Dumb-bell Lake
Tramping in fine weather is what trampers dream off, but can take its toll by the end of the day with weary bodies pleased to reach the camp site.
Eleven club members lived that dream with a 10am start from Lake Ohau Lodge, up the skifield road then cross country to join the new cycle track at Sawyers Creek.
We had a short chat with some cyclists enjoying the new A to O track before continuing our way to Freehold Creek. The track up the true right was in great order after a lot of windfall had recently been cleared. An hour of steady uphill to the bush line brought on an appetite for lunch and a view of the route ahead to the hanging valley above.
There was plenty of running water enroute for the frequent stops to rehydrate, before the hanging valley was reached with its impressive views of different coloured tarns and surrounding peaks.
After some discussion on alternative routes out we decided to take the notch overlooking Sawyers Creek. Another break was taken on the saddle in fine calm conditions, then it was a rocky sidle to a snow patch crossing with some more sidle to Pinnacle where the Maitland Valley came into view.
Dumb-bell Lake finally appeared as we descended the tussock slope to the lake outlet where a tent city was erected. Pleased to be there after a hot days travel we soon settled in, pots bubbling and the smells of various dinners on the go. The perfect evening beside a sun drenched lake with great company. Before darkness the call to recharge the batteries came and human silence fell over the site. The sound of the outlet stream soon had me in dream world.
With the light of the new day we were all up refuelled and ready to go by 7.15am, some a little more so than others. It was a short walk up valley before crossing the stream, then up to the ridge line leading round to Mt Sutton 2007m. A cold wind on the exposed ridge kept us moving on to the summit which once again gave us splendid views all round.
We retraced our steps before circling around to the ski field, finding a safe point to descend to the ski basin with a view of Maitland Hut. There we had an early lunch break at the ski site. To complete the journey a 10 km walk down the ski field road ended with relief and sore feet for me. To end this wonderful weekend, refreshments were had at the Wrinkly Ram in Omarama, with a debrief and departure for home.
Thanks to, Jane, Bron, Phyllis, Murray, Bill, Neville, John C, Ross F, Tim and Jim; Maurice.
Staircase Hut
17 November
The forecast was for drizzle, clearing as the day progressed and turning to custard towards the evening. Not great but you take what you get with weather. Five of us set off from near the top of Mt Misery Rd. Through the wind damaged manuka at the top where you stooped low to avoid getting the accumulated wet off the tops. Down the slippery track to the river, too slippery for some to maintain traction. Up the river to the turnoff, the rocks also very slippery, bush nettle in great abundance ready to sting the passers by. Up the very slippery slope to the ridge, two pulled out here, confidence gone and not wanting to hold up those keen to get to the hut. Lucky there are 2 vehicles so getting home is not impossible. Three left to carry on, the drizzle turned to rain and adds to the difficulty. Quick stop for lunch short of the hut by about an hour. Finally there about 1.30 in time for lunch 2, the are leading down to the hut and the surrounding area is devastated , kanuka and broadleaf snapped off and laid out higgelty piggelty like pick up sticks in a tangle. The round trip to Tabletop would be impossible without a good chainsaw in hand. The rain still persisting as we go back the way we came. Faster travel on the return until we get back to the very slippery slope, this takes a while to get back down without losing your footing. Down the river where the intrepid leader checks the water temperature facedown, damn those rocks are slippery. Up the track, wet through by now and back to the car and home for a hot shower. Thanks for coming you 4, sorry about the weather.
November 11th Club Night
We reversed our usual order to have our speaker Tony Woods first speaking on Land SAR in N. O.; hoping to form closer links with us.
Tony spoke about the people needed to make this venture will all its gear successful. As a core they want 4 groups of 4 people, all trained. Ideally having 30 trained would provide succession.
Skills required are: navigational, to cope with land bush line and below along with their own personal equipment, searching methods, tracking clues plus first aid qualifications. This would be backed up with their monthly training sessions.
As usual today, a lot of paper work is involved, including the debriefing after the event..
We looked through their $150,000 truck specifically built for our local scene. The design, outlay, gear and equipment –especially the electronics was most impressive.
Thanks Tony and Jeremy – hopefully we can be helpers rather than recipients!
Club notices followed – with important information re our new Locator Beacon, it is now required that one is on each outing for both the Club and Wednesday Walkers.
Reports were given on the last months outings:
Club Trips: 20th Oct Mt Kyeburn with 1 party going straight up a ridge while another took the 4WD track. The Labour Weekend 4 day bike ride was postponed because of gales and snow blizzards in the area. Nov 10th 16 people enjoyed an easier excursion on McCone’s farm ending with a tour of Bronwyn’s fabulous garden.
The Wednesday walkers went up Mt Miserable and Prominent Peak on Oct 16th; Wainono Lagoon and Gunns Bush on Oct 23rd; Mt Kyeburn up another new ridge plus the track on 30th Oct; and Deep Stream on N side of Aviemore on Nov 6th.
As our next meeting is not until February a large number of exciting upcoming events were laid out to us including our Christmas Party on Dec7th. Information on these can be found on our excellent website: http://www.notmc.org.nz.
Jane
Mount Kyeburn
Sunday, 20 October, 2013
The day promised to be fine, albeit with strong north-west winds, as seventeen trampers left the car park at 8.15am. The 75km drive took the four vehicles over Danseys Pass to a parking area marked with a DoC sign 5km west of the top of the pass. The track led immediately down to and across Timber Creek and through two gates on to clearly signposted DoC land. It then crossed two tributaries.
At the second, larger one, the party split, ten continuing up the 4WD track which headed north, climbing up a ridge above and to the west of Timber Creek before swinging west to approach the summit from the north-east. The remaining seven headed north-west up the second tributary to a junction where they were able to scramble up a steep tussock face on to a broad ridge. This ridge led almost directly to the summit ridge, over two humps and climbing steadily up through tussock and shingle. The top was reached in between 2¾ and 3¾ hours, with the ridge route being a little quicker on average.
Lunch at the top was enjoyed with a stunning 360o panorama, from the back side of the St Mary’s Range to the east, around to the Waitaki Plains, Kakanui Mountains, the Maniototo, Mt Ida and the Buster gold diggings, the Hawkdun and St Bathans ranges, and Lake Ohau with a backdrop of Southern Alps. Lack of the expected gale-force winds on top added to the pleasurable sojourn.
The return trip, down the 4WD track, took an easy 2½ hours.
The day was enjoyed by Maurice, Phyllis, Ken, Jo, Els, Colin, Jonny, Judith, Teresa, Linda, Neville, Jane, Sam, Bill, Jac, Ros and John.
