| Leader | Mentor | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Alan | Graham | Brent |
| Alternates | Pip | Chris S | Tessa |
Standards: Distance 11.3km, elevation gain 480m, time 4hrs
It was 40 eager trampers including visitors, Neville (Janne’s husband) and Taylor, that boarded the bus with driver Alan heading west for new tramp, Flock Hill, under gloomy skies. Megan and Mark generously provided “Tariff Candy” wishing everyone a Happy Easter before they head to the wild west on holiday.
Today the land at Flock Hill, so named as in the distance the limestone tors resemble flocks of sheep, is owned by Canterbury University but leased to a manager, LLC, a group of mainly American investors who have developed the luxury lodge. The farm, 36,000 acres with 10,500 merino romney sheep and 400 cattle, is managed by a NZ couple who have kindly granted us access to their station.
At 10.20, 29 standards left the lay-by on highway 73 to walk along the fence line of a seriously fire damaged paddock to join the farm road heading downhill to get amongst the limestone tors. Morning tea at 10.40 on a grassy bank felt early especially when the 11 alternates walked briskly past heading for a grassy patch further on. We made our way through a broad gully of rocks of every imaginable shape with the weather brighter and little wind, perfect conditions for hiking. The view of Prebble Hill catching the sunlight and the Porter and Broken Rivers was awe inspiring. We reached the ridge for lunch at 12.45 and the alternates, who had taken a slightly lower path below the ridge, enjoyed their lunch still fully immersed in the cool rock vibe. Alan sprang a surprise for the standards after lunch: one more uphill section to reach a cairn, the official highest point. We passed a man standing on top of a fairly vertical rock but of course with a good woman below holding a padded landing pad.
Two movies were shot here, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and last year, Bookworm, which is a tween family friendly adventure movie.
We were back at the bus with the alternates at 2.30 after taking a different route downhill, managing to remove stubborn wilding pines on the way. Thanks to this year’s team who had a far gnarlier task than previous years.
To stay at the lodge is $12,000 a night but there are now seven new villas where you can stay for $3956 which includes all meals at the new restaurant and two activities. Please pay BTC sub before surprising someone.
After a refreshment stop at Darfield we were back by 5pm with a resounding thumbs up for the new tramp.
Text by Kate
