| Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Selwyn | Chris | Nicky | Judy |
| Alternates | Nick | Jenny A | Norma | Bruce |
It was one of those classic back-country winter days: crisp, clear, little wind and spectacular scenery. A bunch of 54 (a bus full plus 2 cars) spritely trampers eagerly alighted at the Mistletoe Flat campsite at Craigieburn to tackle a favourite walk: Dracophyllum Flat. President Jan acknowledged driver Geoff, welcomed visitor Chris H and handed round chocky birthday treats from Nicky.
The ground was frosty hard but with occasional glimpses of sunlight glinting off snowy tops and enough filtering through the cool green beech trees to warm bodies, we soon got into our tramping rhythm.
After morning tea and on the Dracophyllum Flat track now, we headed along the root-gnarled section of track which eventually evened out. From then on we meandered up and down through the beech on a somewhat muddy track that gradually led down the terrace after Jack’s Pass, descending into Broken River. Recent heavy rainfall had damaged the bridge, so the crossing was limited to one at a time. We climbed upwards again to break out of the trees on to the flatter open terrace of Dracophyllum Flat.
Dracophyllum [Epacridaceae {heath family – containing 27 native species] is often known as Turpentine Bush or Inaka and the variety found on the flat is most likely Dracophyllum Longifolium, the largest group and is abundant in sub-alpine areas. The shrubs usually have needle-like shiny green or bronzy coloured leaves which are used by weavers for decorative features. There may be many different variations because they hybridise with other Dracophyllum species. The shrubs are tough and can live to more than 200 years. (Ref: NZ Landcare Research).
Wending across patches of open ground and snaking through beech and scrub patches, we eventually reached Texas Flat. We took some time here over lunch to take in the views of the ski fields and the other peaks in the Craigieburn Range or across the way to Hog’s Back. Snow cover was noticeably more sparse on the tops than usual.
With lunch over, we picked our way around the forest edge easing up to a low saddle through scattered matagouri. The sidle down into Tim Stream eventually led to the descent into Broken River on a rather precarious track snaking the edge of the gully.
In the meantime, the Alternatives were heading for their bridge crossing of Tim’s Stream and then to follow the Cheeseman access road which would get them back to the bus. When the standards came to their crossing point of Broken River, it was obvious that a great deal of care would be needed: the river had scoured out the bank and divided into three braids. The three crossings were deep with run-off and the current swift, but everyone managed them safely with good technique.
Now the arduous climb out of the creek via a very steep muddy incline on to the terrace began. Whew! What a relief when we all reached firmer level ground again after all that sliding and tenuous footholds. Once on the farm road after a breather and a snatch of energy food, it was a fast slog in squelchy boots out to the road to wait for the Alternates and the bus.
What another wonderful spring day in the mountains! A change out of wet boots into dry socks later and we were all on our way back to Christchurch. Txt: Chris
