Club Report – August 2012
There were several trip cancellations in the last few weeks because of wet weather.
If members wish to receive cancellation notices they should give the secretary their email addresses.
A First aid course is being held at Camp Iona 7th to 9th September, cost $145. Contact Neville Corry Ph 4372531. These are becoming hard to organize, and may not continue.
A new addition of “Safety In The Mountains” is available for the bulk price of $5 each.
Janis Russell and her partner are walking the “Spine of the South Island” next year and have requested organizing help from the club and any one else interested.
A planting day is being held at the Orokonui Scenic Reserve on the 2nd September. Contact Dave Mellish, Ph 43 95895.
Trip reports. Several car loads visited The Orokonui Scenic Reserve, and similar numbers next week went ice curling in Naseby.
Wednesday Walkers trips have been to Boundary Creek, the Seacliff-Split Rock-Green Point circuit, Mt.Shrives(858m) in the Hunter Hills, and the Domett loop with the saddle in cloud and snow lying.
Coming Trips. 19th August, a bike ride from Port Chalmers to Aramoana. Contact Noel Pullan.
25 – 26th August, Big Hut in the Rock and Pillars with the Otago Tramping Club. Contact Maurice Gray.
2nd September, Snow Craft Course at Awakino. Contact Neville Corry.
Our Guest Speaker Dave Mellish spoke on his fishing trip with 11 other blokes to Vanuatu. Based in Port Vila, they made several boat trips among the coral islands, swimming and snorkeling. However the main reason for the visit was big game fishing, and they managed to catch two tuna, having hooked four all at the same time, and some barracuda, but lost the one marlin they hooked.
Dave was impressed with the gorgeous flowering plants on the islands, the Brahman cattle grazing under the coconut palms, and the attractive fruit and veggie markets. He found the locals very friendly and helpful.
The highlight of the trip was a visit to the active Mt. Yassur volcano on Tanner Island. At only 330m above sea level, he was able to climb up and look down into the glowing crater which let off a reasonable explosion every two to three minutes. He captured it live on video with rocks flying up in the air, though fortunately the wind took them in the other direction.
Club Night – July 2012
The club night was attended by 25 people. The president made several announcements including that the trip programme for August onwards was available in hard copy for those who did not have on line availability. Similarly those wanting hard copy trip reports could contact Robbie Verhoef. The end of year function will be held on 8th December and the Herbert Forest Guided Walks day would be on 28th April. The committee have also considered the future of the locator beacon when the recommended battery life expires next year. The current thinking is not to replace it because several club members have their own and they can be hired for a small fee which could be recovered in the travel costs of the trip. There were a few points made and the final decision will rest with the new committee. There was an appreciation shown for Noel Pullan who took and excellent photograph of the erection of the steel ladder on Hoods Creek track and which has now been framed and presented to Blakely Pacific.
There were several notices including various newsletters and notice of a planting day on 2nd of September by Dave Mellish. More details at the next club night or contact Dave. An animal control programme has been suggested by the Club in Herbert Forest. Blakely Pacific has responded positively and will pick up costs. A local school has expressed interest in guided tramps by the club in Herbert Forest for year 8 and there was a request for more volunteers to support this.
Trip reports included Ben Ohau on 17th June with 6 people climbing up from the car park across the west face in generally good conditions. They reached the top by 12.30 and then continued on a ridge eastwards eventually dropping down to Greta stream and returning by an old farm track. On the 24th June 10 people went up Kurow hill by various routes on a frosty morning continuing along a ridge and dropping down to the Awakino gorge returning downstream to the cars near the main highway observing a falcon and hawk along the way. Wednesday Walker trips included Blue Mountain cave (otherwise known as chinamans cave) via Dunback with a so called shortcut on the return by the edge of the forest. There was a shorter walk in Kuriheka with a strong southerly bringing rain and hail to start with but with the benefit of well positioned haybarns and lastly a familiar farm walk at Ngapara but with more escarpments and old machinery on a stunning day.
Jane Green gave a presentation on her trip last year to Norway, a country with 4000 fiords, 0.5 million lakes and 2500kms of coastline. She took a ferry / cruise starting at Kirkeness one of the most northern settlements in the world down the coastline to Bergen and then on by bus and train to Olso. She experienced the midnight sun and the photos of fiords and picturesque settlements along the coast showed the stark beauty of the country. We learnt about the traditional fishing industry and the effect that the flourishing oil and gas industries have had on the development of Norway. The final overland trip showed how varied the landscape is from the world’s longest fiord up over a high pass with glaciers and down to the pastoral lands surrounding Olso.
Ben Ohau – June 2012
Six set off on a fine Sunday morning, cool with a light westerly breeze. The day was to provide a short window of fine weather in between storms. We left the Greta Stream carpark at 10.30 am and started on the steady climb up the old 4wd track which initially zigzags, then proceeds in a long sweep across the northern face to its highest point. From there we climbed up a fence line, over a mixture of rock and sub-alpine vegetation, to reach the summit at around 12.15.
After being buzzed by a light plane which approached from the direction of Twizel, we perched on rocks protruding from drifts of old snow to lunch and enjoy one of the great vantage points – with views from Pukaki, Twizel, Lakes Benmore and Ruataniwha, the Benmore Range, Omarama, the St Cuthbert, Ewe, Diadem and Ohau Ranges around to Lake Ohau and the Neumann Range.
A chill breeze encouraged us on our way by 1.45, back down the fence line to the 4wd track where we turned east and followed it along the ridge towards Twizel. After about 3 km, at the lowest point on the ridge, we left the track and turned north down a tussock face which narrowed to a gully before coming out on to the Greta Stream at around 3.30. On the way we spooked a small black pig and dispatched a wilding pine.
From there, we headed back west, following a disused farm track down the Greta Valley, through a small gorge, impressive rock faces and colourful dracophylla and snowberries. After 5 stream crossings, the track led up the bank on the true right through some remnant beech forest and along a poled route across tussock terraces toward Lake Ohau. At one point the poles stopped and the track came to a sudden end in a patch of scrub. This required a climb over a fence on to an old farm track which continued the descent to the road, where a DOC sign confirmed we had been on the correct route. The final leg was ten minutes along the road to reach the cars dead on 5pm.
The day provided a 16km walk with 1000 metres ascent and descent, mountain and valley terrain, and tussock, forest and sub-alpine flora. Bess, Brian, Jane, Linda and Sam added to the entertainment.
John.
Club Night – June 2012
At its last Club meeting the following trips were reported on.
White Horse Hill, Waimate. A short steep walk on a sunny day.
Dunedin Hills. 9 trampers optimistically headed down in driving rain to Leith Saddle. Their optimism was rewarded by the sun coming out on their arrival, and they enjoyed a round trip along the Pipeline Track to Rustlers Ridge and Burns Saddle, coming back along Swampy to Leigh Saddle in windy but clear conditions with great views.
Queens birthday weekend saw 5 lads head up theOtehake River in the Arthurs Pass National Park to camp for 2 nights at the hot springs. As the middle day was wet and the river up, a relaxing day was had in the hot pool. They got home just before the snow arrived, though minus a stolen spare wheel. See Trip Reports for full details and photos.
The Wednesday Walkers had walks in the sheltered Herbert Forest on a cold S W day, Moana Station on the Kilmog, Verbakel’s farm, and Cape Wanbrow on another cold day.
Coming Club trips are to Ben Ohau on the 17th June, Awakino Gorge / Kurow on the 24th June, and “Winter Fun at Tekapo” in early July. Check the Trips / Programme for details.
The Club hopes to run first aid and snow craft courses later in the year.
Guest speaker was Glynne Lloyd on his fascinating bike ride with three others through Tibet from China to Pakistan. This was a journey of 1200k during three weeks that took them over several passes as high as 5500m asl. and included a side trip to Everest Base Camp.
The trip passed through Lassa where the Dali Llama’s Winter and Summer Palaces are, and over the Himalayas to Katmandu. The road started out as a good sealed highway, but soon deteriorated into a dusty rough gravel road with snow and ice on the top pass. There were lots of road works, using mostly manual labour. The bikes and riders stood up to the trip well in spite of arriving with four bike frames and only seven wheels. Another wheel was acquired and quickly adapted to fit. One of the group was an orthopaedic surgeon who used his skills to mend a bike frame with a bike tube!
We were treated to scenes of monasteries with meditating monks, prayer wheels, guest houses, simple lifestyles and friendly people, as well as the stunning scenery which included views of Mt.Everest with its ever present cloud stream.
A trip of a life time.
Otehake River Hot Spring – Queens Birthday 2012
This trip turned into an all boys trip with 5 lads setting off early on the Saturday morning. A fairly uneventful trip punctuated only by the eating of some delicious muffins en route saw us arrive at the village of Arthur’s Pass just in time for coffee which was drunk as we carried on over the Pass to Aickens and the carpark where the Taramakau River valley is accessed. A rapid change into tramping gear, gobble down another muffin and we were off getting wet feet within the first 15 minutes as we crossed the Otira River and headed up the Taramakau. We carefully avoided the spot where Maurice had plunged in to a deep hole on a previous trip in this area. The walk improved dramatically after the turn off towards Lake Kaurapataka with giant trees making a spectacular appearance as we ambled up the track. A wide selection of rimu, miro and red beech, as well as many smaller species like marble leaf , horopito and broad leaf filled the forest with abundant ferns covering the forest floor. Very pleasant. Eventually the lake appeared and a second lunch spot beside the lake edge was found. Plenty of other vegetation here with abundant regeneration of rimu and lancewoods. On around the lake with even bigger red beeches, some of the largest seen yet, fantastic views over the still water of the lake and the reflections of the tree covered hills surrounding the lake. The walking now a little trickier with lots of slippery roots as we sidle around to the head of the lake. A small saddle and down a very steep gut got us down to the Otehake River. It was higher than I had seen but we head up the river and through the gorge, with many crossings to make as we weave from one bank to the other as bluffs bar the way. The day gets short now and darkness looms as we cross the last time. The smell of sulphur getting stronger as the daylight fades. Time for the GPS and we don’t have far to go now, lucky I brought the right GPS this time, this one has batteries, it tells us that it is only a few hundred meters to the hot spring and the camping spot that is the destination for this trip. Luckily the small entrance up to the camping area on the island in between the 2 branches of the river appears, it is well hidden with the cairn being very mossy and the shrubbery having covered most of it.
Great relief as the tents are pitched and the camp is set up, torches on as the meals are prepared. After tea, we search out the springs which are often hidden due to the fickle nature of the river, one very hot spot is found and quickly expanded to accommodate a body. It is too late to get into too many excavations but everyone has a turn with the pool big enough to hold 3 people but only for short duration as the temperature soon gets too much. Some in the party rate the experience particularly highly, higher than anything else indeed. The hot baths lead to exhaustion in the end and getting to bed is the right thing to do. During the night the weather changes as predicted and mild drizzle eventually turns to rain. The morning dawns grey and wet putting the planned walk up the hill towards Koropuku Hut right off the menu. Instead with combined effort and newly found spade the pool site is developed into a fully fledged thermal resort, all temperatures are catered for and the only thing missing is a qualified masseuse (no Swedish nurses within a bulls roar). The morning flies by and with some reluctance we return to camp for lunch and a Nana nap for all, all that exercise has been our undoing.
Still we had a lot of laughs during this weekend and that provided enough mirth to get us all the way home. Thanks to Steve, John, Ross and Bill for a fine trip. Robbie
