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Giant Rocks - Lookout Range, 13th November 2005 An early start of 7am for 14 trampers at Richmond. We met up with the Glover family and friends at Tadmor which made a large group of 24. After 4 hours of steady climbing we reached the top of the Lookout Range where we had lunch. The rock formations were quite spectacular, however we didnt get a chance to look around as the weather changed with cold driving sleet (snow) so we quickly got off the exposed tops and down to lower altitudes where it was warmer. It was about 3½ hours later that we were back at the cars at around 5pm. Great to see Ross back tramping. Thanks to everyone who made this a great days outing. The group was Alan Dalzell, Ross McArthur, Robert Wopereis, David Blunt, Dion Pont, Maria Brooks, Beverley Muirhead, Abby Grassham, Anne Spear, Grace Sutherland, Shirley Jack, Margaret Carpinter, Christine Burn, Uta Purcell and Mike and Deidre Glover and family and friends. Alan Dalzell
Porters Rock - Canaan, 26th November 2005 The trampers who climbed Mt Haast the previous Saturday, found this tramp to Porters Rock a pleasant, non demanding day. The road was in good condition so three cars took three people each - a 1½ hour drive from Richmond followed by a 2½ hour tramp including a morning tea stop at Moa Park Hut. It was a perfect day with good views before the leader sat on an ants nest for lunch! A genuine case of ants in the pants! Back to the cars in 1Ό hours, where some went to Harwoods Hole before heading home. The trampers were Beverley Muirhead, Shirley De Groot, Margaret Edwards, Margaret McKay, Pat Taylor, Willie Stewart, Lesley Yeatman, David Blunt and Carl Desnoyers (a French speaking exchange student from Ontario, Canada) Beverley Muirhead
Stone Hut - Wangapeka Valley, 10th-11th December 2005 The famous four left Richmond at 7am and we reached Rolling River hut by 8.30am. While walking along the track we found Dianas kahikatea hugging tree so the ladies had their photo taken. What a hug !! By 9.45am we found a stony river beach for morning tea. At 12.30pm we had lunch at Kings Hut. We were having a picnic outside but the sandflies drove us into the hut. We popped into have a look at dear old Cecils home (memory lane) About every hour was a few minutes pack stop. We reached Stone hut by 4.30pm. Rob and Maria pitched their tent and Margaret and I had the hut to ourselves. Rob was a good WTC member - he chopped lots of wood. Things of interest were robins, wekas, we heard moreporks, parakeets and shining cuckoo and we found green orchids, also strawberry fungi from the silver beech tree - sort of soft and squashy. Just up from the wooden Luna bridge which fills up with water there is air conditioning coming from the side of the track which is warm. This was on the way out. Rob marked it by a cairn. The crew were Margaret McKay, Maria Brooks, Rob Merrilees and Pat Taylor. The members who didnt turn up missed a good weekend. Also the hot scones when we paid Jeff Lukey a visit on the way home. Pat Taylor
Westport Walks, 31st December 2005 - 3rd January
2006 - New Year Weekend
Dew Lakes - Maitai Valley, 8th January 2006 At 8am a group of six trampers drove up the Maitai Valley, where we found the gate before the dam still locked, which is quite usual for a Sunday morning. Parking the cars here we didnt mind the extra walk. We soon got off the forestry road and onto the track itself. Some comments were made about the track being steeper than they had thought. Our first stop was at the Rush Pool, which seems to be drying up over the years. We soon arrived at the Dew Lakes, taking three hours, but we carried along the ridge track a few minutes for our lunch stop, where we had a better view of the mountains to the east. We returned to the Dew Lakes to explore a while. One person who had not been here before was a bit disappointed because the Dew Lakes are more like ponds than the lakes that they had imagined. On our return we spotted a few blue orchids beside the track and a fleeting glimpse of a skink. What a good day! The trampers were Robert Wopereis, Christine Burn, Abbey Grassham, Andrew Henderson, Dan McGuire and Pat Taylor. Robert Wopereis
Lees Creek - Wairau Valley, 14th- 15th January 2006 We set off across the swing bridge over the Wairau River about 9.30am. The weather was overcast, 10 degrees - good conditions for tramping. We had lunch on route at the edge of a river flat clearing - a very nice spot. We arrived at the hut about 1.30pm, by then the weather was 20 degrees plus, hot and sunny. It was good no one was home, so we had the hut to ourselves. We decided after a suitable rest to explore up the right hand branch of the valley, but found the track rather overgrown. Jim and Pat decided to return to the hut after about an hour, while Robert and Alan continued up the valley until we reached the fork in the river, which leads to some tarns. Next morning we returned back down the way we came, about a three hour return trip. A great weekend retreat. Thanks to Robert Wopereis, Jim Mayer and Pat Taylor who made this an enjoyable trip. Alan Dalzell
Huia Caves - Tadmor Valley - 22nd January At 8am two carloads met at Richmond, then drove via Tadmor. After opening the gate on the bridge at Huia Quarry turnoff, we met Rob Merrilees, who was cutting firewood. We parked the cars by Jeffs beehives. Near the beehives we dressed in polyprop and polar fleece, topped with overalls, helmets and headlamps. The cave is a stream cave with a large walk in entrance. A climb on the right wall or alternatively getting wet was the first difficulty, a log jam was the second. Rob was asked why he left the chainsaw in the car. The cave can flood so two water level marker posts are in place. Glow worms were seen in many places. The cave ends when the water gathers and sumps. Above the sump we were able to see the second entrance and daylight. After that we went back to the sump area and had lunch. Then we returned along the stream passages to the main entrance. At the cars we changed out of muddy and wet clothes. On the trip were cavers Bill Brough, Bob Renshaw, Jane Furkert and new cavers Rob Merrilees, Leslie Yeatman, Sheila Hardwick, Tez Hardwick and Andrew Henderson. Bill Brough
Mt. Tapuae-o-Uenuku - Awatere Valley, 28th-30th January 2006 - Anniversary Weekend The programmed trip had a shaky start with the original leader being unavailable! Nevertheless, a couple of enthusiastic members clawed some interest together and the fledgling party grew to seven (perhaps it was the very favourable weather predictions!). However, since not one of us had done the trip before, some verbal and written research was instigated and confidence grew. After camping overnight at the start of the route, we then immediately had to decide whether to wait for the very swollen Hodder river to subside further or try and beat the sun by leaving early. The local farmer told us that 36mm had fallen in two hours earlier in the week and the river had been bank to bank - the highest they had ever seen! Three river crossings later found us all engaged in a hastily convened staff meeting to decide whether to proceed as some had already experienced enough and we had some 80 crossings to go. Other options were considered, but one idea of the lighter members carrying big boulders to keep them in contact with the river bottom was not received enthusiastically! The final vote was split with four returning to base camp and subsequently making for Mt Richmond, and three opting to continue. 90 river crossings, 1000m in height, and some ten hours later found three (now) very experienced members at the huts. The sight of river swept grasses and debris some 4 or 5 meters above us from the previous flood was an awesome experience! The following day we set off at 7.30am for the summit some 1445m above us and the party grew to 9 with a Search and Rescue group. Many en-route stops (to admire the surrounding grandeur plus pumping some oxygen into tired muscles) developed into discussions on the best route to follow, opting for the south ridge approach, the basin being somewhat akin to the boulder bank at 45 degrees! There were very few cairns about! After some true rock climbing (and a few airborne missiles from climbers further ahead!) we gained the saddle at about 2650m and eyed the summit for the first time, still a couple of hundred meters above us. Sometime later we were revived by the satisfying yahoo as the first of the group knocked the bastard off! and wallowed at length in the panorama from the highest point in NZ north of Mt Cook, sharing it with (believe it or not) sandflies and ladybirds!! (do they perhaps survive on each other?) An alternative return route down was via a steep scree gully which had to be negotiated individually due to falling rocks, and the following day a further 100+ river crossings to complete a very satisfying weekend (and clean, if wet, boots!!) The original party included Jim Mayer, Stuart Mayer, Mary Honey, and Christine Hoy, but the cleanest, wettest boots belonged to David Rodd (visitor), Carl Desnoyer (Canadian exchange student) and Colin Duncan !! Colin Duncan
Courthouse Flat - Wangapeka Valley - 28th-30th January 2006 - Anniversary Weekend Five members set up camp Saturday morning amidst quite a number of vehicles and a few tents. After lunch we walked up the Blue Stream track, then relaxed, some having a dip in the river. Sunday was a very hot day on the slopes when we set off for Granity Pass but it was slow going with the heat and steepness. After morning smoko it was decided that Andrew and Abby, being faster moving should go on to the hut and the rest of us would potter upwards. We finally got up to Billies Knob turnoff, had lunch and went back down the very hot, waterless track. Having drunk all our water, we suffered somewhat on the way back with heat and thirst!! The other two arrived back later, having reached the hut and returned down the bush track which was steeper. Monday morning we explored Nuggety Creek and had a last dip in the river before packing up. We had a welcome ice cream at Tapawera and investigated the cemetery. Pat took home a goodly lot of large mushrooms. An excellent camping weekend despite the sandflies. The trampers were Abby Grassham, Noelene Roberts, Pat Taylor, Andrew Henderson and Margaret Carpinter. Margaret Carpinter
Severns - Leatham Valley, 4th-6th February 2006 - Waitangi Weekend We drove up as far as the Lower Gordons Hut arriving about 10am and decided not to drive any further up the valley, although we found it was rough but negotiable. With packs on we set off for the Top Leatham Hut and made good time arriving for lunch. We continued up the valley towards the Severn saddle. Following the creek bed up and just below the saddle Alan hurt his knee. We decided to backtrack down to find a suitable campsite. The next day while Alan stayed at the base camp Ken, Dion and Ruth set off for a day trip up the Severn Saddle along the ridges to the tarns. It was about 2½ hours of tough going to the next suitable campsite by the tarns so the right decision was made the previous day. The team returned back down to the base camp about 4.00pm where they picked me up and returned down to the Top Leatham Hut for the night as rain was threatening. From all accounts it was an amazing excursion into an alpine wilderness with spectacular mountain peaks, huge bluffs, scree slopes and numerous colourful tarns. Before walking out the next day we spent some time clearing pine tree seedlings from around the hut where Alan was attacked and stung by wasps. We arrived back at Lower Gordons Hut where we had lunch, then stopped off at St Arnaud for coffee and drinks. Thanks to Ken Ridley, Dion Pont and Ruth Hesselyn for your support. Alan Dalzell
Rabbit Island circumnavigation, 12th February 2006 When I heard the rain on the roof during the middle of the night, I thought 'Damn, the trip may need to be cancelled'. When I got up the next morning, the clouds were hiding over the ranges, and the sun shone bright. We started from the changing sheds on the beach around 9.30am, and proceeded to walk towards Mapua. High tide was around the 11.30am mark, and we had ample beach to walk on. Past some kids learning to surf, and some people with the lines out, waiting for that big fish to jump on the hook. We had a nice break when we reached the Mapua estuary, then the beach started to peter out around the corner. A very quick trip into the bush had us on a road, which slowly proceeded to veer towards the back beach. The road started to go along the edge of the estuary, and started disappearing into the mud flats here and there. The topographical map I have shows a road all the way along back to the bridge, but it is tidal. So we often had to use our imagination where the road was. The clouds were now obscuring the sun often - as they were to do for the rest of the trip, but there was no threat of precipitation. We had lunch at the bridge over the causeway, where Val and Margaret left us, after three hours of travel. Robert, Jim and I proceeded along the back of the island towards the east bank (Monaco). Travel was easier. We eventually came towards the end of the island, where they are currently logging. It was a bit of a surprise to find some old changing sheds still there. Another surprise in the way of a microwave mast (we think), Then onto the front beach and towards the cars again. The whole trip took 6 hours. Robert had bought himself a cheap pedometer which indicated we had walked 25,000 steps and 18 kilometres. Robert thinks it was reading a little low. I have never bothered to count the amount of steps walked on a day trip, but it did take us 6 hours. The group was Val Trow, Margaret McKay, Robert Wopereis, Jim Mayer and Chris Fraser (scribe).
Pearce River Resurgence and Nettlebed Cave - 19th February 2006 The tramp started with a choice of a derelict swing bridge or fording the river, then we followed the river to the gorge, above which the track climbed high. Here the track is cut through marble bluffs. At a high point is a rest stop seat, cut into the rock, like a bus stop shelter. When seated its like looking out of a cave entrance. After passing the gorge the track returned to the river. Nine river crossings to go with bush cover and tree ferns. The resurgence or source of the Pearce was a great lunch spot under the sun on the grass and a camping spot for cavers exploring Nettlebed cave. After lunch we went to explore the cave too. We followed the dry Eyles Creek bed to a gorge then a steep climb up, then down to the dry creek bed again, then to the entrance. Avoiding a shaft at the left, we looked around at the cave formations, then crawled up a rift to the hand line climbs. We decided not to go down the roped climbs and returned to look at cave wetas and take photos in the entrance area. Then we returned to daylight and the river crossings again. Two blue ducks were seen on the way up and three more on the way back. DOC have set stoat traps to make life safer for the ducks. Kevin put a thermometer in the water to tell us how cold the water was. We already knew it was cold and a pedometer told us at the end the walk was 14 kilometres. Sheila slipped and sat down in the last metre of the last river crossing. After laughing out loud we tried to be supportive (really!) On the trip were Bob Renshaw, Bill Brough, Joy Bryant, Andrew Henderson, Sheila Hardwick, Terry Hardwick, Kevin Alderton and Beverley Muirhead. Bill Brough
Maitai Caves - Sunrise Ridge Circuit - 26th February 2006 Nine trampers left Millers Acre on a beautiful day (not too hot) for this leisurely trip close to Nelson. First stop was beyond the caves at a log across the river, where the track heads uphill to the ridge. From there a bit of a grunt to the ridge line and a lunch stop with the local robin. Next stop was where the forest road comes up to the ridge with a view out across the bay. From there a steep descent down forestry roads and back to the cars. About six hours including rests. On the trip were Ken Ridley, Margaret Carpinter, Noelene Roberts, Maria Brooks, Rob Merrilees, Joy Bryant, Pat Taylor, Dan McGuire from NTC and visitor John Faber. Ken Ridley
Inland Pack Track - Paparoa National Park - 4th- 5th March 2006 Twelve of us drove down on Friday night and camped at Punakaiki Motor Camp. The next morning after shuttling cars to both ends of the track we started our tramp from the Punakaiki River about 9.30am. A steady climb up through beautiful native bush. We reached the junction of Cave Creek track at 11am. Most of us decided to take the 40 minute return detour to Cave Creek to pay our respects. Shortly after we made our way to Bullock Creek, where we had lunch beside the river, then continued on north through the mature native forest of beech and rimu. There was lots of bird life around. We followed Fossil Creek walking in the stream bed. The camp site at the Fossil/ Dilemma Creek confluence was too small to cater for our large party, so we decided to continue on down Dilemma Creek crossing the river numerous times. The gorge was spectacular with limestone bluffs towering out of the river with hanging gardens. We came to the Dilemma/Fox River confluence and detoured up Fox River to the Ballroom, arriving at about 5.30pm - quite a long day. We camped there under a massive limestone overhang. On Sunday we walked down the Fox River, crossing the river in several places, to the cars - a journey of about two hours. All packed up, we decided to head to Westport where we had lunch on the homeward journey. The trampers were Dion Pont, Pat Taylor, Bev Muirhead, Robert Wopereis, Joy Bryant, Rob Meerilees, Maria Brooks, Graeme Muir, Jane Wickham, Dave Blunt and Cath Heron - a visitor from California. Alan Dalzell
Nydia Saddle from Duncan Bay - 12th March 2006 Ten people left Millers Acre at 7.30am. We started walking at 9.15 and had morning tea an hour later at a sunny spot on the track. We arrived at the saddle at 11.45 and some people thought there was a lookout and went to investigate - there wasnt. The rest of us started our lunch back down the track out of the easterly wind. After lunch we decided to keep going on for half an hour, until we reached a waterfall and small stream, then turned back, arriving back at the saddle at 1pm. Here we had a 15 minute rest then started back, stopping for afternoon tea at the waters edge (tide out), arriving at the cars at 3.50pm. An ice cream stop at Rai Valley, then home. On the trip were Hilary Sixtus, Christine Burn, Ruth Henry, David Henry, Uta Purcell, Pat Taylor, Noelene Roberts, Jim Mayer, Jill Whittle and Karen Russell. Hilary Sixtus
Lake Stream - from Rahu Saddle- 18th- 19th March 2006 Five trampers and the leaders partner headed off to a leisurely start at 8am for Lake Stream. This valley in the Victoria Range is not much visited by the club and none of us had been there before. The five trampers set off up the valley while my partner went to Reefton for the weekend. The walk was generally very pleasant through silver beech draped with moss and with attractive stream scenes. Two events on the way were when the leader slipped and fell in the river and one member got slightly stuck in a boggy section. We arrived at the very pretty flat and hut near the valley head after three and a half hours walking. Beverley moved into the two bunk renovated hut, the rest of us set up camp alongside. At this time the earlier cloud cleared and the tops were beckoning nearby. However, lethargy set in and we lay around at this pleasant sand fly free spot. Well go up in the morning, we said. During the night it started raining gently and it was clouded up in the morning. In the evening and again at night we felt and heard two slight earthquakes. The rain stopped in the morning, so we made a late departure down the valley. This time another member got stuck in the bog and Beverley fell in the river. We met up with Margaret at the poor weather meeting time of 2pm and headed home after a coffee stop at Springs Junction. This area is worth another visit. On the trip were Ken Ridley (leader), Dion Pont, Jocelyn Winn, Christine Hoy, Beverley Muirhead and Margaret Robinson. Ken Ridley
Champion & United Mine circuit - Hackett Valley - 26th March 2006 We started with 16, dropped to 12, then gained one on the way. Rivers were low and we barely got our feet wet. Morning tea was at the end of the 4WD road to United Mine then a struggle up to the mine. This turned into a tussle with scrub as we tried to gain the ridge through the remains of pines tangled with gorse. But we got to the ridge where the climb was more straight forward and had an enjoyable lunch on top. The cold blustery wind cooperated by dying down for an hour. Then it was down to the Champion mine with a few new markers to show the way, and out to the main track over a low, low Roding River. A good but somewhat strenuous day was enjoyed by Pat Taylor, Margaret McKay, Ruth Henry, Shirley De Groot, Mary Honey, Dan McGuire, Jim Mayer, Christine Burn, Don Morrisey and Nicola Harwood and Thomas (age 7), also Don Sullivan who caught us up, and me - Roger Jackson.
Seven trampers ignored the rain, setting off up through the bush to Beebys Knob, instead of St Ronans Creek, as the Six Mile Creek up the Wairau could have been too high. David Blunt predicted the rain would come and go, but there wasnt much go as we climbed the steep slippery slope, although the sun did try to get through the cloud. We postponed morning tea until we came out on the road in just over two hours. There I took off down the road accompanied by Ruth Hesselyn, while the others shot off up the road to the hut in cold conditions. David was assisted up the hill by Skye on her leash. The cloud lifted briefly for them to see the lake and snow on the hilltops. Meanwhile Ruth and I enjoyed the fire at Tophouse having cake which the owner produced, taking some time, declaring she was having a day off. So poor Ruth then had to make a hurried trip on the main road to bring my car back from the car park - her first automatic car drive! We picked up Carol Crocker and visitor Marie Peterson plus Skye near the bottom of the hill road. Christine Hoy, Alice Patterson and David came out of the bush track soon after we got to the car park, so we drove straight back to the warmth of Richmond, arriving early afternoon. It had been too cold to sightsee but all of us seemed happy we had done the trip. Beverley Muirhead
Friday morning we gathered at Lake Rotoroa. The boat dropped us off at the lake head at about 9.30am. We had a leisurely stroll up the DUrville valley arriving at Morgan Hut about 1pm where we had lunch in the sun. After lunch (1.30pm) we continued up the valley to Ella Hut arriving at 4pm, where we settled in for the night, ready for the big day tomorrow. Saturday morning it was an early start at 8am to climb over Moss Pass. About 45 minutes up from the hut the track crosses the river via a swing bridge and commences the climb, fairly steeply in places. Nice views above the bush line. We had lunch at the edge of the snowline. There was more snow than we anticipated, very soft, up to our knees and hard going. We met up with a couple just below the summit. We found out later that several other parties turned back because of the snow. Great to get to Moss Pass. The snow level was considerably lower on the Sabine side and very slippery on the snow grass. We arrived at Blue Lake Hut at about 4.15pm. Quite a long day with about four hours spent in the snow. Luckily we got the last five bunks in the hut. The next day (Sunday) we decided not to go up to Waiau Pass because of the snow conditions so we spent some time at Lake Constance before making our way down to West Sabine Hut for the night. Monday morning we had a leisurely walk of some four hours down to Lake Rotoroa where we had lunch at Sabine Hut, while waiting for the boat ride home. Thanks to my fellow companions: Jane Wickham, Graeme Muir, Joy Bryant and Bernard Molloy. Alan Dalzell
Rocks Hut - 22nd- 23rd April 2006 (Women only trip!!!) Four of us set out from the Brook Motor camp at approximately 8am and made our way to Third House for morning tea, and Coads Creek for lunch and a boil up. Conditions were overcast and very humid, with very little wind at Windy Point, but by the time we got to the Dun Saddle, the weather had started to clag in, and the wind was quite unpleasant. We carried on in a leisurely fashion, arriving at Rocks Hut in time for afternoon tea. Rain started falling at about 5pm, and during the night the wind increased to gale force, making us feel very appreciative of having a warm cosy hut to sleep in. Conditions were no better by morning, but as we were going to be heading towards home, we reluctantly left the comfort of the hut. Quite a few trees had been blown over, and we all crossed our fingers that no more would come down near us! Once out of the bush we encountered extreme conditions, the wind being so strong that we had great difficulty in keeping on our feet, and some members of the party were blown over on the odd occasion. At Dun Saddle, visibility was extremely poor, to the extent that we could not see any markers, and we actually became lost for about twenty minutes, before finally picking up the track. This was not a pleasant experience, especially on account of the wind and horizontal rain. However, everyone in the party had the right gear, including warm hat and gloves, good quality parkas and windproof over trousers, and this was a major contributing factor to us all coming safely through the experience. Also, if none of us had been familiar with the area, the outcome could have quite different. The markers in this area are few and far between, and are brown and rusty, blending in with the surrounding vegetation. After our adventure on the Dun Saddle, we had a relatively uneventful trip to Third House, where we had lunch, and we were back at the cars by about 4pm. On the trip were Christine Burn, Pat Taylor, Margaret Carpinter, and Noelene Roberts. Christine Burn
Gordons Knob - 30th April 2006 Great to wake up and see stars and a clear sky after the recent inclement weather. Nine of us met at the car park, where car seats were sorted and we were off at 7.30am to meet Rob and Maria at the lookout. Imagine my surprise, when at the main road there was Rob and Maria waiting for us at the Logging No Entry sign. Like all law abiding Kiwis I decided to drive straight past and barring locked gates or trees across the road we would get to the lookout. We were all up and walking by 8.30. A nice blue sky , a few camera stops and by 11.45 we were all at the top having lunch out of the cold wind blowing up there. An easy trip back down again and we were all off home by 4pm. On the trip with me were Bob Renshaw, Christine Burn, Christine Hoy, Andrew Henderson, Maria Brooks, Rob Merrilees, Robert Wopereis, Dave Familton and new people Katrina Lambert and John Faber. -Jim Mayer
Asbestos
Cottage - 7th May 2006
Starveall Hut - 20th - 21st May 2006
We set off from the Tantragee carpark in Brook St just after 8am and headed up the Dun Mountain Walkway. Due to the heavy rain over the previous 24 hours, there was a spectacular display of many different kinds of fungi everywhere we looked. We walked until we came to a steep firebreak, and decided to make the trip a bit more adventurous by walking up it towards the top of Fringed Hill. The faster members of the group shot up to the top of the firebreak like mountain goats, while the rest of us laboriously hauled ourselves up step by step. We paused on the relatively level ground at the top to catch our breath, and to watch the antics of a bush robin. A pleasant walk through the bush followed, and we had morning tea in brilliant sunshine on top of Fringed Hill, looking down on the blanket of cloud that was covering Nelson. After a pleasant break, we made our way through the bush down to Third House, watching our footing, as the track was very slippery after the heavy rain. The bush echoed to our oohs and aahs as we discovered many beautiful assortments of native fungi. Lunch was eaten at Third House, before we headed back down the Dun Mountain Walkway to our cars. A very pleasant day was had by all. On the trip were Christine Burn, Hilary Sixtus, Pat Taylor, Shirley De Groot, Dan McGuire, Beverley Muirhead, Christine Hoy, Shirley Jack, and Margaret McKay. Christine Burn
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