40th Aniversary Herbert Forest Walks

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Puketeraki Forest Conservation Park

Labour Weekend 20th – 22nd October 2017

A change in plans because of the weather forecast saw us going to the Puketeraki Forest Conservation area in inland Canterbury instead of the Thousand Acre Plateau near Murchison.

Four of us set off at 8.30am on Friday and drove to Oxford for an early lunch and then along the narrow winding Lees Valley Road for 29kms to a gateway and DOC sign and then a further 3.5kms on a 4WD vehicle track to a carpark.

An easy amble across farmland on a marked track beside the Ashley River took us to a knee-deep crossing of the Lilburne River and then through stands of mountain beech trees, which were a relief to be under as the temperature was up to 24degrees when we left the carpark.

Although there was little sign of deer or possums not many birds could be heard in the beech forest which was covered with a lot of honeydew.

A high sidle to avoid a gorgy section and then a downhill track lead us to a crossing of the Ashley River  where we reached the 6 bunk Youngman Stream Hut at 700mtrs our destination for the night after 5hours of walking.

The hut had been built in 1975 for the Forest Service, but had been recently tidied up and freshly painted. We thought we were the only people there for the night, but after getting a fright from a big brown dog the next morning we discovered that a party of 3 hunters and 3 dogs had arrived at 2am and camped out in the tussocks above the hut.

With a cooler morning we re-crossed the Ashley River and started to climb up to the high point, Lilburne Hill (1405 mtrs) Once again we were in young beech forest on a well marked track. This changed after passing through some more mature trees and then out into the open amongst  dracophyllum, low scrub and tussock across the tops. As there was a cool wind on top we had a quick snack sheltering in the tussocks and then set off downwards across pig rootings to Tarn Hut (1270 mtrs) arriving at 11am.

The hut, a 4 bunker beside a sizeable tarn has also been painted and tidied up by DOC and NZ Alpine Club volunteers. After settling in and having lunch we gathered wood for the fire which was lit in due course. As there was no toilet, a shovel was provided to dig a hole over the ridge away from the tarn. Hopefully in the future DOC will build one as the tarn is the only water source and could easily become polluted.

By the evening 12 other people with 4 tents had arrived and a couple passed through on  route to Youngman Hut.

The next morning was cool and breezy as we left on an old 4WD track and made our way downhill to the junction and the Lilburne River crossing.

A falcon was spotted soaring near a rocky face on our way back out.

The carpark had swelled from having just our car to 10 vehicles with 2 more on the roadside by the gate.

We arrived back in Oamaru at 4pm after stopping once again for lunch at Oxford.( We can all recommend the Shefield Bakery for excellent food and good service).

This tramp is a delightful circuit with varied scenery and good comfortable huts which can be walked in 2 or 3 days, but because of the number of people we encountered, I feel it will become very popular, especially with the proximity to Christchurch.

Thanks for the company of Bronwyn, John and Maurice.

Phyllis.

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Trotters Gorge Mountain Bike Ride

8th October 2017

While it was overcast, it was fine in the gorge area.

A handful turned up with a couple of walkers among us and three on bikes. The walkers headed off towards Dave’s Track while those on bikes headed in past the forestry barriers and meandered up towards South Peak. We completed a 2hr loop returning down the Eucalyptus Track to the creek which we followed back to the picnic area.

There are many interesting rock formations to view with the forestry being harvested over recent years and it was perfect timing to view the native clematis flowering. The creek had obviously had a lot of water through it in recent times and some sections were scoured, but there were still a number of casual visitors to the area.

Thanks for the company. Jane M

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Lindis Peak

17 September 2017

Eight​ ​of​ ​us​ ​were​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​this​ ​tramp​ ​and six​ ​of​ ​us​ ​arrived​ ​at​ ​the​ ​car​ ​park​ ​at​ ​7.30am. The weather​ ​wasn’t​ ​great,​ ​fickle​ ​I​ ​would​ ​call​ ​it,​ ​but​ ​we​ ​all​ ​agreed​ ​that​ ​we​ ​just​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​do​ ​it. .Omarama​ ​was​ ​our​ ​first​ ​stop​ ​the​ ​weather​ ​was​ ​cold​ ​windy​ ​wet​ ​and​ ​just​ ​YUK. A​ ​conversation​ ​took​ ​place​ ​and​ ​we​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​carry​ ​on​ ​and​ ​meet​ ​at​ ​the​ ​top​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lindis​ ​Pass Saddle.​ ​Low​ ​cloud​ ​and​ ​fog​ ​still​ ​didn’t​ ​put​ ​us​ ​off​ ​and​ ​we​ ​continued​ ​until​ ​we​ ​turned​ ​into​ ​Old Faithful​ ​Road.

We​ ​started​ ​climbing​ ​up​ ​the​ ​4wd​ ​track​ ​at​ ​0950hrs​ ​with​ ​all​ ​our​ ​wet​ ​weather​ ​gear​ ​insitu. ​ ​We​ ​stopped​ ​about​ ​10​ ​minutes​ ​up​ ​the​ ​hill​ ​when​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​shone​ ​for​ ​us​ ​and​ ​a​ ​lovely​ ​rainbow appeared.​ ​As​ ​we​ ​climbed​ ​the​ ​hats​ ​came​ ​off​ ​first,​ ​then​ ​the​ ​gloves​ ​then​ ​the​ ​mid-layer. The​ ​low​ ​cloud​ ​persisted​ ​as​ ​we​ ​climbed​ ​and​ ​the​ ​fog​ ​floated​ ​around​ ​us,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​down​ ​in​ ​the valley​ ​far​ ​below. We​ ​had​ ​a​ ​great​ ​walk​ ​up​ ​the​ ​zig​ ​zag,​ ​then​ ​nearer​ ​the​ ​top​ ​we​ ​came​ ​across​ ​the​ ​gorgeous​ ​rock formations​ ​and​ ​the​ ​golden​ ​brown​ ​spaniards​ ​that​ ​were​ ​​ ​dotted​ ​around.

We​ ​had​ ​lunch​ ​around​ ​the​ ​schist​ ​rock​ ​area​ ​about​ ​20​ ​minutes​ ​from​ ​the​ ​top.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​windy​ ​cold​ ​and the​ ​view​ ​wasn’t​ ​the​ ​best. ​ ​We​ ​walked​ ​across​ ​to​ ​the​ ​top​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Lindis​ ​peak​ ​took​ ​a​ ​few​ ​photos​ ​and​ ​decided​ ​we​ ​would​ ​come again​ ​in​ ​the​ ​summer. We​ ​were​ ​all​ ​back​ ​at​ ​the​ ​cars​ ​by​ ​1430hrs​ ​and​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Wrinkley​ ​Ram​ ​in​ ​Omarama for​ ​coffee​ ​and​ ​cake. We​ ​all​ ​had​ ​a​ ​great​ ​day​ ​and​ ​felt​ ​fit​ ​and​ ​young.

Cheers. Roz,​ ​Neville,​ ​Vicky,​ ​Michael,​ ​Jo,​ ​Jac.

                              Lindis Peak – 1226 metres  – 17-9-2017

Six of us turned up for this day out. The weather was fine in Oamaru but there was meant to be a bit of light rain in the Lindis Pass area in the morning and clearing in the afternoon. We headed up to Omarama where the clouds were getting blacker and when we got into the Lindis Pass there was some heavy rain. We arrived at the start of the track by Old Faithful Road in light rain.

With the forecast of clearing weather we put on all our wet weather gear on and set off. After about 15 minutes the cloud cleared and the sun came out, so it was off with all the wet weather gear plus some more for the walk to the top. The track is a 4WD track that zig zags its way up a ridge to rocky out crop and then along the top to Lindis Peak. Half way up the cloud rolled back in and the wind pick up with no rain but we had to stop and put some gear back on. About 12.15pm we got to the rocky area and climbed in behind the rocks out of the wind for lunch.

After lunch it was a short walk to Lindis Peak with some great views (Not). We could see Lake Dunstan and Cromwell, but the cloud covered everything else. We didn’t stay long on top because of the cold wind but we took some photos and headed back down. On the way down the rain started again, so it was back on with the rain jackets and it stayed like this till we got back down to the car and the sun came out.

We then headed for Omarama for coffee before headed home.

Apart from the weather it was still a good day out and I thank Ros, Mike, Jo, Vicki for the company and Jac for organizing the day. Neville  

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A20 Bike Ride

10th September 2017

With unfavourable weather forecast, it was a surprise to have six keen cyclists out to bike from Oamaru to Raki’s Tunnel over some new sections and return on the Alps to Ocean Trail.
Suitably attired in hi-vis jackets we set off in overcast conditions carefully manoeuvring around a couple of washed out culverts on the Limeworks Straight and then onwards to Enfield where we cycled on the track where possible and then onto the road before reaching Pinehill Road.
A section of the trail is closed between Elderslie and Pinehill Roads because of damage caused by the floods in July.
At this stage the day was improving and the sun came out to warm us.
While negotiating the hill on the way to Windsor, my chain broke, but fortunately was soon repaired only to brake once again at the Windsor Hall. Meanwhile, Bron, Jane, Lyn and Neville continued cycling along a new part of the trail which eventually met up with the old railway line and onto Raki’s Tunnel. This new section eliminates riding up the gravel Peaks Road and down a slippery hill ( if wet) to join the trail in a pine forest.
After some more repairs using the last available pin for the chain we set off again to try to catch up with the other group.
A large slip has come down and formed quite a large lagoon at the other end of Raki’s Tunnel. However it is still negotiable by dismounting and pushing the bikes around a rough track on the edge.
There was no sign of the advance party at this stage. They had decided to continue up Tunnel Hill Road whereas Maurice and I went on ahead to Victoria Hill Road and upon seeing no fresh bike tyre marks in the gravel we soon realised that we had become separated. This was confirmed with a phonecall.
From Victoria Hill we took in the views back towards the new part of the trail that we had cycled over earlier. The other four sat in sunshine on the side of Peaks Road and ate their lunch. We then all met up again at the Windsor Fire Station after all enjoying some long downhill sections on the gravel roads.
The skies had become very black and just after crossing the Enfield Bridge we were pelted with hail which then turned into rain. It was heads down and feet pumping the pedals to get to Weston for afternoon tea, arriving at about 3pm. For four it was back on the bikes again to get to the carpark in between the showers.
On average we cycled about 55 kms for the day and apart from a broken chain (twice), separation, a hail storm and rain, thanks go to Jane, Lyn, Bron, Neville and Maurice for an enjoyable ride.
Phyllis.

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