June 2014 Club Night

Sunday, June 15th, 2014

Jane Green commenced her term as President at the Monthly Club meeting.

The Herbert Forest has been covered in a T B vector control operation, we were advised to avoid the pellets. The signs on the tracks are to be spruced up and updated.

Trip Reports;

Chinaman’s Cave in the Horse Range was approached from the Hampden side via Duncans Road. A walk down towards Pigeon Bush crossing Trotters Creek led to the hard to find cave where a wanted chinaman once hid from the authorities. Another route was taken on the return trip.

Table Top was accessed from the South Block of Herbert Forest with a very steep descent to the south Branch of the Waianakarua River, then an easier climb to the top, returning by an easier route.

Some members had a relaxing weekend at Mt. Cook village which include a walk up the Hooker Valley.

Eleven members climbed Mt. Dryburgh from Fisherman’s Bend via a climb up a 600m gut. Fog hindered some views but it cleared up in the afternoon as they walked down a ridge back to the cars. A round trip of 19kms.

The Wednesday Walkers have climbed to the Awakino ski field, some going up a steep ridge towards Mt. Kohurau before descending to the ski field. There was shin deep snow on the plateau.

Next week a walk from Kuriheka up Ram Hill road was enjoyed before a cold southerly rain arrived.  Lunch was eaten in a haybarn near Tulliemet road before the return, luckily downhill with the wind.

Elephant Hill and Mussen were walked as a round trip.

Last week 36 enjoyed a fine day trip to Devils Elbow on Mt. Stalker.

Coming Club trips are Big Hut probably via Leaning Lodge, a Silver Peaks circuit of Rosella Ridge to Pulpit Rock returning via Green Hill Track, Top Dingle Hut from the Ahuriri Valley and Hideaway Biv, also from the Ahuriri Valley.

Our Guest Speaker was Club Member Gail Papps, who gave an illustrated talk on her and husband Brian’s European river cruise.

Starting at Amsterdam they travelled via a 110ft. by 22 ft. luxury river boat 4000 km through Europe to Croatia. Countries they travelled through included The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Croatia along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers with interconnecting canals.

We were treated to views of castles perched on the side of the river valleys, the superb architecture of the towns and cities and all the different types of river traffic, ranging from their cruise boat to barges with new combine harvesters on them, to double barges carrying gravel being pushed rather than towed.

Their boat could flatten its superstructure in order to get under the really low bridges, and there were traffic lights at the tight river corners.

River cruises this distance have only been possible since the 1990s when the Europa canal was opened over the continental divide, however they did have to change boats once because of a canal workers strike.

May 2014 Club Night

Tuesday, May 13th, 2014

The Clubs Annual Meeting was held on the 14th May 2014.

President Bronwyn McCone summarised the past year in her report. The Club now has a new Personal Locator Beacon, taken on all trips, and available for members private use. Due to the wet season a lot of Club trips have had to be cancelled, however the skills course was well attended, and the website is working well.

Jane Green is the new President, with John Chetwin taking on the role of Vice President. Robbie Verhoef and Neville Corry retain their respective  roles of Secretary and Treasurer.

10 members have volunteered to be “lost and injured” in a SAR exercise to be held in the Herbert Forest on the 17th May.

Because of the unsuitable weather the only Club trip over the last month was an overnight tramp up the South Temple, camping on the other side of the river from the hut to avoid another crossing.

Wednesday Walkers have been to the Benmore Walkway, Ashlands Road to South Peak near Hampden, a Moeraki farm walk which included an underpass under SH1 to the lagoon and beach south of the lighthouse and a climb to Station Peak from Little Roderick, a 500m climb but with great views of the Waitaki and Hakataramea valleys.

Coming Club trips, hopefully with better weather, are Chinamans Cave, a Tabletop circuit, Mt. Cook with “something for everyone”, and a round trip to Mt. Drybrough from Fishermans Bend. More details can be found in the “Whats On” page.

Club members showed photos of recent Club activities which were capped by Maurice’s ” It’s moments like these” hilarious photos of  members on various trips, graphically described by “not always accurate” captions.

CLUB NIGHT APRIL 2014

Thursday, April 17th, 2014

A miserable night did not prevent a good turnout. General business included info on the Locator Beacon, tracks on the web page, and planning for the Herbert Forest Open Day.

Comprehensive reports were given by the leaders on last month’s trips: 3 day Arthur’s Pass trip weather great with close sightings of the elusive Blue Duck; Dromedary Hill with a falcon to entertain the 3 climbers as they rested after a long haul up; Herbert Forest Track working bee where 12 had a work out; and the A2O bike ride from Duntroon to Oamaru which pleasantly surprised all riders.

The Wed Walkers had climbed Dasher and its surrounds; walked Timaru’s coastal walks; had first walk on a new track developed by members in the Livingston/Dansey’s Pass area; joined the Pegasus group making 54 to walk at Shag point; and a climb up to the Kirkliston Range.

Some good trips are coming up if the weather co-operates, including 5 day trip at Arthurs Pass over Easter; 2 different trips over ANZAC w/e to Ahuriri and Temple areas; guided walk day in Herbert Forest, and our AGM. Information on these can be found on our excellent website: http://www.notmc.org.nz.

Club member Ross Milmine presented a visual feast on his childhood dream-that of visiting southern Africa to see its numerous animals, as well as the countryside and its colourful residents. To do this they visited 7 countries, travelled with a small group for 4,500 km in a house truck, another equal distance in a rental car, plus 12 flights. Ross’s skilful use of his camera took us over these routes and what they had to offer- often a mix of the old Africa and the new. Apart from the animals, markets, pollution from burn-offs and main fuel charcoal, and the friendliness of everyone, the following 3 aspects caught my attention. The visit to their World Vision child, doing things manually and purposefully to employ the maximum number of people, and seeing some Nelson Mandela’s life story. Thanks Ross!

Jane

Club night, March 2014

Sunday, March 16th, 2014

Monday 10th March 2014

The formalities of our usual structure were brief as some key members were not present, and our guest speaker was unable to come at the last minute. So a night with a difference, plus plenty of chatting time at the end.

There has been plenty of activity over the last month with a variety of tramps. Dave told of his trip to Invacroy Station, being fog bound initially before glorious views around 1500’ at the top end of the Kirkliston Range. The Mt Domet weekend trip also had its weather issues, with very strong NWers on the Fri night, then rain and hail during Sat night. Squeezed in between, 10 elated bods reached the summit as winds eased after a late start. This meant not returning to Chainmen’s hut until 7.30 after having to find the way through fog that rolled in. Well led Bill.Nimrod Reserve track organised by Evelyn also reflected on the weather we have been having- with light drizzle blocking great views but making the bush and birds flourish.

The Wednesday Wakers had better luck with their days. They managed to complete all the Herbert track walks just before the storm struck.The Round Yards from Balmoral Rd was not hot enough to tempt anyone to swim the N branch of the Kakanui river, but pleasant enough for one group to explore going up the river rather than join the others looping around the hill.Their final attempt for a swimming day did happen at Kaiwarua Station in the Waihoa river.Awakino Gorge and Kurow Hill was a pleasant easy day.

Upcoming tramps include: Mt Orr starting from Little Roderick; Anniversary w/e in Arthurs Pass doing a circuit from the Minga to L Mavis and back down the Edwards; Dromedary Hill  in the Lindis; a working bee in Herbert Forest; and biking from Oamaru to Kurow on the A2O route.

Bron McCone filled the speakers roll exceptionally with a wide variety of quickly acquired photos., ranging from toadstools to mistletoe , Ellislie Flower show to Michael Hill’s Millbrook golf course’s sculptures, recent tramps to her father’s photos of the construction of Benmore Dam. Well done!

Club Night, February 2014

Tuesday, February 11th, 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.