| Group | Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tailender |
| Stds | Peter | Alan H | Kate | Judy |
| Alternates | Liz | Margaret S | Ali | Bill W |
Stats Standards: Distance 9km, Vertical Ascent 730m, Time 4hrs 45mins
Alternatives: Distance 5.72km, Vertical Ascent 376m, Time 4hrs 30min
A greyish day greeted the start of our long bus ride to Te Maka Kaha/Mount Alford in the Ō Tū Wharekai/ Ashburton Lakes District. Amid the hum of morning chatter President Jan B welcomed new club members. There were 41 trampers for the walk. James was our driver.
A little context from a Google search: Alford Forest was named after Lord Alford, a member of the Canterbury Association. To date have found no evidence of his having done this walk or of his visiting Aotearoa New Zealand. Ō Tū Wharekai is an area of immense cultural significance to Ngāi Tahu, being both an important seasonal mahinga kai/ food gathering area and a major travelling route between settlements on the east and west coasts.
A stop at the almost brand spanking new Rakaia Salmon Site public toilets – resplendent with dazzling white tiles and terrazzo benchtops – on SH1 was a highlight (Cost of upgrade to reserve including toilets, playground, landscaping and solar-powered rubbish bins $958,000. Source: Ashburton District Council). “The best public toilets in the world” said one user.
The walk began with a farm track before entering Mt Alford Scenic Reserve. This is lovely mountain beech forest and birdsong walking. A series of stiles and gates and the accompanying gatekeeping made for changes in walking order. There were several changes during the day with walkers opting in and out of continuing up the hill. Reflecting on it during the walk – accommodating people’s walking enjoyment on any one day is a very real strength of walking with BTC. As a relatively new member to the club – thank you.
Recent wet weather made for muddy walking in patches. Some of us initially tried to keep our boots clean. Ha! This was not successful. The day had cleared, and it was hot work grinding up the hill following fences and marker poles. Also challenging were crowds of midges – possibly thrips pollinating dracophyllum flowers.
The Standards lunched beside the cairn amongst the snow tussock at the top where happily there were fewer midges and a 360-degree view of the inland mountains and the plains. Lunchtime conversation turned to Wordle and Kaye’s recent inspired one attempt solution. Brilliant. Talk moved to mad muddy marchers being munched by midges while lunching on marmite sammies on a mountaintop. It was all downhill after that.
The return walk was something of a scramble with concentration required for firm footholds and it was muddy. Where there’d been some attempts to control the amount of mud on the ascent on the way down resignation and eventually childish glee were the order of the day. Fun.
Thank you all for another very enjoyable day out of the city. Txt by Jen
