| Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Dave B | Chris | Dave F | Veronica |
| Alternates | Ali | Linley | Maureen C | Min |
Stats for Alternates & Standards:
Distance 15.3 & 17.3km Vertical ascent 312 & 781m Walking time 3.75 & 4 hours
Daylight saving made for a welcome brighter beginning to the day. Weather warnings were about, so there was some toing and froing with the phone before setting out from home. Visitors Bruce H and Glen T made our total 39 trampers – almost a full bus. Our driver was David.
On arrival Flagpole Hill looks straightforward – a steady climb up farm tracks surrounded by golden tussock. However, the Standards’ approach is along the Selwyn River/Waikirikiri (translation gravelly water) followed by ascending forestry roads which gain in gradient and go on and on. Some relief was got from sightings of a deer and a rabbit.
As we gained height conversation turned to How much further? Which was met with questionably helpful variations of We’re nearly there, It’s not much of a mountain, Lunch is just around the corner, I can see the light at the top of the hill! Eventually lunch really was around the corner, in a sheltered spot, with a view of peaks and darkening clouds that made the climb well worthwhile.
After lunch we bore the brunt of the nor’wester, but the rain held off and the view from Flagpole Hill topped everything. The walk down is straightforward and the Standards happily were back at the bus shortly after the Alternates.
The Alternates were ably led by Ali who managed to strike a good balance of reining everyone in and maintaining a decent pace (one of our number was seen to be running up a hill mightily impressing those who were chugging their way up).
An investigation was made of the adit of a mine reputed in the Club to be for silver. Subsequent searching located in UC research repository a document from 1928 recording that several drives (for copper) were put in in the upper reaches of the Selwyn with disappointing results, https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstreams/31414363-6a5b-49a4-9df4-b5d736d2e56d/download
Along the way was a variety of bird life, including Paradise shelducks/Pūtakitaki, and some other ducks in the distance which on closer inspection turned out to be sheep… The beautiful tan coloured cattle (unmistakable) in the paddocks were admired. Both for their potential as handbags or boots, plus the steaks. Noone knew the breed.
A good walk on all counts, in excellent company.
Text by Marie-Therese and Jen with thanks to the team who provided statistics
