Local Weston Bike Ride
Local Bike Ride. 5th March 2023
It was uncertain whether the bike ride would go ahead after heavy overnight rain ,but the morning was fine ,although cold. Some of us biked to the meeting place at Weston hall and we had 8 starters, 7 E bikes and 1 normal . From the Hall carpark it was along to the cycle track and out to Cormacks road to the Kia Ora hall, turning right into Roundhill road then into Cowans road. Then it was a shortcut onto Burnside road right along to the junction with postoffice and Windsor road. From here it was all downhill into Windsor and a morning tea break at the hall. Back onto the cycle track until Pig Island road, turning left back onto Burnside then down Pinehill road where we came out into the middle of Elderslie estate.
Onto the cycle track again until Fort Enfield to have a drink and snack and catchup. The clouds were getting rather dark so it was back on the bikes , some from kakanui leaving us for a less muddy return trip on another route , the rest of us back to Weston and home, without getting wet. For those starting from Weston it was 42km, those of us riding from home it was 60-70plus kms.
I don,t think any of us realized just how many dairy farms are in this area. The ride was on sealed and gravel roads and cycle tracks. Many thanks for the enjoyable company of Robbie, Colin,John, Jane, Graeme, Jack, Bill and Bev.
Livingstone and The Maerewhenua River
19th February 2023 – A good turn out of members to explore around Livingston and The Maerewhenua River organised by Bill. Great weather and great company for a very interesting trip. Starting at the Geopark information board on the Livingstone Duntroon road, we made our way through the valley and up to Livingstone village where we explored the old graveyard before finiding our way to the historical bridleway which made its way down to the Maerawhenua river. Crossing over here Bill navigated us to the ruins of an old travellers hotel, then walking a short distance down the Danesys pass road to lunch at a swimming spot at the confluence of the North and South branches of the Maerewhenua river. Then up along the tops above the motor camp descending out to Pukeraro, which now a very nice wedding and events venue. Crossing the river again at the water scheme pumping station which wwas very busy with families enjoying the water so we passed on the opportunity for a final swim.
February NOTMC Meeting Report
NOTMC MEETING REPORT
The December meeting was a very pleasant occasion – a 45thbirthday cake for the NOTMC was cut and shared and there was good pre-Christmas feasting followed by notice of upcoming tramps.
The February meeting was attended by 15 people.
Trips Taken:
1. 18-21 December. Nine trampers were flown in 3 trips in a little yellow aeroplane
up the Wilkin River to Jumboland, and walked from there to Top Forks Hut.A day trip was made from
there to lake Lucidus and then to Lake Castalia where the bush and alpine flowers were spectacular. The
account was accompanied by excellent photography.
2. 8 January Puketapu, above Palmerston,was climbed and this was followed by bushwalking in
Trotters Gorge.
3. 27-29 January. Arthurs Pass. 5 people went. 3 climbed Avalancheand could be walked acroos
Peak while one other did village walks and another did the Goat Pass trip visiting the new
Deception Hut and Lake Mavis on the way back down the Mingha. Cave Stream was visited and
the Cave waded through, on the way back home.
4. 12 February. Egg Lake above the East Ahuriri was reached on a clear day and much windfall was
encountered on the way up Quailburn Gorge.
Wednesday Walkers
14 December. North Temple. Mistletoe was in flower along Lake Ohau and up the track. The deep
gully was packed with snow and was walked across instead of clambering down and then up, and in the
basin there were little glaciers descending.
Other tramps included Raki’s Table, Trotters Gorge (a track clearing job followed on the weekend),
Tussocky Road, Trig L, Chinaman’s Hut and a Hampden Beach walk which went on up to the Lookout
above Moeraki.
Trip accounts were followed by the quarterly Trip Planning session.
Notice was given of Dunedin’s Arthur Street School Camp at Iona where bushcraft sessions will
be held on 8 March.
Egg Lake, East Ahuriri
Sunday 12th February
Leaving Oamaru at 8am enabled the four of us to start tramping at the Quailburn Track at 10am. I had been informed of trees that had fallen due to snow, in the Quailburn and DOC had been through with chainsaws so in places, a new track had been developed. Generally though, the track was as it usually is and still with several creek crossings. About 45 minutes later, at the fenceline on the saddle, we veered off to the north crossing over undulating tussock clad ground for an hour. Reaching the saddle at another fenceline gave views up the East Ahuriri valley including the East Ahuriri Hut. From here we followed the fenceline down to the river which was steep and lastly a bit of rock climbing was necessary. We crossed the river and walked straight up until reaching the Te Araroa trail, turning left and walking on the trail for only about 400 metres. At this point, we left the trail and walked up a ridge to the top of the hill. Going up, we were delighted to see many skinks, cicadas and other various insects. We reached the top of the hill about 1pm and lunched while looking down at Egg Lake which was another 500metres away. We left Egg Lake at 1.45pm and returned back down the hill, opting not to visit the hut this time. We virtually returned the same way back to Quailburn and were back at the vehicle by 5pm after a good day out.
Thanks to Mary, Geoff and Jenny for your company. Bess
Upper Wilkin River, Top Forks Hut
Upper Wilkin River, Top Forks Hut
18th – 21st December 2022
The Upper Wilkin is a beautiful valley to explore and made highly accessible by flying into Jumboland airstrip with Southern Alps Air.
After staying at Makarora Lodge for the night of 18th December, nine trampers waited for three scheduled flights at 7am, 7.30 and 8am, the plane carrying only three trampers and packs due to the short runway at Jumboland. After low cloud lifted, we enjoyed superb flights up the Wilkin, spotting the Siberia and Wonderland valleys on the way.
We waited until all nine trampers had arrived at Jumboland airstrip, a mowed strip on the true left of the Wilkin River, before following our pilot’s directions: “Walk up the slope between the beech trees, through the swamp, cross the river, and join the DOC track to the huts.” Finding a safe river crossing took some time, as the Wilkin was running high, but it was useful to practice our river crossing technique. The walk from Jumboland airstrip to Top Forks Huts took us 1 ½ hours.
mpers at Top Forks, so we spread out comfortably between the two huts, (10 bunks, and 6 bunks), with grand views of Mts Pollux and Castor.
After settling into the huts and eating lunch, we set off to explore the South Branch of the Wilkin, up a track that leads to Waterfall Flat, where the valley ends in the cirque walls of Waterfall face. This is a rough track, high above Snow Bridge Gorge, and after 2 hours at 1100 metres we turned back, due to thick mist and rain. (Waterfall Flat is 4-5 hours from the hut, and we needed a full day for this trip.)
The next morning we headed up the North Branch in two groups, one leaving at 8am for Lake Castalia, the other group of five leaving later to lunch at Lucidus Lake. The North Branch is a wide valley, dramatic and magnificent. After the heavy rain of the previous night, the South Branch was running high, so more careful river crossings were practiced. It is a 1 hour walk through mossy beech forest, beside a raging Wilkin River tumbling over massive rocks, to Lake Diana above the bush line. From here it is an easy half hour walk through grasslands and over boardwalk to milky Lucidus Lake, surrounded by a high moraine wall on one side, and sheer bluffs with permanent ice and cascading waterfalls on the other.
After stopping for morning tea at Lucidus Lake, the lead group carried on to Lake Castalia. This took us another four hours from Lucidus, through magnificent herb fields, luxuriant in densely growing Mt Cook Lilies (in full bloom), native broom, speargrass, flowering celmisia, eyebright, native carrot, hebe, geum and tussock. Finally we scrambled high over boulders to Lake Castalia. What a stunning spot: still deep clear blue water reflecting waterfalls, ice and snow. Leaving the Lake at 3pm, passing thunderous, cracking avalanches swirling into Lucidus Lake, it took us only four hours back to the huts, moving faster downhill and finding the river levels had dropped.
It was up at 4.30am next morning to breakfast and pack, allowing for the 1 ½ hours walk back to the airfield for the first 7am flight. With the Wilkin River lower and the route familiar, we were back at the airstrip in an hour. What a welcome sight that little Cessna was as it flew round the corner!
A brilliant trip, made so accessible for everyone with the flights in and out.
Jenny Kitchin.