm walk attracted a good group to walk in good weather and experience great views over to the Kakanuis and up the Waitaki Valley,interesting limestone formations and lovely North Otago countryside as well as, by way of contrast, some old vehicles and machinery of interest to a number of the party!
Coming up will be a weekend trip in the Silverpeaks area and a 68 km. bike ride with various options around some good North Otago countryside.