| Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Glenys | Tony G | Jen C | Shirley |
| Alternates | Ali | Norma | Gary G | Kiwan |
Distance 10.8km, ascent 790m, time 5hrs 25mins
Mt Thomas had been scheduled for 2nd August but was cancelled due to the weather so you may have heard a collective sigh of relief from trampers as the chance to summit was gone for another year. Not our fault, beaten by the weather. It has been a few years since we have reached the jumble of meteorological towers and large trig on top but always with a legitimate reason of course, rain setting in, gale force winds, excessive cloud obscuring the view or running out of time.
With a good forecast, 16 degrees, light winds 29 trampers which included one new visitor Lisa and driven by Callum we left Bishopdale with one pickup, Glenys at Ohoka Road. We were all busy chatting as we do when some realized we were heading in the wrong direction, west to Rangiora Airport. A quick turnaround saw us back on track soon turning in to Hayland Road where lambs either side were frolicking in the fields before our stop at the picnic area of Mt Thomas Forest Park.
We set off at 9.50am with the Standard’s plan to reach the top by the most direct route – the Summit Track. We climbed a stile before heading uphill through pine forest. After approximately 20 minutes and having climbed over a large pine tree across the track we reached a logging road. Here in hindsight, we obviously went astray as instead of crossing the road and continuing up an even steeper track we followed the road to our left and found we were heading rapidly downhill into beech forest and losing all our elevation. Thankfully the track did start to rise again to lift our spirits and at 10.25am we stopped for morning tea. At this point one knowledgeable tramper advised we weren’t on the Summit Track. It was agreed we would push on with our current track. Shortly after smoko we reached a signposted junction and learned we had indeed been on the Forest Track and were now joining the Wooded Gully Track. This was mildly concerning as we were aware from Marie-Therese’s pre-tramp website research that there was a DOC warning about a slip on Wooded Gully Track. We hoped it was behind us on the un-walked track.
The beech and podocarp forest with ferns and lots of streams some with bridges is stunning but concentration is required with tree roots and rocks underfoot. The track fools you with steady ascents followed by steep descents so you feel as if progress is minimal. Approximately two thirds of the way up now climbing more rapidly we suddenly came to the very large slip! Two sections of tape across the track had already been broken. Everyone stood in silence for a few seconds before we had a discussion on whether to proceed. I think we all thought we had come too far to go back so voted to continue but not without some trepidation. From where we stood we could see the continuation of the track on the other side. One surefooted tramper had already negotiated the slip via a high route and informed us we could rejoin the track. Being health and safety conscious we chose the lower route, climbing over under and squeezing our bodies between trees to cross the slip and scramble up the bank of clay mud and rocks hoping it wouldn’t give way. With only six men for ten women we couldn’t expect them to carry us over the slip but they did lend a helping hand to pull us up the bank.
At 13.05pm after the final uphill slog at last we came out of the forest to bright sunshine and 10 minutes later we chose a spot in the tussocks with patches of snow to enjoy a well-deserved lunch. A handsome young deer stalker walked by with his bow and colourful arrows. It was just a brief chat, not even time to get a photo as we were obviously not his target.
Now fully nourished we walked along the ridge with snow melt adding to the very boggy muddy condition of the track. There had been several slides earlier especially when negotiating the slip and one nose dive into the mud on this section but because it wasn’t witnessed no need for any more detail.
The views at the trig were magnificent with the Canterbury Plains one direction and the glistening snow covered Southern Alps in the other. A woman from a group of young friends who had climbed the Summit Track kindly took our photo. She asked about ways to descend as she had seen on the website that the Wooded Gully Track was closed. We were able to inform her the oldies had made it over the slip so they should have no trouble.
It took us 1hr 35mins on the Summit Track to be back at the bus by 15.15pm. An ideal way to descend quickly but all agreed we were pleased we had not stuck with our original plan to go up via the Summit Track when we saw how steep it was.
The Alternates had also hiked up the Wooded Gully Track and had stopped for lunch before the slip. On their return they had branched off to join the Summit Track back to the bus arriving at 14.30pm.
Back at Bishopdale before 16.30pm after a fantastic day in perfect weather with everyone intact after an unplanned adventure.
Well done Glenys, a good advert for “Girl Power’’.
Txt by Kate
