| Group | Leader | Mentor | Tailender |
| Standards | Peter | Brent | Glenys |
| Alternates | Bev | Wendy A | Lisa |
Stats: distance 9km, vertical ascent 730m, time 4hrs 45mins.
Driver Peter and a smaller bus greeted us at Bishopdale as the larger bus had a faulty window frame needing repair. The early start had caught a couple of trampers out with one almost sleeping in and the other requiring a prompt from a timely phone call.
There were 31 including Jack from the Christchurch Star and 3 other community papers. Thank you, Graham, for arranging this initiative. President Jen had cancelled with a sick green turtle Zorro at home needing some TLC. Not sure how you know when a turtle is sick but perhaps they turn even greener.
With no microphone DP Graham advised us of the roles for the day and welcomed Jack before we left Yaldhurst. For some it was their first New Year outing so the noise level in the smaller bus sounded like a student pub on a Friday night. The raging nor’west wind battered the bus as we headed towards the DOC car park for Mt Alford under threatening skies with an obvious nor’west arch and storm clouds of various shades of grey hanging over the mountains. I don’t think many were feeling optimistic for pleasant tramping conditions after encountering the wind force at the Rakaia toilet stop.
At 10am, 21 Standards followed closely by 10 Alternates set off up the farm track to enter the beech forest in what was now to our surprise just a gentle breeze. Magnificent beech, lush ferns, the always present muddy sections, an attractive stream and across a 4-wheel drive track before re- entering the bush which now headed more sharply uphill. At 10.45am morning tea now in bright sunshine in a clearing with grand views to the plains.
Now the tussock basin, up the steep fence line, through large deer gates but no sign of any deer underneath the observatory buildings at 900m. The day getting noticeably warmer and little wind to cool us. The poled track continues steadily uphill through sub alpine scrub with lots of daisies and spaniard grass in flower to be very wary of. We reach the ridge line at 12.15pm where we decide it is lunch time and make the decision we won’t go all the way to the summit at 1171m as time will not allow. Disappointing as I know the faster ones could have made it but with drink stops and the odd wait, the right decision. Couldn’t complain about the view of plains, river and mountains with no snow in sight despite a fresh fall reported on Mt Hutt on Monday morning. Two chose to lunch a little further down the track and sort out all the world’s problems and rejoin us on the return journey.
Our return was uneventful until the final section in the bush when the men especially were beginning to notice masses of black seeds clinging tenaciously to the hairs on their legs. This is hook grass, or some trampers call it, bastard grass, where tiny barbed fish hook extensions on the seeds attach themselves to hair, wool and the feathers on birds that feed on the ground. When they scratch all the seeds off, the plant has done its purpose of redistribution. We may need a leg inspection next week! Back at the bus at 2.45pm where the others had been waiting since 2pm.
The Alternates enjoyed lunch at the now rickety picnic table at the start of the tussock basin. Their highlight appeared to be a strip show provided by a member who is not normally noted for stripping. This was a complex striptease involving multiple layers and re-organising of garments. Three had walked up the fence line returning the zig zag route, unlike the others lounging in the tussocks being entertained by the free strip show.
Jack had interacted well with many finding out how BTC operates and learning something of trampers’ personal stories and the part the club plays in enhancing their lifestyle. He freely shared his story through broadcasting and journalism school to his role today doing something he loves.
Congratulations to Marie-Therese featuring under Bright Lines in the Listener with her modern proverb on home gardens: “Absence makes the lawns grow longer”.
Text by Kate
