| Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Jan Bbr | Alan | Selwyn | Wendy |
| Alternates | Norma | Nola | Ali | Eric |
Distance (approx)17km; duration 5hrs 40min; vertical ascent 410m
As driver Alan took us across the city to Sumner, some juggling of leadership roles was undertaken with members continuing to succumb to the persistent Covid.
38 trampers including visitors, Brent, David and Les, alighted the bus at Bishopdale. We were dropped at Evans Pass where a 39th member joined us. We walked westward along the Crater Rim walkway, which is also part of the 360 Trail. Good cloud cover and a following breeze made for ideal walking conditions although there was an immediate climb.
There’s something about these uphill stretches where head is down and what is seen is tussock grass, clover, yarrow, dried docks, blue flowers, yellow flowers, backs of legs, boots, rocks, socks, packs, with only the occasional glance to expanded views over harbour or city. Or so it seems.
The track took us ever upwards with Standards reaching the morning tea stop sufficiently ahead of the Alternates for them (or at least one, sorry Judy) to be ousted from their chosen rocks. Standards disappeared from sight, the Alternates resumed their walk. In the far distance a strimmer was audible, City Council workers maintaining the track, cutting and tossing aside straw.
A cruise ship was in Port, the consensus of walkers was that it would be far preferable to be walking the hills than queuing for a ride for a brief visit to the city.
Lunch was a relaxed affair, trackside overlooking the Woolston industrial area between Rapaki and Bridle Path tracks, so relaxed that one or two missed hearing the two minute call to walk. Sarah, an obliging passer-by at the top of Rapaki Track obliged by taking a group photo of the Alternates, whereupon we all bunched up, posing in the sunshine.
There was a brief discussion to (a) walk up Mt Vernon or (b) walk around Mt Vernon. Route (b) was taken by the Alternates, whereas the Standards walked up, over and down. The temperature climbed and there was some small relief in the pockets of pine and bush, before the cool and shade of Mitchell’s Track. We briefly watched a harrier hawk, wings outstretched, spiralling effortlessly upwards on a thermal.
On arrival at the Sign of the Kiwi, Leader Norma informed us that the bus was waiting further along the Summit Road, increasing our walk to nearly 14 km. Meantime the Standards walked down Harry Ell Track to the Sign of the Takahē where they had about a ten minute wait.
The Standards were canvassed for an account of their walk. “You should ask the Tail Ender!” Alas Kay had been left off the count at the Sign of the Kiwi when she had diligently been placing rubbish in a bin. Kay’s “Where’s the others?” was soon followed from Harry Ell Track with “Where’s Kay?” A phone call between parties established that Kay would go in the bus along with Janice who was forgoing the extra 4 km.
In summary, another splendid day in the hills.
Text by Marie-Therese
