Distance 14.75km; elevation gain 583m; time 4hr 30min

After two weeks of no tramping due to a weather cancellation and the birthday lunch 41 eager trampers joined bus driver Alan. There was one guest Mei (with Min) and four new visitors which was pleasing to see, Jonathan B, Stuart C, Frank W & Barb H.

When I volunteered for the diary this week the tramp was originally “The Doctors” and I surmised that if the Weather Team got it wrong (a rare occurrence) we could spend the day at the Pyramid Valley Vineyard. I had done some research in preparation to see what I might sample with names like Field of Fire and Lion’s Tooth chardonnay and Earth Smoke and Angel Flower pinot noir. Each wine in this Botanicals Selection depicts an artwork with the print of a pressed flower endemic to the vineyard and garden.

Sadly, this was no longer an option as instead we are at Halswell Quarry.  Tony had generously provided a bag of chocolate goodies to hand around on the bus to celebrate a birthday ending in 5 with a larger number involved. I felt as if I had already travelled far with Marie-Therese giving me the magnificent book she had created of her recent Portuguese Camino trip filled with stunning photos and text to capture her journey.

The forecast for today had been for norwest winds so many had pictured a warm blowout in the Port Hills but that changed to strong southerlies and showers by mid-morning.

At 9.30am like the British Army we are promptly off and away heading up hill for the long steady climb to the Summit Road on Kennedys Bush Track. A musical chorus of bellbirds keeps our spirits high as we hike through the gum forest. We expected mud and were not disappointed. By 10.30am some rain had arrived and the full force of the southerly had kicked in which meant some of the lightweights could have been lost but all were accounted for at the end of the day.

The Standards decided to combine morning tea with an early lunch at 11.15am at the Sign of the Bellbird so we could shelter within the walls of the roadhouse. I hear the Alternates did partake of morning tea but it was a very brief affair mainly standing up. Ray, being the thoughtful man that he is, offered to go back when the wind was at its strongest with anyone who chose but there were no takers. The Alternates blew in to the Bellbird just 15 minutes later having chosen after reaching Summit Road to follow the road to avoid some of that glorious mud.

Across the road from the Bellbird is the recently opened John Jameson Lookout. The platform provides magnificent views over Lyttelton Harbour (not so much today) and features a new carpark, a low wall of Port Hills stone and panoramic panels pointing at significant places. John is the grandson of Harry Ell and a Life Member of the Summit Road Society.

There is a striking Pou Whenua carved by Ngāti Wheke carver Caine Tauwhare to mark this spot as a place of significance for Māori.

We coincided with a large team of motorcyclists having a blast on the Summit Road so as we joined Ellas Track to take us to the Sign of the Kiwi we had the throaty roar of them all departing. We were old hands at the mud by now but were more cautious on the slippery rock sections.

The Standards continued on Harry Ell Track to the Sign of the Takahe arriving at 13.55pm and were pleased to see the opening hours were 9 – 3pm and a hot coffee might be possible before the “Leopard” arrived. No response at that door so as we could see people inside around we went to the garden to try the other door. A staff member informed us they were taking no more orders as a staff meeting was scheduled for 2.30pm. Secretly, I think he had seen the mud on our boots and thought on his feet. To hide our extreme disappointment we spent some time photographing the gorgeous winter roses that were putting on a show. In five minutes the “Leopard” had arrived and thoughts turned to home and cleaning our boots.

Once on the bus the rain began again. We had been so fortunate to only encounter it for a short time. Good call Weather Team.

Text by Kate

Uphill climb towards Summit Road from Halswell Quarry

Onward & upward in cold & muddy conditions

Standards enjoy morning tea/early lunch at Sign of the Bellbird

Trampers rally near the Summit Road

New pou whenua erected at the John Jameson Lookout

A brief pause on the ridgeline trail

Bellbird keeps watch on nearby trampers

Arrival at Sign of the Takahe

Distance 16 km, elevation gain 617 m, time 4 hrs 15 mins

Remember when the late Dame Edna Everidge used to describe things as ‘spooky’ – not meaning in a supernatural way, but just a little strange? Well, Possums, today’s tramp had some very spooky elements.

Things started off more or less mundanely, 49 trampers including regular visitor Megan T, on a bus heading towards Little River – unless you include visitations by spectres from the past: Jenny, Les and Kay, whom we hadn’t seen for quite a while.

The first real sign of other worldliness was the eerie fog which enveloped our bus, and it was also just a little creepy passing the spot of that horrific accident we encountered earlier this year heading to Okuti Valley-French Pass. The fog was all encompassing, shutting out the real world and decapitating the hills above Lake Forsyth.

Our 30 Standards fearlessly set off on the tar sealed road near Little River, all the way up to Basso Road. The Alternates however were able to avoid this hard uphill slog, being magically transported up to Basso Road and straight away beginning their descent into the netherworld.

It was odd walking along, with the world below us devoid of landmarks under the dacron fog. It got even weirder after morning tea when we turned a corner to find ourselves suddenly in an alternate universe of blue sky and feeble sunshine. Too soon we were enveloped back into the mist, as we made our way downhill before finding the least chilly spot for lunch. Under the towering pines was best – out of the beastly wind, but no view (not really a problem as we hadn’t seen anything other than ourselves and that blanket of fog all morning!).

Some excellent photographs were taken of eerie figures levitating in the mist, but even better were ones of the myriad of ethereal spider-webs we saw, lovely gossamer threads embellished with delicate droplets.

The Alternates faced an uncanny sight as an apparition floated in the mist towards them, before it transformed itself into the more earthly form of bus driver Victor.

Our Standards group began to stretch out along the shingle road, then the dramatic sight of Birdlings Flat loomed in the distance when moments before there had only been fog. Walking down the last hill did nothing to dispel any notions of unworldliness – let’s face it, Birdlings Flat really is a rather bizarre place. There’s the almost lunar terrain covered in those curiously rounded stones we had to traverse as we made our way towards the quirky little settlement. And as Kate wrote in her trip report in 2020, if she were ever to write a crime novel, then Birdlings Flat would be the perfect setting, with all the fascinating characters who reside there.

We re-entered the real world as we made our way home, and after a stop-off at Tai Tapu, everything was totally normal again. Earlier in the day we had entered a mysterious realm, but none of us had been lost forever in it, and we even made it back to Bishopdale safely before dark. Not so spooky after all.

Text by Shirley

Standards advance during long uphill hike to Bossu Road

Preparing to set-off again after morning tea stop

Panoramic views of fog in the valley below

All smiles in the sunshine

Onwards and upwards to Bossu Road

Lunch on Bossu Road

Alternates navigate Bossu Road in the fog

Spiderwebs galore in the eerie fog

Destination Birdlings Flat

Distance 19km, ascent 660m, time 5 hrs

Another great day’s tramping with sunny skies and no wind. There were 35 trampers including visitors Judy S, Graham W and Neil M. Our bus driver was Viktor. The action started at Loburn Reserve (our comfort stop) where a woman was exercising a dog which was pulling a small parachute. The object of the parachute is unknown but it could have been to slow the dog down. This certainly seemed to work!

At the beginning of the tramp, I wished I had been as sensible as my wife, who was safely at home. And let’s be fair, any tramp which follows the “Blowhard ” and “Bypass” tracks is clearly worth considering carefully. On realising my mistake, I needed something to take my mind off it.

This led me to thinking about how the Club was organised and the people who carry out the various functions. Almost immediately I felt cheered up by the realisation that the Club has “good organisational bones”. And, just as importantly, the people who carry out the functions do so well and conscientiously. This is very comforting as you are unlikely to get badly lost. There is also that wonderful thing called a Personal Locator Beacon (PBL) which means, if needs must, you can be airlifted out at virtually a moment’s notice. And then there is the bus. The bus is a great idea as not only have the drivers been uniformly excellent but we can drive to one location and get picked up at another. This extends our range of walks substantially, which is one of the reasons why we have over 80 tramps to choose from. The bus trip is also a good way to judge the mood of fellow trampers. Usually there is lots of chatter on the bus in the morning. In the afternoon, especially after a hard tramp, the noise is much more subdued, more akin to a gentle purring.

But back to the tramp – the numerous beech trees in the area are an excellent source of honeydew. Honeydew is formed when a sap sucking insect taps into the tree and any excess sap is anally excreted. It is this rich mixture of sugars which is responsible for the black fungus growing on the beech trees. Honeydew is also favoured by bees and wasps. In the case of the latter this can mean very large nests as the food source is available for much of the year. Honeydew honey is also very yummy if you don’t think too much about its origins.

Along with the great weather, the walking was made even better by the strong bellbird chorus serenading the participants. Speaking of serenading, I have it on good authority the Standards women are going to sing a song at the top of the next Mount tramp. Apparently, this will be responded to by the Standards men on the following Mount tramp.

Text by Bill S

On the road shortly after bus drop-off

Advancing to the summit

Alternates negotiating the trail through beech forest

Black Fungus’ big brother

Glorious views from the summit

Alternates re-group at the Bypass Track sign

Our President & Vice-President all smiles

Impressive statistics for this tramp

A misty morning greeted us for our Port Hills tree planting excursion. After a pick-up at PMH we were 38 strong including visitors Mark and Graham. The mist cleared as Callum drove us across the city and we ate home cooked biscuits kindly provided by Eunju. It was 9.35am when we disembarked at the top of the Eastenders Track. A short walk later and we were being instructed by the CCC team on on how to plant the trees provided (several coprosma species, flax, totara, mingimingi, muehlenbeckia and more) and then armed with gloves and shovels, we were off! Wintry it was but the sea view was glorious and there was a magpie or two to serenade us while we planted our allocation of 400 trees. We were done at 11.30am, many of us much muddier, and with no morning tea break grateful again for Eunjus’s baking.

A further short walk up the hill and we were lunching at 11.50am in the lee of the hill. The air temperature was cool and no one was keen to linger over lunch. We were on our way, walking in one group, at 12.20pm. Underfoot was wet and slippery. Shortly after we began our descent one of our number fell hard on a slab of rock. Jan Br and Tailender Ailsa opted to accompany the injured tramper back to the road where they were picked up by car.

The track down the ridge is a scramble and steep and had greasy footing in places. Leader Alan’s verbal cautions and outstretched hands in support were much appreciated. Urumau Reserve is lovely, with a few  kōwhai flowers still on the trees.  Once in Lyttelton Alan advised the now 35 of us that a visit to the Timeball Station was an option and there was time for icecream, coffee, the pub. We would meet back at the bus at 3.00pm, by which time Jan Br and Ailsa – now descending the ridge – would have had time to rejoin us. 35 became 32 when stand-in Tailender Jen neglected to advise the Leader that three trampers were scampering off for coffees.

Happily, and following an apology to the Leader for being a neglectful Tailender, when we gathered at the bus we were 37. Subsequent communications revealed that our injured tramper had fractured a tibia, ouch, and now had four ankle pins and a cast for six weeks.  We wish them a swift recovery.

For the most part, a productive day.

Text by Jen

Ready for action from the bus drop-off

A great day for planting trees..!

Planting progressing well

Another tree-planting effort successfully completed

Job done…time for a walk

Impressive line-up of tree-planting trampers

Views of Lyttelton Harbour during the walk

Trampers rally before continuing into Lyttelton

Stats (approx ): Distance 15km; elevation gain 500m; time walking 4hr

The closer bus driver Alan got to our Prebble Hill destination the bluer the sky became. Piling off the bus at Castle Hill Station 49 trampers including visitors Mark, Megan and Graham soon learned from Alan H following his communications with the Station that the access bridge had washed out last winter and the river was up. The sky may have been blue but the air temperature was wintry and the prospect of a day’s walking in wet boots was not a happy one. The day’s tramp was changed to Hogs Back Track. We all piled back on the bus.

Hogs Back Track is the result of at least six years consultation between the Castle Hill community and the Department of Conservation. Most of the track’s construction was carried out by a series of community work parties over the summer of 2010/2011. The track is approximately 8km long and provides access to the backcountry for trampers, mountain bikers and skiers.

The club (both groups follow the same route) had done this tramp a couple of months earlier. While the toadstools seen in March had gone, the bellbird/korimako and tūī were still in full voice and on occasions very close to the track. It’s a scenic walk alternating between patches of beech forest with a sweet smell of honeydew, tussocky flats and stream crossings.

Morning tea conversation at the Lightning Tree turned to photo opportunities, Instagram, other trees and disasters. And hypothetically, what would we do first – take the photo or rescue someone? We talked of the perils of crocodiles in Florida chomping idly dangling hands, to pythons in trees in Australia descending on and swallowing wallabies sitting below, which prompted someone to ask, “Do I look like a wallaby?” We assured them that they did not.

As the day wore on it got markedly chillier. There were some exposed zigzags from where we could see the Alternates lunching on the flat in the sun. The wind on the zigzags was keen enough to blow away words, destabilise footing and contemplate the need for ballast (a large rock?) in the packs of lighter trampers. Some of the Standard group stopped for lunch at the foot of the Hogs Back ridge, others scrambled to the top and took in views of places we’d walked – Camp Saddle, Lyndon Saddle and Helicopter Hill – and ate lunch in what one described as “the teeth of the gale”.

It got colder by the minute, clouds were swirling about the snowy Craigieburn peaks. Most  added hats and gloves and extra layers for the return walk. It was a brisk, warming, outward walk. The birds were still singing and all were invigorated by the time the Standards  rejoined the Alternates who had been waiting twenty minutes at the bus. Another very welcome day out of the city.

Text by Jen C

Starting off at Castle Hill Village

Heading off after morning tea

The Lightning Tree

Short break in the midday sun

Happy trampers all in a row

Single file ascent of the switchback trail

Lunch sheltering from the wind

River crossing carefully negotiated

Distance 15km, ascent 672m, time approx. 4hrs 45mins

Thirty-four eager trampers including one visitor Judy S, gathered at Bishopdale keen for some country air and a work out on Foxdown Farm in North Canterbury. Picking up two further members on the roadside, and then a toilet stop in Amberley still saw us entering the farmyard at 10.00am. Since our 2022 visit an extensive carpark for visitors had been created (our driver Victor was delighted), along with a large building which included a farm office and three toilets.

Andy Fox, the fourth-generation guardian of this land spoke briefly to the group, telling us a little of the history of his ancestors who first settled here. Coming from Somerset they were unused to windy conditions and the nor’wester was not to their liking.  The original homestead had been built in a hollow in order to give some shelter from the worst of the wind. As the weather had turned wet enroute, and then cleared to a light drizzle we were keen to benefit from his local knowledge as to what conditions were in store. Telling us to turn to view the large peak in the background he indicated that this was somewhat of a barometer for the area. If its summit, slightly lower than Mt Alexander was covered in cloud then that is what we could expect when we reached our destination. He added that the complete absence of any breeze indicated that the overcast conditions would linger for the day. This was welcome news as our 2022 trip was noteworthy for the very windy conditions encountered.

There was no stopping this year to admire the new Foxdown Lodge, and encountering a young couple in a car descending the farm track from that direction it is perhaps just as well that we hadn’t been peering in windows, trying out the “bath with a view” etc as we did the year before.

Mindful of writing this report and providing some new information, I spent the first hour repeating to myself the name of the “weather gauge” used by Andy. Unfortunately, somewhere between morning tea and lunch my mind followed my legs into a bit of a sulk, and the name was gone. The next hour was spent sorting through the options – Mt Observation? Mt Sentry? Mt Danger? Hmm! Close perhaps, but not right. Thankfully at lunch, the reliable Peter proved to be both more attentive and retentive and immediately provided – Mt Lookout! At this point, we should acknowledge that to heck with local knowledge and Mt Lookout being swathed in mist – we enjoyed our lunch in beautifully clear, calm conditions enjoying the surrounding views. Better still, on the trek back to the bus, the sun came out reinforcing the great job done each week by our weather gurus.

The Alternates arrived as we were finishing our lunch so we reluctantly gave up our “comfortable” rocky seats and started homeward. It was understandable that those members for whom Mt Alexander was a new experience could expect that the second half of the day would be mostly downhill. However, towards the end of the trek there are a couple of uphill slogs which provide the sting in the tail. As we descended from the last of these we caught up with the Alternates who were returning via the outward route. This was a very happy meeting, meaning neither group had to wait for the other, as can happen. The Alternates too, had had a pleasant event-free outing and perhaps may have beaten us back if they had not been gathering pine cones for one of their number.

Word soon spread of the opulence of the new “ablution block” and for those who missed out, the couch, sofa, microwave and beer will have to be checked out on the next visit. Andy Fox’s welcome to visitors is genuine, and he acknowledged that the Bishopdale Tramping Club has been visiting for 30 years. In turn, we are grateful to be able to spend a day in such an environment.

Text by Jan B

On track from the bus drop-off

All smiles through the pines

Morning tea stop under cover of the trees

Summit destination beckons

Expansive views enjoyed during lunch at the summit

Careful descent on the muddy farm track

Easy stream crossing on the return journey

Another successful tramp…re-packing for the return bus journey

One of the vintage exhibits at the farm museum

Stats: distance 14.7km, vertical ascent 260m, time 5 hrs

There were no weather worries today. With a high of 17 degrees forecast and a local tramp in the Port Hills, there was no doubt it would go ahead as planned.

With Judy R at the front of the bus on her first outing as President, 41 trampers including visitors Neil M, Maureen L-C, Mark and Megan T and Judy S, along with our driver Alan set off for our drop off point at the Omahu Bush car park on the Summit Road.

Although this tramp is a regular on the calendar, in previous years it has been done in reverse. The change enabled the bus to travel via Gebbies Pass and avoid a difficult turn around on the narrow Summit Road. There was however still a tense moment when encountering a van travelling in the opposite direction with no room for both vehicles to pass. The problem was solved when after a short discussion the van backed up to a wider part of the road with just enough room for both vehicles to get by.

Arriving at the car park, the 23 Standards set off on the grassy Prendergasts Track before cutting off into the bush. The Alternates would initially follow the same route but do a shorter loop in the bush rather than carrying on down to the waterfall.

Omahu Bush is the largest area of native bush close to Christchurch. In 1985 a covenant was signed to protect the bush, and in 1998 fencing was renewed to protect the area from damage caused by feral goats, pigs, deer and possums. There is a diverse range of native trees in the bush including mataī, lancewoods, tree fuchsias and kānuka with various ferns, including silver tree ferns under the canopy. The area is entered and exited by gates, and there are a few well maintained track options.

Walking along the pleasant bush track, bird song including bellbirds/ korimako could be heard in the upper branches, but it was the fantails that were happy to make themselves known. Although the track was well maintained, care was needed with some of the muddier sections.

The sound of rapidly flowing water meant our morning tea destination, Anne’s Falls was not too far away. Although some time was spent taking photos at the falls, it was very shady with not a lot of options for seating, so a spot further up the track in the sun was chosen instead. After tea it was decided to carry on in the sun rather than taking the possibly slippery track in the bush, so it was a long uphill slog on the grassy track to the Summit Road.

Crossing over after a short walk down the road the slippery track was again a bit of an issue and the merits of walking poles was discussed. Some of those without poles adopted more of a crawling position to clamber up the short uphill section to the track leading to Coopers Knob, the highest point on the Port Hills and our usual lunch spot. Thoughts of “at least there won’t be any wind this time” disappeared when a coolish wind sprung up just as the rocky outcrop was reached. The group then scattered with some selecting a spot higher up with more expansive views including Lyttelton Harbour, while others sat further down –  variously managing to escape the wind with views of Gibraltar Rock and the Canterbury Plains.

Leaving Coopers Knob and the wind behind us we backtracked five minutes to the undulating Crater Rim Track that would lead to the pickup point at Hoon Hay Reserve. With a mix of bush and open tussock, the track provided some great views of the calm waters of the harbour and a slightly hazy view of the plains with the snow sprinkled Alps in the background.

Arriving at the bus slightly later than expected the Alternates were already settled in having arrived over an hour earlier. Apart from a few minor slips and spills there were no major injuries in the group, although one member got a bit of unwanted attention from a bush lawyer that took a few minutes to resolve. With no time for a refreshment stop, the bus headed straight back to Bishopdale.

Text by Sally W

Navigating trail through Omahu Bush

Standards rally at Anne’s Waterfall

Anne’s Waterfall in Omahu Bush Reserve

Morning tea in the sunshine

Ascending from Anne’s Waterfall towards Summit Road

Standards enjoy lunch in the sun at Coopers Knob

Spectacular views from Coopers Knob

Departing Coopers Knob to join Crater Rim Track

Stats: distance 12km approx, vertical ascent 400m, time 5 hrs approx

Many of us wondered if it was worthwhile getting our gear ready when the weather forecast was so bad for our Lake Rubicon tramp.  However there was just a little fog along the way, and nothing like the heavy rain or snow we had tossed and turned over.

After negotiating a little mud while we put on our packs near the Homestead at Brooksdale Station, all 41 of us set off happily up the first of … quite a few undulating hills. Through long grass, dodging cowpats and gigantic, flat thistles. Blue sky. Cold wind. The best thing was that the track was wide, and the topics of conversation were even wider. The usual: concerts, movies, and the merits (or not) of tramping naked, for example.

Morning tea was eaten standing up by some of the Standards because of the wet grass, and probably too by some of the 21 Alternates who arrived just as we were thinking about moving on. Up more hills, with the sun shining and the views rewarding us greatly for our efforts.

However, the bad news: the going (down) got really steep and difficult. Good news: our ‘route variations’ meant we had missed out on some nasty matagouri. Bad news: it had taken us longer than usual to get to this point. Best news ever: we could therefore lunch at the loveliest spot possible. This was just above a stunning river flat, with the luxury of sitting in the sun on the porch of the little hut we usually just passed by. There was even a clothes line for Peter M to hang his flash red merino-mink jersey on to make it toasty warm.

Then: past the wasp nest, er, back past the wasp nest, then heading back the right way, over the Rubicon stream (3 times). Best quip of the day heard, regarding our leader who tends to set off at an enthusiastically rapid pace, “Alan, I would follow you without fail into battle. Because by the time we actually caught up with you the whole war would be over!”

Wouldn’t it be boring if we set out on any given tramp, followed exactly the same route and arrived back at the bus at exactly the same time? Not going to happen, not on a farm foray like Lake Rubicon! There were the usual discussions about which side of the fence one should be on and which cattle track through the overgrown manuka looked slightly less impossible. Always fun. We emerged from the undergrowth to face one last steep hill, then to be greeted with the sights of (a) our Alternate buddies and (b) the celebrated Lake Rubicon below us. So, you might ask- where is the outflow for this quirky little lake? Underground, presumably (and don’t forget about the effects of evaporation). And then, you might also ask, what is the origin of the name Rubicon? A river in what is now northern Italy which Julius Caesar once famously led his troops across apparently. You may be surprised to learn that the great man never actually made it to this neck of the woods so it doesn’t really account for why we have a Rubicon in Canterbury.

So our joint army of 41 valiant foot soldiers marched along the narrow elevated path beside the lake, over the hillside of long wet tussocky grass, made our way across the wide dry riverbed, across verdant paddocks, and along the longest farm track ever, all the time chattering and nattering happily. We were even happier to reach the bus and get on board, and relax ready for the trip home. Almost everyone (but not all) had noticed slightly before this point that this was not actually the same bus we had boarded this morning. It was white, not purply-blue. There were no seatbelts and the seats were covered in an appalling patterned fabric. And our possessions were not necessarily in the same place as they had been on the first bus, which caused a few problems. Our trusty driver Alan, encountering technical difficulties with the front door of the bus just after we had started out on our tramp, had driven all the way back to town and returned with a very different bus.

Thanks Weather Team for not cancelling the tramp. It was great to get out, and our new club members Dave F and Cath L, and visitors Neil, Maureen L-C and Peter D seemed to have enjoyed themselves too. Just like Julius Caesar, we had ventured into slightly unknown territory, and conquered the mighty Rubicon.

Text by Shirley B

Troops rally near Brooksdale Station Homestead

Onward & upward through the tussock

Enjoying expansive views before the descent to lunch

Descent towards Lake Rubicon

Awesome views of Lake Rubicon

Lunch in the hut porch enjoying river flat views

Negotiating the dry river bed route after lunch

Return journey along the farm track leaving the Rubicon Stream

Stats: distance 13.4km, ascent 750m, time 5 hrs (approx.)

We woke to an overcast day and a question mark over the day’s tramp proceeding but it turned out to be another clear Camp Saddle and Helicopter Hill day. A big thank you was extended to the Weather Team for making the call to go ahead. We were 38 strong  (19 in each walking group) including visitors Peter D, Catherine L and Maureen L-C . Bus driver Viktor was warmly welcomed after an absence of some weeks.

This is a favourite tramp for many – it has something for everyone. It begins with a walk up the skifield road followed by a broad track through beech forest with korimako/bellbird song as an accompaniment. Reading previous trip reports, it has most often been fair weather walking. So it was on Wednesday. Coming out of the tree cover the cloud was breaking up offering glimpses of the Castle Hill Basin.

There was dew on the tussock as we wound our way up and across the slopes, making for soggy trouser bottoms. Some were beginning to describe the climb as “unrelenting” while our leader, who had mentioned that the family dog for the past five days had been taking him for daily runs, was bounding up the hill like a puppy fresh off a leash. Meanwhile the cloud continued to break tantalising us with the possibility of ever better views.

Camp Saddle provides that view. On this occasion it wasn’t a clear day when you can see forever – it was spectacular nonetheless. Looking up we could see the top of the Craigieburn skifield and ahead was the start of the rocky ridge we were to navigate after lunch.  It was chilly at the top. With extra layers on we started what can be the most challenging part of the walk. The track here is narrow and there are parts where the ridge is such that using hands for extra points of contact with the earth can feel like a good strategy. It’s exhilarating to have accomplished this part of the walk and chat turned to how alternate is not a noun in English (unless you’re speaking American English) however if Alternates became the Alternatives might there be an expectation that they be unorthodox?

Taking time to remove stones from boots at the bottom of the scree it was agreed that perhaps the hardest part of scree walking is at the top looking over the edge! There were people new to scree walking among us. Happily we’d all got down intact and seemed to have enjoyed it enough to want to come back and do it again. NB It was later revealed that someone who didn’t want to be named had taken a fall on the scree and in addition to a shin scrape had torn their favourite pear picking pants. Camp Saddle is a relatively long tramp and on our return walk tired legs lead to some cramping and several slips and stumbles. Fortunately none resulted in injury.

The Alternates’ walk also began on the skifield road then followed the Luge Track to Lyndon Saddle. Some stopped here for lunch while others continued up to the top of Helicopter Hill.  After lunch the group continued together via the Craigieburn Valley and Sidle 73 to return to Mistletoe Flat. This walk along the eastern and southern sides of Helicopter Hill completed the circuit. The Alternates had a wait of nearly two hours for the Standards to return.

Txt by Jen

Standards enjoy morning tea on the beech forest track

Standards rally for a group photo after lunch

Alternates rally on the alternative route

Alternates enjoy expansive views during lunch

Awesome mountain views enjoyed by the alternates

Anticipation…

Onward & upward ascending the Camp Saddle ridgeline

Negotiating the ridgeline trail

 Distance: 14kms, elevation gain 504m, time 3hr 20min

 The members who were booked on the Greta Valley tramp and the Weather Team must have been anxious when heavy rain started falling on Tuesday evening. However, Wednesday morning dawned fine but heavily overcast and tramping was on much to everyone’s relief.

The 34 trampers including visitors David F, Cath L and guest Catherine L were joined by our North Canterbury contingent of two at Woodend. Driver Garry soon had us at Amberley for the usual stop before arriving at Greta Valley at 9.45am.

Numbers were fairly evenly split with 19 Standards and 17 Alternates. The tramp begins on the main road opposite the Greta Valley Tavern then winds its way through a farm track. This was a public walkway until about 10 years ago and the odd walkway sign remains. There is always a locked gate to negotiate but no problem to our agile group. The track then climbs up a steep incline before reaching a level area where the Alternates had morning tea. The views over the Scargill Valley are spectacular with the foothills in the distance.

Farm walks are always difficult to follow and find the correct route but our efficient leader soon had us winding our way through plenty of gates and up some stiff climbs.  A cool breeze meant finding a sheltered spot for lunch. The Alternates found the usual place opposite some mature pine trees ideal and we settled down on the bank to enjoy lunch and plenty of chatter.

A crucial point “The Freezer” was reached after a steep climb and the LH turn made. Not like a previous visit when the group went straight ahead which meant a stiff climb back. The track passes stands of young pine trees and some noticed how much they had grown in the two years since we were last there. Lots more gates and climbs before we started the last hill with the summit in view. Then all that remained was the steep downhill to the farm buildings and the bus. In dry conditions the track down is like walking on marbles but with damp conditions and a graded surface all reached the bottom safely.

The walk on the road to the bus showed off the autumn splendour and brought to an end a great farm tramp in ideal conditions. Garry soon had us back in Amberley for a welcome refreshment stop before the trip back to Bishopdale.

Text Ray B

Standards & Alternates rally at start of tramp

All eyes on the trampers…

Combined group stop for morning tea

On track towards lunch stop

Open rolling slopes of Greta Valley

Standards descend towards pine plantation