Herbert Forest Tracks Working Bee
A beautiful day for it and 10 of us turned up at the Swallows Carpark. The Hoods Creek Track was the recipient of most of our attention, it was in great need of good tidy up and it got it. The human chainsaws swung into action and most of the tree falls were cleaned up leaving just some of the bigger trees for a Port Blakely crew to do. A thorough haircut all around and some step filling and a minor track realignment took us past lunchtime. Some of the crew went down and up the Swallows while one went down the Podocarp to put 3m of new chicken netting on the first decent bridge near the Glenburnie Track junction.
So bar some minor cutting jobs on the remainder of the Podocarp and Loop and Glenburnie the tracks are very good.
At the conclusion while waiting at the Swallows Carpark there were 10 cars parked there and more still arriving, very popular place on such a great day. Some folk cottoned onto us scruffy trampers and thanked us for the work we do on the tracks, it was nice to be appreciated.
So, a very big thanks to those who made it, a great effort with lots achieved. Hope your ankle is behaving Karyl, Cheers Robbie
Arthur St School Guided Walk
With one group of students in the morning and a group in the afternoon, we talked about tramping safety, gear, weather, and looking after the environment. Following our talk at Camp Iona, we went for a bush walk for about 50 minutes up the road and then down through the bush to the river. Once at the river, we demonstrated a river crossing technique. Then each group of four students plus one adult practiced that technique. Probably most of all, they enjoyed the cairn building exercise.
Thanks to Guides Jane, Margaret and John. Bess
Club Night 15 February 2021
The Clubs Annual Meeting will be held on the 10 May 2021.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Waitaki District Council, the Club has purchased a locator beacon to replace the out of date one.
Trip Reports
A trip to Chinaman’s Cave was attempted from Trotters Gorge via Vickers Hut, but a badly overgrown track through gorse forced them to use an alternative route via Palmerston and Chalmers Road.
Leaving the yards they initially followed a well formed track NW beside a creek through a plantation. The last section to the cave involved a bush bashing section with a lot of onga onga.
After lunch and exploring the large cave, they returned by going over the hill and down a gully to the cars.
Elephant Hill was tackled in the rain which soon cleared, enabling a walk up the valley and back over the hill.
Waitangi Weekend saw 10 trampers climb up to Lake Wilson above the Routeburn Track for a fantastic fine weekend trip, camping beside the lake for two nights. It is becoming a favourite destination with 30 tampers camped there that weekend.
The middle day saw various trips undertaken, including climbing Mt Erebus, going to the saddle between Mt Erebus and Xenicus for a view into the North Routeburn, or exploring the West Ridge for the many alpine plants and flowers.
The final day they returned via Lake Harris to the Routeburn car park, Glenorchy and home.
A trip around Roseneath Station from Aviemore discovered old water supply reservoirs for the now nonexistent Aviemore village.
The Wednesday Walkers enjoyed day trips to the North Temple, Waimate Whitehorse Hill, the A2O to Elderslie just after the new year flood, Island Stream waterfall, which was the most spectacular they had seen, West Maerewhenua Gold diggings, Otekaike Hill and Bridal Track in a viscous westerly gale, Maereweka Forest, and Deep Stream via the old stone cottage.
Coming Trips are the bike ride on the new A2O track from Sailors Cutting to Benmore Dam, Huxley Forks and a Herbert Forest working bee. Members will guide a school group staying at Camp Iona around a local track and teach them bush-craft skills.
March Clubnight – Nick Shearer will speak about his backcountry Makarora trip.
The rest of the evening was spent planning Club Trips for the April June period.
