| Leader | Mentor | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Brent | Chris S | Kate W |
| Alternates | Ali | Ailsa | Tessa |
Distance: Standards 17 km; Alternates 14 km. Time: 4hr 30 min
After picking up those waiting at Yaldhurst, 31 trampers and driver Alan set off for Castle Hill village.
Although there was a clear blue sky when the bus left Christchurch, there was some apprehension when low lying grey cloud appeared after crossing over Porters Pass. Fortunately by the time we were dropped off just a few fluffy white clouds were scattered across the sky.
With the 16 standards in front, both groups set off up the Hogsback track to the usual morning tea stop at the lightning tree. There was time for both groups to catch up, before the standards, having arrived first, set off down the stony track heading to the stream crossing.
The alternates followed shortly after and the sound of rushing water signalled the stream was nearby. However with less rain in the area it was more of a gentle flow than the raging torrent it sounded like, and it was possible to cross without getting wet feet.
After the stony exposed track, the blackened beech forest made a pleasant change although the buzzing sound indicated bees/wasps were close by. Fortunately they were more interested in the trees than the group walking by, however a couple of people reported stings by ‘flying creatures’ further on.
The spongy black coating on the beech trees is caused by small scale insects that live in the bark. They ingest the sugary sap from the tree, which provides them with more than they need, and the excess is secreted as small drops of honeydew. The sooty mould fungi grows on the waste honeydew. Various birds and insects, including bees and wasps feed on the honeydew.
Lunch for a small group of alternates was in the shade of the trees, while the rest carried on up the barren zig zag track to the Picnic Rock lookout with great views of the area. At that stage the standards could be seen in the distance lunching on the top of Hogsback ridge.
Chocolate biscuits seemed to be the theme at lunch, with a timtam altercation, and the disadvantages of having chocolate biscuits on a sunny day.
Observing the standards moving downhill, the alternates decided it was time to depart to keep ahead. Preparations got more hurried when bobbing heads appeared close by. Both groups then backtracked, deviating slightly after the lightning tree to take the marginally longer, but less steep track back to the bus.
There were reports of other slight unplanned deviations from the track along the way, but all made it safely back to the bus with the sun still shining.
Text by Sally
