Club night, March 2014
Monday 10th March 2014
The formalities of our usual structure were brief as some key members were not present, and our guest speaker was unable to come at the last minute. So a night with a difference, plus plenty of chatting time at the end.
There has been plenty of activity over the last month with a variety of tramps. Dave told of his trip to Invacroy Station, being fog bound initially before glorious views around 1500’ at the top end of the Kirkliston Range. The Mt Domet weekend trip also had its weather issues, with very strong NWers on the Fri night, then rain and hail during Sat night. Squeezed in between, 10 elated bods reached the summit as winds eased after a late start. This meant not returning to Chainmen’s hut until 7.30 after having to find the way through fog that rolled in. Well led Bill.Nimrod Reserve track organised by Evelyn also reflected on the weather we have been having- with light drizzle blocking great views but making the bush and birds flourish.
The Wednesday Wakers had better luck with their days. They managed to complete all the Herbert track walks just before the storm struck.The Round Yards from Balmoral Rd was not hot enough to tempt anyone to swim the N branch of the Kakanui river, but pleasant enough for one group to explore going up the river rather than join the others looping around the hill.Their final attempt for a swimming day did happen at Kaiwarua Station in the Waihoa river.Awakino Gorge and Kurow Hill was a pleasant easy day.
Upcoming tramps include: Mt Orr starting from Little Roderick; Anniversary w/e in Arthurs Pass doing a circuit from the Minga to L Mavis and back down the Edwards; Dromedary Hill in the Lindis; a working bee in Herbert Forest; and biking from Oamaru to Kurow on the A2O route.
Bron McCone filled the speakers roll exceptionally with a wide variety of quickly acquired photos., ranging from toadstools to mistletoe , Ellislie Flower show to Michael Hill’s Millbrook golf course’s sculptures, recent tramps to her father’s photos of the construction of Benmore Dam. Well done!
Kirkliston Range
Kirkliston Range
Sunday 16th February, 2014
The Kirkliston range is on the West side of the Hakataramea valley. The actual location of this trip was changed as the runholders’ of part of the route could not be contacted. The trip was changed to tramp up onto the north end of the Kirkliston Range. Permission was kindly granted from the Milnes of Invercroy station. David Milne was waiting for us at the gate as two carloads each of four eager trampers arrived. He had a prepared a map for us, with a marked route, which should ensure good views. The morning fog hindered our early route finding and it wasn’t long before we were climbing up through tussocks and spaniards. Finally the fence on the ridge line came into view and the fog was below us. Morning tea was enjoyed as was the surrounding views. John with his trusty saw took to two wilding pines. We followed the fence which led to a track that slowly climbed the range. After lunch, in the middle of a tussocky plateau, we did the final climb to the top of the ridge at approximately 1500 metres. The views were magnificent 360 degrees – Twizel, Tekapo river, Mt Cook, Mt Dobson the Hunter and Kakanui ranges.
The trip back was steadily downhill and after a day of over 6 hours walking we were glad to reach the cars. Eight trampers enjoyed their big icecream at Kurow after their pleasant day of exercise.
Thanks to Bill, John, Tim, Wendy, Linda, Colin, and Bronwyn for their enjoyable company.
Dave Mellish
Mt. Nimrod Reserve
9th March 2014
This walk had all the hallmarks of a ‘girls only’ trip – with Jane G and Margie starting to plot suitable post tramp debriefing places – then up rolled the Kakanui based Mercedes with two kiwi blokes, so things reverted back to the usual icecreams and coffee!
With the forecast predicting the weather to clear, ten of us set off for Makihikihi, Evelyn remembering at the last minute to pick up Jo at Waitaki Bridge.
After turning inland, with light rain all the way, we soon hit Backline Road, and it seemed an eternity (actually one and a half hours) until we reached the Nimrod Reserve turnoff, by which time we had clocked up 100km. Shame the visibility was so poor.
Off we set on the loop track – up, up, up through the bush. Karyl was convinced there would be coffee shop at the top to reward her for her efforts.
After a morning tea stop in a clearing with a Leideker view, we began the descent to the stream. The wet conditions made the track rather slippery so plenty of careful foot placement was required. Dave was the only one to venture to the nearby waterfall when we reached the bottom.
Up we went again and had lunch under the trees at the saddle. With ground and vegetation pretty damp, we did not linger.
The rocky knob beckoned and we scrambled up, with just a murky glimpse of the waterfall before the mist closed in again. We were soon at the top, (some saw a wallaby), and carefully made our way down through more bush, reaching the cars about 1-15pm.
Our homeward journey saw us pass through the settlement of Hunter, which made such an impression on Dave he was reluctant to carry on to Waimate. An icecream there helped soothe his disappointment.
Thanks everyone for looking after each other so well and supporting your novice leader.
Tricia, Margie, Jane G, Karyl, Linda, Phyllis, Bronwyn, Jo, John, Dave M, and Evelyn.
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Mt. Domett
So a year has passed since the last attempt at Domett. On that occasion, a tantalisingly small weather front drove us back, but by the time we had retreated to the cars, the mountain was again bathed in sunshine. When you are inside a cloud it’s hard to know what’s happening outside.
On this occasion however, the weather played a different game in the form of gale force winds.
The walk in to Chinaman’s hut on Friday evening was nothing but a pleasure for all, in spite of the river having had a major sluicing since last we were last there, making the going a little slower.
As the night progressed, so did the strength of the wind, even in and around the somewhat protected hut site. For those who chose to sleep outside (in tents and on the ground), it was a noisy night, even in the hut as well. At 6am, the planned time of wake up, I did a quick circuit of bodies, tents and hut sleepers to postpone the start ‘til at least 8am in the hope the wind might recede.
Departure at 8.45 was all very casual with little hope of going far, as the gusts were still viscous.
But as we approached the mountain, our hopes began to rise as the wind eased.
During the climb there was a bonus for the few at the front, seeing a very large stag 100m away which for a few seconds hadn’t seen us. Surprisingly it didn’t scamper off in the opposite direction, but proceeded up the hill and across our route so we got a great look at this magnificent beast.
How do you measure the combined elation of ten people all grinning like Cheshire cats at the simple achievement of climbing a hill – yes a bigger hill than some – in fact a mountain! Although I had been on this spot many times before, I got huge pleasure not only from my reaching the top again, but from watching the other nine people enjoying the moment as well.
But all too soon our attention was drawn to the huge bank of easterly cloud rolling toward us. This would make our descent (down a different and longer route) very difficult indeed, so off we went down the back of the mountain before sidling across horrible rock and scree to reach Raggedy Ridge.
About two thirds of the way down this long ridge, the fog engulfed us, reducing visibility to 100m. Almost immediately we found ourselves in unfamiliar territory but least were able to keep descending and eventually reached the creek with the help of the fog dissipating.
It had been a 10hr day so the focus was simple, a good meal, lively conversation, then into the sack.
Earlier thoughts of more climbing on Sunday seemed to evaporate, so it was a casual “watch your step walk” back down the river.
The homeward journey was broken with a brief inspection of the recent clearing of the historic bridal track from Beatties Hill across the Marawhenua river to Livingstone. There may well be more mention of this area in future.
The thrill seekers were – John Chetwin, Jane Green, Els Jordans, Colin Wollstien, Mathew and Anna Harris, Murray Gifford, Tim Pawson, Bron McCone, and Bill Bews.
TeAraroa Trail, Roundhill to Mesopotamia
After meeting at 7am at Weston, exchanging vehicles and bags of spare clotes etc, thirteen keen trampers left heading North, our group of seven turning off at Pareora on route to Tekapo and the other party of six to Mesopotamia. We arrived at the Tekapo township in time for a coffe break and then travelled up the Roundhill skifield road to a locked gate and carpark. With sunscreen, packs and boots on we walked three kms up the gravel road to the marked turnoff onto a snowgrassed terrace overlooking Coal River. Before descending to cross at the junction of Camp Stream we sat amongst the tussocks in sunshine and ate our lunch. Matagouri flats were navigated upstream until another river crossing and a brief climb up a spur to arrive at the Camp Stream hut .With tents set up, we lounged in the afternoon sun and were soon joined by another couple from Christchurch who were walking part of the Te Araroa Trail in the opposite direction from us.
Friday promised more fine weather as we set off at 7.15am following a 4WD track, crossing Camp Stream and climbing up onto a ridge from which we had spectacular views of Lake Tekapo, Mt John, Rex Simpson Memorial Hut, Macaulay and Godley Valleys.Another couple sighted in the Camp Stream Valley, the official Te Araroa Trail route, unfortunately not enjoying the amazing vistas that we had on the ridge.The plant life was abundant,with many photos taken. The black daisy was found on the scree slopes as we traversed through a rocky basin towards Stag Saddle at 1925mtrs, the highest point in the Te Araroa trail. Over the saddle we stopped by a small stream to replenish our water supplies and have second lunch before descending through snowgrass and scree slopes to our second nights destination, Royal Hut, like Camp Stream, an old musters hut with plenty of character.The usual procedure took place, erecting tents, relaxing and enjoying the peaceful surroundings while we waited for the other party to arrive from Crooked Spur Hut.
Stories and keys were exchanged before departing the following morning. Initially it started out as an easy tramp through snowgrass passing the track to Bullock Bow Saddle and then fording Bush Stream to sidle on the true left as it became gorgey.
While having morning tea outside Stone Hut,we observed the antics of three falcons, before they flew to the rocky crags above us.
A bridge took us across Bush Stream once again and upwards to the first saddle, passing delightful bog areas on the way. A lunch break was taken on the saddle where we could see the intended route infront of us, a descent into the valley, crossing Sweeps and Pack Horse streams and then a climb up a scree slope to the second saddle at 1500mtrs.From here we followed a beaten track through the snow grass to arrive at Crooked Spur Hut at 3pm.
We departed the following morning in poor visibility but after descending a steep winding track down a spur we left the cloud behind. After fording Bush Stream we climbed up the other side and sidled along a pathway until dropping down to the riverbed once again. Knee-deep crossings followed where necessary after walking down the riverbed flats and out to the awaiting cars left by the other party at the Mesopotamia carpark.
A short stop at Forest Creek Station to pick up Barbara, a bonus tour of the stunning gardens at Rata Peaks Station, lunch at Geraldine had us arriving back in Oamaru at 4pm.on Sunday.
Thanks to Browyn, Jim, Neville, Ross, Murray and Maurice for the great company.
Also thanks to Uwe, Sylvia, Jane, Graham, Brent and John for their company at Royal Hut and making the transport feasible for all of us.
Phyllis.
Mesopotamia to Roundhill photos
