Mt. Pisgah
1st Feb 2014
6.30 Sun am.- what a pleasure to see the sun shining ‘pinkly’’ on Pisgah with a clear-ish sky above after a somewhat claggy time in the hills. Did wonder why I was looking at it from one side, why we were travelling right around to the Maniototo side to climb it. However 11 bods were enthusiastic for this venture, even though high temperatures and thunderstorms were predicted for the day.
135km later and a bit after 10am we were ready for the climb with the Summit almost in view. It was all up, hot and humid. Relaxing over lunch with 360 degree views amongst good company, we knew it was all worth it. Tim [1] decided to use amazing ‘flying’ ability and transverse the ridge. The rest of followed a suggestion of more leisurely decent, down a ridge further north to lead back to the cars. This ended up with a rather long traverse on steep-ish terrain, and basically not such a leisurely decent as we may have imagined. It was made a little more dramatic as we watched [and some made bets] as to whether the thunderstorms would catch us or not.
A satisfied, weary 11 then made the trip home to Dunedin or returned N to our favourite icecream shop. Thanks Tim x2, Betty, Maurice, Phyllis, Noel, Bronwyn, Lynda, Bill, John.
Jane G
Top Dingle
Fine weather was ordered, and delivered. Both days were sunny with blue skies – a rarity this season. Saturday started with a cool northerly breeze, which later swung around to the south. Sunday was calm and warm.
The two 4wd vehicles with seven trampers arrived at the bottom of the track to the Dingle Saddle at around 10am on Saturday, after a 2 hour drive up the Waitaki and Ahuriri Valleys. The climb up the well-graded zig-zag track to the saddle (thanks Maurice) took 1 ½ hours. A pause for an early lunch and to take in the extensive views was followed by the one hour descent to the Dingleburn Valley floor. The track down initially sidled at an angle to the south, then turned steeply down a ridge, the last section being through beech forest.
The six-bunk, ex-Forest Service Top Dingle Hut is situated by the forest edge at the top of a gentle slope leading down to the river. The surrounding open grassland offers excellent campsites, so three tents and one bivvy were set up to house six of the seven. The afternoon was designated for free activities and it was spent exploring, and photographing, the valley and the river. In the early evening, the two prior occupants of the hut returned from a successful day’s fly fishing further down the river with a large trout, which they cooked in wet newspaper over wood embers and generously shared with us. Tasting the trout, cooking dinner, and swatting away sandflies occupied the evening.
Sunday morning saw a leisurely breakfast and packing up, setting off around 8am up the steep 1 ½ hour climb to the saddle. There, packs were dropped and we headed north along the ridgetop for about 2 ½ km, stopping on a knob just above a small tarn. There we spent some time taking in, and photographing, the stunning million-dollar panorama extending from the mountains of the Barrier Range to the east, across the top end of the Ahuriri Valley with Mt Huxley at its head, Canyon Creek and the snowy bulk of Mt Barth, to the head of the Dingleburn and its saddle overlooking the Hunter. To the south extended the ridge, including Mt Gladwish and Puke Makiriri, which separates the Dingleburn and Ahuriri valleys. A return to the saddle for lunch preceded the one hour descent down Morrie’s Motorway back to the vehicles and then home, with an ice-cream stop in Omarama.
The relaxed introduction to the festive season was enjoyed by Bron, Phyllis, Maurice, Noel, Neville, Tim and John.
Club Night November 2014
A goodly number attended our November meeting in spite of twenty-four walkers being away on the four-night, Banks Peninsula Track.
Wednesday Walkers kept up their varied programme with walks to Anderson’s Lagoon near Palmerston and along the coast to the Shag River mouth; a new walk around the Livingston diggings; from the Leith Saddle towards Mt Cargill and through bush and logged-over forest to Sullivan’s Dam; Black Cap across to Scout Hill and Scout Hut. These Wednesday walks are a great way to explore what’s on our very own doorstep.
NOTMC held a successful “Getting Out There” day in October to give prospective members a taste of day tramping. A walk from Tulliemet Rd to Devil’s Elbow, back down to Round Knob and back was a good introduction to Otago’s accessible high country.
Labour Weekend saw an intrepid group of seven, travel down to Borland Lodge near Lake Monowai then the following day, venture by kayak and powerboat, to Rodger Inlet on the lake.
Speakers at our November meeting were members Phyllis, Maurice and Bronwyn who earlier this year tramped the Northern Circuit on Stewart Island. This walk is not for the faint-hearted. It’s an eight day slog with no room in packs for unnecessary treats – and rain and mud are practically guaranteed. The group walked in a clockwise direction – from Freshwater Creek out to Mason’s Bay then up around the coast and back to Oban – though it tends to be tackled anticlockwise. The circuit included numerous interestingly named places such as Chocolate Swamp, Hellfire Pass, Long Harry Bay, Christmas Village Hut. Coastal vistas were stunning even through misty rain and it was hard not to feel lured to this vast, largely untouched part of Stewart Island.
Lake Monowai Labour Weekend 2014
After some last minute arrangements 7 members got away on a Friday night for the long drive down to the Borland Lodge to stay there for that night. One carload towing Dave’s powerboat arriving before the other carload towing a trailer with 4 kayaks.
An early start on Saturday morning ensured that we were all on the water by about 8.30 am. Because no one was walking in, all sorts of items went that normally would not. It was a brilliant morning with hardly a breath of wind, perfect conditions for a paddle and there was much jubilation all around as we glided up the lake in the kayaks with just a minor glitch in getting Dave’s power boat cranked up (reported to the kayakers via radio). As the 4 kayakers paddled up the lake it was further reported a short time later that Dave had caught a fish. Robbie spotted another good size trout along the lake edge at about the same time as we were weaving in and out of the remains of the forest edge from when the lake level was raised at the time of the hydro going in.
After a most enjoyable 3 hours we reached Rodger Inlet and headed across the inlet to the Rodger Inlet Hut which was uninhabited at the time and we moved in and made ourselves at home. The hut is a standard 6 bunk hut somewhere around 10 years old by the look of it. Further exploration revealed a smaller 2 bunk hut with the same name nearby. So there was enough accommodation for our group, and in any case Dave had decided that he really wanted to sleep on board his boat.
After an early lunch we wanted to make the most of the calm conditions, so Dave took a group up the lake for a fish and the rest hopped into kayaks for a paddle somewhere. We were mindful of impending change in the weather with gale force NW winds predicted for that day and sure enough, as the paddlers headed up the lake the smooth conditions started to change and it was decided to return to the inlet and closer to the hut. We decided to test our skills in the rougher water when we were back in the inlet but as the wind picked up and blew straight down the inlet, the waves got bigger and it was decided to head back to the hut. It was a challenge in those conditions and surfing on waves took place with the wind in our backs. Back on land safely we waited for the return of the fishers in the powerboat and this did not take very long. Unfortunately despite traveling some distance up the lake they failed to hook any more fish.
After all that sitting about, a walk was needed and all of us went along the track where one would walk in from the road end where large black beeches dominated the forest with treeferns and some podocarps and a mix of others as well. This was followed by snacks and drinks on our return as well as feasting on the trout which was deboned and smoked for the occasion and then large amounts of food were cooked and eaten. Dave did not spend the whole night on his boat, but returned to the hut after being tossed about in the windy conditions.
On the Sunday, the weather was cloudy and windy and it was the day that was pegged for a climb up to point 1325m starting at the rear of the hut. Six of us headed up through dense bush on a marked but otherwise hard to follow track with a lot of wind fell obscuring the track. It seemed to take a long time to gain the required height which was not helped by the lake’s relatively low altitude of 200m. Eventually we popped out of the bush at 1000m only to be drizzled on and discovering a complete Leidecker View of the lake some 800m below us. After sharing lunch with some who had neglected to bring any we decided to head back down which took about the same time as the way up, returning to the hut about 3pm. Dave took some away for another fish and to pick up some forgotten items from the Borland Lodge and they took a while to return, but more feasting took place when they did.
The last day dawned clear with a mild breeze still from the north. After packing all the gear back into boat and kayaks and cleaning both huts we headed back on the lake. The boat people still hunting fish, the rest paddling right across the lake and following that side back to the road end. A mild breeze stirred the lake and mid morning just as we had stopped for a morning cuppa there was a sudden change to SW and some showers urged everyone back to their respective vessels and the last leg home. The boat ran out of fuel at about this point and those who had not yet wielded paddles were now obliged to do so. The kayaks meanwhile carried on back oblivious to the plight of the boaties. Enough fuel was eventually squeezed out of the tanks to enable the boat to make the final maneuvers at lake’s end and onto its trailer. Some went back to the Lodge for a shower whilst the others proceeded homewards.
This was an unusual trip for the club, boating not being common on the trip list, but it was extremely enjoyable and the company was very good as usual and there was a great deal of laughter in the 3 days. Thanks to those who came who were Dave, Jane John, Karyl, Uwe, Sylvia and Robbie
Heading up the lake on day 1
The fish
morning tea in style
nor-wester on the way
Kayakers on the lake
Where did I leave the bacon.
Ben Lomond Sunday 10 August 2014
Ben Lomond is the highest point on the ridge separating the Maerewhenua and Otekaieke valleys. This tramp started from the yards at the end of Special School Road on the Otekaieke side. Ten trampers left there at 9am on a fine, calm and mild morning and set off across a stock bridge for the first 500 metre climb to the ridge top. This took over an hour and was followed by a ¾ hour walk south-west along the undulating ridge-top track to Little Ben Lomond (993m) for a viewing and smoko stop. A ½ hour winding descent took them to a saddle which was followed by a ¾ hour, 250 metre climb to Ben Lomond (1049m) and a stop for photos and more 360 degree viewing. Although there was virtually no snow on Ben Lomond, the surrounding mountains had a light dusting which accentuated the relief. The team then retraced their steps to the saddle and turned north-west for the steep descent to the Otekaieke River. A 1 ½ hour walk down the Otekaieke Bridle Track and several river crossings took them back to the cars for a total trip of 21 km, including 1000 metres climbing, taking 7 ¾ hours. The tired walkers were Jane, Melvin, Uwe, Murray, Rodney, Helen, Phyllis, Neville, Noel and John. Thanks to Greg Metherell of Kenmore Station.
