The Glens Working Bee
The Glens Working Bee
3rd March 2018
After a request from David W who has taken on the task of clearing and planting native trees in this neglected reserve, the club offered to assist for a morning to help clear flowering currant and broom.
It was a misty morning with a meeting time of 9am at the Glen Street carpark. The start time came and went with only two members and David making their presence. As we prepared to do battle with the flowering currant and broom Robbie appeared with his usual smile, exlpaining that he and the others had parked at the wrong street end and were now on their way. (Very timely that the club has a navigation course comimg up in April ). Seven members eagerly attacked the unwanted vegetation and very soon large piles of cuttings were stacked at the top of the track for removal elsewhere later.
A smoko break was called to replenish the fluid lost as it had become quite humid and we were working on a steep bank. After another hour a large area had been cleared ready for planting and an end to the day’s work.
A great effort by the club members and David for giving up their time on this worthwhile project which I am sure will be enjoyed by future generations.
Weston school pupils, lead by Jenny are also active in planting and caring for native trees in The Glens Reserve.
Those who toiled for the morning were John, Robbie, Bess, Steve, Anne, Phyllis an Maurice.
Dingle Saddle and Canyon Creek
17/18th Feb 2018
The focus of this particular overnight trip was to encourage those who hadn’t quite got to tenting, to take the plunge and join others in the same boat, to camp out beside the vehicles, thus avoiding the next step of carrying all that stuff on you back. There just happened to be an added bonus of a couple of pretty special day walks in this area.
However, the original theme of camping out evaporated quickly when the option of taking over the unoccupied Base Hut for the night became the option. The fact that it was raining at this time made the decision unanimous.
Saturday’s walk was to the ridge behind Base hut to look into the Dingle Valley. The rain ceased early in the day and we had fabulous views from the top. However the strong and chilly wind shortened our exploration along the ridge.
Sunday – a short drive to the locked gate and we were off on foot to Canyon Creek, an easy forty minute flat walk. Then there was the twenty minute grunt to the vantage point above the Canyon where you see all the way up valley to the 220m high rock terrace across the entire valley.
The top of this was our objective for those who desired, but still some two hours away.
As we got closer, the thought of ever getting up there evaporated, as this valley walk takes you right to the bottom of this 220m monster. However, with lots of encouragement from those that had been there before, the trundling was replaced with more serious concentration and “don’t look down”.
At the top, once again a chilly wind had us hunkering down in a small but dry river cutting, except for one of our party who ventured towards the middle of the cirque and with arms held high, screamed his elation at being so privileged to be at this place. I’m sure everyone there, shared his sentiment.
A very cautious descent followed by an almost easy walk back to the vehicles completed yet another enjoyable tramping weekend.
The ten participants were, Bill, Bess, Chris, Colin, Jenny, John, Marian, Neville, Roz, and Vicky.
Ahuriri River
Ahuriri River
Club Night February 2018
There had been a lot of tramping trips since our last meeting in November, but members enjoyed hearing about or reliving them during the reports.
Hidden Lake in a high basin on the Wether Range was a hidden gem, which was worth the slog up to.
A mountain bike ride near Macraes which included the Redback Enclosure, led to a proposed shortcut which ended up being the long way home.
Chinamans Cave was approached from Trotters Gorge on a hot day.
January saw trips to Potts Hut in the Hakkatere Conservation Park, a long day climbing Mts. Alexander and Nobbler from Dansey Pass summit, while in February so far there have been two wet trips. The first to Hinewai Reserve on Banks Peninsula where there is some impressive regrowth bush and recently a rebaiting job in the Herbert Forest tracks which netted several dead hedgehogs, rats and a weasel.
Wednesday walkers have continued their wide range of different walks from Evensdale Glen in the south to Freehold Creek in the West. The hot summer has led to the last few weeks walks being along rivers with many swimming opportunities.
Guest speaker was Lewis Hore who showed a video of one of his 5 trips to Sutherland Sound in Fiordland. This involved scenic flight in by helicopter with his kayak to look for the South Island Kokako, which has not been seen for many years although its distinctive song has been heard. We were treated to a glimpse of an isolated fiord with a very narrow and shallow entrance where it rains nonstop for days, where bird life thrives and bush covers everything.