| Group | Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tailender |
| Stds | Glenys | Jan Bbr | Nicky | Kay |
| Alternates | Norma | Wendy | Kate | Kiwan |
Stats for the day: 13.7km, 903m elevation gain, total time 5hr 30min
Around 1880, the Ryde brothers started logging in this area. They had 500 acres to work. Totara, Black Beech, Matai, Kahikatea and Rimu were logged up till 1909. The timber was sold in Canterbury and used for roofing shingles, posts, rails, building timber and railway sleepers. Fire was the biggest hazard for the brothers and in 1889 fire gutted the whole valley. The brothers were not the only ones to lose their mill.
Over 140 years later 52 trampers set off from the Coopers Creek starting point. A small confusion resulted in Glenys seeing the bus fly past her on Tram Road but a brief wait by Victor at Mandeville and we were all caught up. Jan noted that seven out of eight of the official roles were being undertaken by women.
A larger group of 31 set off to walk to Ryde Falls while an intrepid 21 opted for Mt Oxford.
A light southerly front accompanied us, making for agreeable temperatures; less enjoyable was the muddy track. Agility helped when crossing the quagmires. Before long, our leader called for a welcome morning tea stop, although we had received treats in celebration of Eric’s new OBE status. A hum of wasps was audible, and while not a significant problem, one of the alternates received a sting. Although a few were bothered by sandflies, an application of insect repellent and cooler day helped. Fortunately, there was not a plague of mice which occurs when there is a beech mast season, with an abundance of food for the birds, and too, the rodent population. (Not a pleasant experience years ago when walking with young children.)
As we moved along there was much discussion on breaks that members were proposing or had enjoyed. Milford and Queen Charlotte Tracks appear popular. Other chatter included honeymoons, stream crossing, boot cleaning, lace tying techniques, identifying clematis, horopito and rimu trees. The alternates lunched in sunshine near a hugely scoured confluence of Ryde Falls Creek/Cooper’s Creek west branch before returning along the same track. The standards were sighted from a rocky vantage point, as both groups neared the waiting bus.
Txt by Marie-Therese
Mt Oxford (Standards)
21 trampers set off to climb to the summit of Mt Oxford. After negotiating the mud in the early part of the track we started to climb and climb, with the occasional flatter spot giving short relief before heading up again. Despite the will, the constraint of time meant we stopped 170m short of the top. A rocky outcrop provided a good lunch spot with views over the Canterbury Plains. We then headed back down on the steep descent arriving back to the bus a few minutes before the Alternates arrived.
Txt by Jan Bbr
