| Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Bill S | Dave R/Chris S | Nicky | Glenys |
| Alternates | Liz S | Norma | Linley T | Bill W |
Distance: 13.2km Duration: 4hr 35min (stds), 4hr 30min (alt)
Elevation: Max Alt 495m Min Alt: 0m Elevation Gain: 583m
A group of 43 trampers set off with one of our regular drivers, Viktor, on a calm morning with just a few sprinkles of rain as we headed towards Barnett Park to pick up 8 trampers waiting for us. By the time we got over Evans Pass and through Lyttleton the drizzle had disappeared. This was the first time we walked this tramp from the Lyttelton side. The Alternates were dropped off to start their walk from Corsair Bay, while the Standards’ starting place was Pony Point.
One of our trampers asked if I knew where the name Pony Point originated. I haven’t been able to find out anything about that but I did find that the Māori name for Pony Point is Ōtūherekio. I did find some interesting history that you may like to read. Too much information to include the detail in this report. http://lytteltonharbourjetties.blogspot.com/2019/06/cass-baymotukauatirahi.html
Some of you may have also noticed an area with a sign for T.S. Steadfast Sea Cadets that we passed near Cass Bay. In the Press (19thOct) there was an article indicating that there are plans to open up this area for more tracks. So hopefully not too long away we will have another track to incorporate into our programme. https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/126718540/steadfast-reserve-above-christchurchs-cass-bay-to-reopen-after-years-of-locked-gates
We started off for a reasonably relaxed walk into Lyttelton. The Alternates stopping for morning tea at a reserve on the corner of Voelas Tce and Harman Road, while the Standards headed down to a lovely park near the marina.
From there, the uphill began as we walked through the steep Lyttelton streets round to Major Hornbrook track. The workers trimming the grass got a short break as we made our way up to the dtop for lunch. At the top the Standards continues up and around the Mt Cavendish and the Mt Pleasant towers, while the Alternates took a route around the Summit Road.
As the Standards continued down toward the Summit Road and the start of the Eastender’s Track, a number of stops were made to allow the musterers and their dogs to get the sheep where they needed to go, before we frightened them off in another direction. We were surprised to see how many dogs were being used (about 10?) and the amount of noise the sheep and dogs managed to make. We then continued on and dropped down to Barnett Park, seeing the Alternates not too far ahead of us.
