| Leader | Mentor | Tailender | |
| Standards | Chris S | Jan B | Frank W |
| Alternates | Ali M | Sally W | Pip L |
Distance 14.2km. Elevation gain 478m. Time 4.5 hours (including stops)
The weather forecast was for a beauty and so it turned out to be. For mid-winter we couldn’t have asked for a better day, blue skies and no wind. The weather team, of course, received due credit!
President Jen, as has become her well received custom, greeted us in the several languages of the group on board and informed us that the 41 trampers meant that we had a “break even financially” number for the trip. Driver Tony headed off along SH 73, past the ‘World Famous in Sheffield’ pie shop and turned off soon after into Dalethorpe Road, at the Annat corner. There used to be a small settlement and a school at Annat (in fact the author apparently spent the first year of his life in the school house there) but there isn’t much there now.
A few km down Dalethorpe Road, a washed-out ford stopped the bus, so we disembarked and set off down the shingle road in separate groups, even though both Standards and Alternates were doing the same tramp. After a km or so, our intrepid leader, Chris led us off the road and into the Dalethorpe Forest, along 4-wheel drive tracks, where the shaded areas were still hard with frost.
This was a pine forest with trees at different stages of development, but it didn’t stop some comments encouraging Chris to deal to a few apparently out of place (wilding) specimens. Morning tea was in the warm sun on a grassy knoll and during our break, the local farmer passed by on his quad bike, demonstrating his drifting skills.
Now the climbing started along the Annavale Station’s 4-wheel drive tracks, traversing the small muddy streams and dodging the impressive cow pats deposited by the Angus cattle. While the track was undulating at first, it increasingly became upwards and the talking notably decreased as we climbed and a couple of breaks were required to regain breath.
The lunch spot was short of the top, but we had glorious views of the Russell Range, which we were tramping in, as well as across to the Big Ben range to the south. A glider drifted noiselessly above us and there was some discussion about where it would land in this hilly terrain, but a solution soon emerged when it crossed above us again, with a microlight engine whining away.
After lunch, there was a brief but steepish climb to the top and the group, eschewing the desire to scale the nearby Russell Peak (941m), took in the panoramic view presenting itself. To the west was the Torlesse Range with snow topped peaks and Lake Rubicon, visited on another BTC tramp. Below us, the Kowai River wandered northwards to join the Waimakariri River in the distance. The track downwards provided some physical relief and also a continuation of these outstanding views on this warm and sunny day.
Some horses came to their fence to investigate this large group of intruders who had invaded their tranquil environment. They presented a beautiful photographic opportunity with the snow covered Torlesse Range behind them.
Down near the bus and on the flat again, we walked alongside a very early irrigation canal, transferring water from the Kowai River to the plains.
The Alternates arrived soon after the Standards and the bus headed for the city again after a wonderfully invigorating day in brilliant weather, and we all felt how lucky we are to live amongst such natural beauty.
Text by Selwyn
