| Group | Leader | Mentor | Tailender |
| Standards | Brent | Lynne R | Chris H |
| Alternates | Les | Linley | Kiwan |
Distance 14km Ascent 612m Duration 4 hours
On a clear sky morning with a promising forecast for sunshine, 36 trampers with bus driver Tony departed Yaldhurst promptly at 8.45am. As we headed west, I think some trampers from last week were relishing the thought of an upright day with no prolonged bending or spade work. President Jen welcomed everyone and advised Bruce H was now a member of BTC. A pair of woman’s size 12 zip-off Kathmandu walking pants were going free for anyone interested. Not sure if they have been snapped up (enquire next week).
At 10.20am 26 Standards were dropped at Mistletoe Flat at Broken River and set off at a steady pace up the ski field access road where the ground was sparkling with the heavy frost. Hats and gloves were the order of the day for most. At 10.40am, when a sunny grassy clearing appeared, it was time for morning tea. The tailender had competently carried out all aspects of his role but had violated the dress code. He was advised the high vis vest was to be worn over his head not draped over his backpack. He obediently obliged.
A little tomtit joined us and later in the day we spotted another one making it a “two tomtit day”. The male’s distinctive song is “ti-oly-oly-joly-ho” that lasts for 2-3 seconds. The men might like to practise that.
Shortly after morning tea we turned right on to the Luge Track to continue uphill through the stunning mountain beech covered in lichens and mosses with the lyrical notes of the bellbirds for company. At 11.45am we reached the Lyndon Saddle where the Craigieburn Valley Track and the Luge Track meet.
The “buzz” on my section of the track was a lively discussion about bees following a recent news item about a North Canterbury beekeeper who had to destroy his whole livelihood due to AFB (American foulbrood). It’s a bacterial disease that destroys the honey bee colonies and once infected they never recover. His argument was he had spores only that were below the level to cause an infection. No risks can be taken with all the bee boxes and equipment having to be set on fire otherwise he could face a criminal prosecution. In NZ it is illegal to use antibiotics to control.
I was advised that, to detect it, you need to poke the brood by placing a small poker such as a match (handy hint, don’t light the match first) into the brood and when you withdraw it you will find a chocolate-like strand which, if not already, will shortly be foul smelling. Enough about foul diseases.
From the saddle we hiked on the Valley Track which provided more birdsong and stunning mountain and forest vistas as we crossed several steep scree slopes. When we came out of the forest to the tussocks and sub alpine plants in bright sunshine, we stopped for lunch perched above the track as it was now 12.45pm. A mountain biker was spotted approaching and as we had nowhere to move to he carried his bike over 26 trampers and their lunch. Next, those who saw him bike across the shingle scree had their hearts in their mouths. Another lunchtime excitement was to be joined by a kea which walked across the track before disappearing in to the forest.
After lunch a short walk through the tussocks takes you to the Craigieburn Valley Ski Field where you observe a very steep rope tow (the steepest in NZ) before the well-maintained lodges which provide accommodation for the skiers. This ski field is for intermediate and advanced skiers only, and has 3 fast rope tows, the first installed in 1949. Broken River Ski Field next door was first skied in 1951 and was voted the best club field in NZ in 2023 providing off-piste skiing and snowboarding at its best. It has 5 rope tows and often the longest ski season in Australasia.
I have included this ski field info for the “birthday boy” who shouted last week boasting he now qualified for free skiing. If he is feeling adventurous nothing better than trying off-piste snowboarding.
There was plenty of time for chatter on the long downhill back to the bus on the ski field access road where we arrived at 2.40pm 5 minutes after the Alternates.
The Alternates had been dropped off at the Craigieburn Valley carpark where they walked up the access road before turning left on to the Valley Track. They had an uneventful hike with nobody coming to grief crossing the scree slopes. They enjoyed their lunch in the ski field carpark.
Tony had us back at Bishopdale by 4.30pm after a wonderful day in the Craigieburn Forest that never disappoints.
Text by Kate
