DATE: May 2020 Vol. 73 No. 04Hokitika Gorge, up the Whitcombe River to Frew Hut, Frew Stream to Frew Saddle, down the Hokitika headwaters for a bit, then over Homeward Ridge to Sir

1 BJFM/H&V/Vol73/No04

DATE: May 2020 Vol. 73 No. 04

Photo: Jeanette Rybinski

Please submit your June 2020 H&V articles to the editor by 30th May 2020 HVTC Postal Address: PO Box 30-883, Lower Hutt:

Clubrooms: Birch Street Reserve, Birch Street, Waterloo Internet: http://www.hvtc.org.nz E-mail: [email protected]

President: Trip Coordinator:

Dennis Page Chris McMillan

970 6901 569 9019

Secretary: Treasurer:

Murray Presland Jim Cousins

562 8194 586 2135

Editor H&V: Bruce Miller 563 5966 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


VIRTUAL CLUB NIGHT PROGRAMME Starts 8.00 pm promptly

Hutt Valley Tramping Club invites you join in its internet Clubnights. The Zoom meetings have proved to be an excellent way of keeping our Club sort-of functioning and members sort-of in

contact during the national lockdown. You can join the meeting any time from 7.30 pm onwards - which should enable you to sort out your video and audio connections.

Details of how to join in and of who is giving the presentation are being circulated each week by email. To join the meeting you need only click on the URL highlighted in the email. Although

it may seem initially quite daunting, just follow the instructions and everything works fine. Please join us - but bring your own cup of tea and biscuits!

6 May : Chris and Jackie West – Eastern Europe Trip 2019, Part 1: Slovenia and Croatia In August 2019 Chris and Jackie went on a 9 week FMC tour of the Balkans and Greece. This week they will present the first module where they toured Slovenia and Croatia visiting various

national parks and popular tourist spots such as Spit and Dubrovnik

13 May : David Barnes – Polar guide and history lecturer experience David thought his first trip to Antarctica was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Then he talked his

way into a job as a polar guide & history lecturer. Join him for photos and video of his return to the Ross Sea.

20 May : Phaedra Upton – Bhutan

For 4 weeks in October 2019 Phaedra joined 13 other trekkers for the Snowman Trek, a challenging trip through the Bhutanese Himalaya. The trek crosses ten high passes over 4,500m

views of high mountains along the Tibet/Bhutan border. She walked over 300 km through a region of tiny Buddhist monasteries, secluded villages that are isolated from the rest of Bhutan for many

months of the year and stunning mountain scenery. A classic Himalayan trek and a once in a lifetime adventure!

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY GRAEME MAXWELL

Graeme Maxwell, one of our senior veterans known to many in the club, recently turned the grand age of 90 years (on 25th April, Anzac Day). He is still tramping, although less ambitious these

days, confining himself mainly to challenges around the house and garden.

Felicity


BUBBLE BOUNDARIES

Under the current alert level how far and where can my bubble venture? An interactive website has recently been developed by the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council

(MSC), Water Safety NZ and Recreation Aotearoa. Check out www.covid19outdoors.nz

LOCKDOWN READING

HOKITIKA HEADWATERS & SIR ROBERT HUT, 2013 Tom Halliburton

“Shelter From the Storm” (page 26) describes Sir Robert hut, in the head waters of the Mungo River, as “something of a holy grail for hut baggers”. I first saw Sir Robert hut in January 1978, from Toaroha Saddle. We carried on down the Hokitika River, groveling though wet bush, in the rain, down the Hokitika middle gorge. Not an experience I’d like to repeat, but I’ve wanted to visit Sir Robert ever since. In 2013, the opportunity came. The planned route began above the lower Hokitika Gorge, up the Whitcombe River to Frew Hut, Frew Stream to Frew Saddle, down the Hokitika headwaters for a bit, then over Homeward Ridge to Sir Robert. Then back over Homeward Ridge to Bluff Hut, down the very steep descent to Poet Hut, over Toaroha Saddle to Top Toaroha, and along the really good track down the Toaroha. This was a favourite track in the early 1980s when I was a student at Canterbury University.

Implementation of the plan started in bright sunshine, but the travel up the Whitcombe to Frew was a bit slower than I’d expected. This was a section I had not done before and somehow had expected a good track. We met some interesting light-weight trampers at Frew who seemed to be doing well with minimal gear, but it was hard to imagine that they were carrying enough for West Coast rain. Next day we carried on up the good track towards Frew Saddle, then began following Frew Creek. Along here Jan stood on a small boulder that rolled pitching her face down into the creek, and was pinned by her pack for a lot longer than preferred.

As well as being badly shaken, thoroughly soaked and much of her pack contents wet, after a sweet cup of tea and an hour or so in dry clothes, and some amateur first aid for hypothermia, Jan was ready to carry on to Frew Biv. There’s only room for three in Frew biv, but space for a tent beside it. One wonders what would have happened if tramping solo, or too far separated from companions. Next day, down through tussock and patches of scrub into the Hokitika, followed by some slow travel through more of the same tall tussock and scrub, past a sign post pointing to Homeward Ridge which appeared to have been removed by DOC and randomly dumped when the track markers along Homeward were removed. Some years ago the Bluff Walkway (bridge) over the Hokitika, below Bluff Hut, had washed away. The route had been diverted up onto Homeward Ridge, and down that ridge to the Mungo Bridge, which is some way upstream of the Bluff Walkway and is near the track up to Toaroha Saddle. This diversion was removed after the new Bluff Bridge was built. It seems ridiculous to me that DOC would not have left the poled route and

Frew Biv

http://www.covid19outdoors.nz/


track markers to indicate the route along Homeward Ridge, as the bush ridge has a few wiggles so could be tricky to follow in places. By the time we got to the climb out of the Hokitika, over Homeward and down into the Mungo, the weather looked threatening and a southerly front was forecast to arrive soon. Unfortunately the prospect of meeting a cold front on the exposed ridge was enough to deter to trip to Sir Robert, in favour of heading on down to Bluff Hut. That night and the next day in Bluff Hut a storm plus spectacular lightning & thunder passed over. An excuse to read, and consultations with the dictionary in Tony’s kindle. After that hut day, we descended 450 metres to the Hokitika / Mungo confluence, down an incredibly steep track. This used have some ladders on it, in Forest Service days, but these are gone now. Undoubtedly a health & safety risk, but perhaps unnecessary due to some re-routing of the track. A short stop at Poet Hut followed. On my last visit there in 1978 it had just been re-stocked with food for the track workers who had yet to arrive. Pretty tempting stuff when you have been on primitive (revolting) 1970s de-hi for 12 days. On to Toaroha Biv located on the saddle, to drop packs, on with the storm gear, and a quick walk along easy tops for a bit to get a view down to Mungo Hut. The descent looks steep for the short distance down to some bush, but is probably a good route to another remote, rarely visited hut. The track down to Top Toaroha seemed to have got a lot longer than it was in ‘78, but the hut is in a nice location, a big tussock basin. Next day, suffering regrets at not having got to Sir Robert, and wanting to avoid an easy finish to the trip, though the Toaroha Track was showing the effects of a few years of neglect, and would have been slow travel down to Cedar Flats. Instead we decided to head down the Toaroha for a bit, up a spur on the true right to Crystal Biv, along the tops, past the spur leading down to the Yeates Ridge Hut at the bush line below, along the main ridge to Zit Saddle, and down Adventure Ridge to Adventure Biv. The tops around here are good, so the scenic route was a much more interesting option. By 2 pm Adventure Biv was still a speck on a distant ridge. The main ridge is a bit narrow in places, with some rock outcrops requiring a sidle on very steep snow grass. On one of these Ron went for a slide, giving us a few terrifying seconds - would he stop or carry on down, as two other trampers had quite recently? Fortunately, Ron hit something which was not too solid, and we were able to carry on, all feeling extremely relieved. The day was getting late, but John’s keen eyesight picked up the occasional pole on the route down to the Biv. Adventure Biv was reached about 9:30, with just a few minutes of faint daylight left, enough to find the space for a tent. Another West Coast rain + thunder storm led to a hut day in the tiny biv, and a rather wet time for the hardy ones in the tent who had to spend some time digging trenches, so they didn’t float away. Tony and John were told to come in but they stuck to their tent. It would have been really cosy with five in the biv. The final day was down Adventure Ridge to Cedar Flats hut, and calamity Jan had another trip in mind, meaning more patching up (first aid kit being right at bottom of John’s pack!). Then out along a good track to the road end, not far from Kokatahi, followed by a game of shuttle cars. Participants were John Fox, Tom Halliburton, Jan Heine, Tony Lavo, Ron Pynenburg.

Tom

The Toaroha


RUAHINE TRAVERSE IN BITES

BITE 1 : JANUARY 2015 Andrew Robinson

We (Tom Halliburton, Frank Usmar, Andrew Robinson and Jan Heine) thought we would knock off a Ruahine traverse in three-day bites, whenever we could have three or more days free and all four free at the one time. It did work, but only once. Ruahine South Friday 24 January

After a comfortable night at Frank’s rural retreat on Thursday, Robyn took us in their 4WD to the imposing Wharite forest of masts. 8:00 and we were ready to go, already at 950m. Along the undulating tops gratefully following a good clear track through the leatherwood. Coppermine Creek reached about 9:40 and no sign of copper. Turn-off to Mangaatua trig was enticing, but let’s push on to the stream and an old camp site about 12:50. At the forks was a big triangle encouraging us to carry on. But the track was only a rough deer track, in the creek bed rambling around steep banks, up what seemed a wrong spur using easy leads. Where is this track? But cut trees and then markers brought us onto a wide open track about 3:30, before starting down long steep steps and flats to small bouldery Raparapawai Creek. The sun had got to us, so hot in the creek bed, and at 5:45 we found a camp site that was shaded and reasonably comfortable.

Saturday 24 January and soon trundling uphill 8:30, for an hour, a break, a sidle and drop to a saddle, a steady climb and another sidle to sight Kiritaki hut a long way off perched on the next spur. Reached it at 10:10 and no-one there. Much discussion what to do as Frank would prefer going out to nearest road end as the heat had really got to him, just not feeling too great. We deliberated, it was stinking hot, and lethargy had set in! Next thing we were all sound asleep, dead to the world, what luxury. Should be doing something! But not much to do and sleep in this heat was ideal. Suddenly voices! Two young guys in camo gear and one rifle, off to do a spot of shooting over the way. Then a lean long-trousered guy burst in, been on the Ruahine Traverse for 9 days, how long will it take to get to Far right? (We figured out later he meant Wharite). Got no food, Dad picking him up tomorrow. No gear to speak of, day pack, sleeping bag, no tent, no food left. Eyes lit up when he saw a rusty old tin of Mrs Murphy’s potato chowder, looked pretty toxic. Bashed it open with the axe and scoffed it down. And he shot off, at the rate of knots and left us gasping. Put us to shame. Especially when we realised we could have given him some decent food. Will he get gut rot, tin poisoning and be on our consciences? After all that, it was a bit late, so we stayed and recuperated after our leisurely 2 days’ efforts!


Come Sunday 25 January sun-up at 6am and into the stream by 7:30, more steep uphill to cross to the spur above the hut with a good sidle onto a rolling ridge along an open track until 11 or so for a stop. Down to the Kumeti road end floundering around in the scrubby bush to the parking area. Robyn was there with treats of fresh sandwiches and carrot cake. Spoilt we were. So that was the end of Bite 1, as a trial 3-day trip. But will it work another time?

Andrew

OHAU GORGE

12 January 2020 Felicity, Rory & Clara Maxwell-Lamb

The Ohau Gorge is a fantastic trip for anyone keen on being in the water. This trip involves a relatively short walk into the Tararua Forest Park, over farmland then forest, then a few hours back out down the river. The old hut site – now a small open grassy clearing in the bush, is the perfect spot to catch some sun, eat lunch and gear-up for the walk/float down the Ohau River. Several factors came together to make this a very memorable and successful trip: Old friends I haven’t tramped with for many years, a few friendly new (to me) faces; the weather turned out much better than the forecast had predicted; the length of the trip was just right; the scenery was beautiful. And it was a joy to share all this with my children who are taking bigger and bigger steps in the Great Outdoors, as they grow in size and confidence! Over to them now to fill in some details:

So when I got to the gorge I had a flutter board for swimming, and my Dad said to use it, so I did. But the current pulled me away – I was so scared. But there were some rocks, which stopped me luckily. After that it was cool, because there was this tube (a car tyre inner tube, FM), which Cayley had. I sat in it and she pushed me along. It was like a private water ferry in the deep bits. Rory, aged 9 years We had a picnic just before going down the river. And then we walked on some boulders

until we reached the first pool. While everyone was avoiding getting wet (at that early stage…us adults waited until we had no other option but to get wet! FM), I went and got right in, which I later learned was not a good idea – I got a bit cold. I remember floating down the pools and it was quite exhilarating. The cold water, the fact I was wearing clothes (this is a novelty when you have only swum in togs or wetsuit before - FM), the lifejacket like a floatation device (Catherina’s lifejacket which she kindly lent to Clara to warm her up - FM). When we got to a part of the stream with a slower current, I floated down it and it was very relaxing. (The deep water parts are so much fun. You are walking along, the water getting deeper and deeper, then ‘lift-off’, your feet leave the bottom and you are swimming! FM) I do remember, also, grabbing onto a tree (part of a log-jam at the side of the river -FM) for support as I was swimming around a rock, and it fell into the water, barely missing me. That taught


me a lesson and also gave me some adrenalin (me too! FM). Clara, aged 13 years (12 years at the time of the trip).

Thank you Murray for organizing and guiding us on this adventure. Thank you to the Fisher’s for sharing their floatation gear with the children – it made the journey a much more achievable and pleasant experience for them. Participants: Murray Presland (leader), Debbie Bainbridge, Paul Labett, Bruce Miller, Keith Thomas (trip photographer), Fisher family - Cayley, Catharina and Andrew, Maxwell-Lamb family - Clara, Rory, Felicity and Simon. Kerrie Howard and Roman joined us along the track into the river.

Felicity, Rory & Clara

FIVE BAG AN ANNIVERSARY SUMMIT Dennis Page

Following some favourable reports and recommendations from others, the Mt Somers walkway was a trip that was on my ‘tramper’s radar’ to complete for some time. My appetite was only further whetted when, during the post-Christmas biking and walking trip to mid-Canterbury in the summer of 2019-20, a group of HVTCs did a section of the walkway from Jig Road to Woolshed Creek Hut. Earlier this year, in a pre-Covid environment, I set out to complete the journey and invited other HVTC members to join me. Prior to recent travel restrictions being enforced, Air New Zealand typically offered tranches of cheap airfares from Wellington to Christchurch that coincided with weekends and with a little bit of advanced planning, a three-day trip over Wellington Anniversary Weekend (17-20 January 2020) was possible for very modest cost. Trouble was, other HVTC forces were at play and conspired to offer a Pouakai Ranges Circuit on the same weekend (also a trip that I had wanted to do and had unsuccessfully tried to arrange four times prior) and this created a bit of competition for would-be punters. Nevertheless, there was good enthusiasm from a small South Island membership cohort – Liz and David Crook plus further bolstering from their close friend Gerrard Liddell – and coupled with me and Kate Livingston from the North Island, there were sufficient numbers to allow the trip to go ahead. The walkway has become popular over recent years, necessitating DOC to introduce a booking system for use of the two huts. Securing these huts with an annual pass is possible in some instances; however, the internet booking system does not permit group bookings from users with annual passes to be made online. After phoning the Geraldine DOC Office (in whose rohe the walkway resides) to make enquiries, I was directed to the Christchurch Office whose response was, ‘yes, but you will have to come into the office in person, so we can sight the passes.’ Fortunately, siting passes as a photo on a cell phone was acceptable, and also fortuitously, I happened to be passing through Christchurch on private trip on Boxing Day, so the necessary bookings and arrangements could be made – talk about unnecessarily complicating matters! Having a South Island cohort also meant the use of a second vehicle and this was advantageous so that a car could be deposited at each road end thereby avoiding a long 8 hour walk beneath


the south face of Mt Somers on the final day (important for when time pressures to get back to the airport are a consideration). On a very sunny and balmy evening of Friday 17 January, Kate and I made our way to Christchurch airport for a rendezvous with Gerrard and our rental car – Then it was a smooth drive to Methven, admiring a sunset on the way that was boosted with extra red tints thanks to the wind-blown aerosols suspended in the air from innumerable bushfires burning along Australia’s east coast. We were met at Abisko Lodge by Liz and David Crook who plied us with delectable fresh Central Otago summer fruit and a nice bottle of Sauvignon Blanc wine as a nice welcoming gesture – one could get used to such salubrious starts to tramping trips! The weather prospects for the next few days were good (save for the slight irritation of smoke haze) and we set out early on the Saturday morning to juggle vehicle deposits at both the Jig Road and Flynn’s Road termini of the walkway (we noted the handy location of the café at Staveley as an end-point destination for a celebratory treat spot post-tramping exertions). Travel time between the two road ends is half an hour so that meant just over an hour for the round trip to make the necessary arrangements – This meant actual tramping did not get underway until around 10 am and we were grateful for the cooling shelter offered by the beech and rata forest along the Sharplin Falls Track. Viewing of the falls via a side track was off-limits due to erosion and we were instead directly steeply up hill (mercifully in shade) to the craggy Duke Knob (739 m) where some open rocky sections afforded good views of the NE flanks of Mt Somers and the Bowyer’s Stream Valley all the way to its head (where our first night’s accommodation at Pinnacles Hut was located, just below the tree line). Following our scramble up Duke Knob, and perhaps in deference to the Grand Old Duke of York himself, shortly after summiting, it was time to march back down the hill again dropping some 100 m to Bowyer’s Stream. We were not ungrateful for the partial loss in gained height as this allowed us to pick a cool spot beside the stream for lunch and to replenish water supplies. After a restful lunch, it was an up and down sidle along a track beside the stream on the true right bank; but always gaining more height than loss. A beautiful cascading waterfall that necessitated a walk behind it to avoid a drenching was a welcome distraction in the heat of the afternoon – Indeed, some even took advantage of the natural feature to get a cool-down. Finally, towards mid-afternoon, we reached some craggy outcrops that gave us a glimpse of Pinnacles Hut between the trees and assured us that the remaining walk in the afternoon heat would not be for too much longer.

Pinnacles Hut is located on the northern flanks of Mt Somers, and the mount, being volcanic in origin, has many geological features comprising hard rock (including impressive hexagonal basaltic columns) that make it a magnet for rock climbers. Indeed, more of the hut occupants were there for climbing activities than for tramping and although the hut is generous in size (sleeping about 19), it was easy to see why the booking system was required. On the night we stayed, would-be hut users outnumbered

booked bed spaces and those who had not booked were forced to camp or sleep outside. One party of outdoor sleepers was a solo dad in charge of a clutch of children and their friends (aged between about 7-10) – They had not brought a tent or bed rolls but were content to sleep out in amongst the alpine scrub and gaze at the stars. Fortunately, it was a clear, mild and dry night, and they were unfazed by their lot. Indeed, I was one of the last to retire to bed at about 10 pm,

Lunch besides Bowyer’s Stream Photo: David Crook


and like the starlings and sparrows that roost in the big pohutukawa on The Terrace in Wellington that seem to chatter excitedly well after roost time, the children were still hyped up and pumped by their experience and chattered happily among themselves well into the late night. They seemed none the worse for their wear the next morning and even ‘dad’ seemed endure it OK. The most direct option of our walk, between Pinnacles and Woolshed Creek Huts, were we to have taken it, was comparatively short at just 3 hours. However, having checked the local area map and having had some ‘intelligence gathering’ conversations with the friendly hut warden, we knew that there was a reasonably feasible route up to the summit of Mt Somers from the saddle point (1170 m) that separated the two catchments which the two huts resided in. We decided to leave reasonably early and head to the saddle point and assess the options. The map showed an obvious spur heading NNW from the summit plateau to the saddle and other than indicating a short steeper section between the 1300 m and 1500 m contours it looked quite viable. We were a little distracted on our first section walking to the saddle, just above the tree line, as we watched parties of climbers heading away from Pinnacles Hut and thrashing their way through quite thick montane shrubland to gain access to the various pinnacles and rock stacks that were clearly their intended targets for the day’s climbing. It soon became very hot as we approached the basin that lead onward to the saddle and we knew that having sufficient water on hand for a summit push was an important consideration. We jettisoned our main packs out of sight of the main track amongst some dracophyllum shrubs growing near the saddle and we repacked essential supplies into smaller bags and day packs for the summit assault. Our first target was to gain the plateau ridgeline at the 1500 m contour and reassess things from there. At that point, if we had decided not to make the summit, we would at least have a grand and elevated viewing platform from which to have our lunch. We set out at about 11 am and the first 100 m of vertical height gain was a modest climb through tussock and dracophyllum scrub and then things became steeper and more bouldery for the next 200 m or so of height gain. However, with plenty of breaks and route scouting assessment, the way up was reasonably straight forward, and the views got more impressive as we gained in height. Upon reaching the 1500 m contour and the edge of the summit plateau, we spied a small craggy tor to aim for as a potential lunch spot. There were no tarns in our vicinity and we were grateful to have taken reasonable water supplies with us. From the lunch spot, we had grand views out to the north, west and south encompassing the Winterslow and Taylor Ranges, the Lake Heron Basin, the Arrowsmith and Two Thumb Ranges, Mt Cook and the Main Divide and then around to the Hakatere Basin and the Clent Hills. Only the Aussie bushfire haze served to very slightly tarnish the outlook but at least it was not as strong as it had been a few weeks earlier when all was turned an eerie orange. After a leisurely lunch and checking of watches, we decided there was time to try and gain the main summit. David opted to find a shady hollow beneath the crag for an early afternoon kip while the rest headed east for the rounded knob that was the summit proper. The summit trig was about half an hour’s walk on from lunch (gaining another 188 m vertical height) and when approaching, we met other people that had come up from the marked track route from the south side of the mount. Most had started from Flynn’s Road and were doing

Gerrard, Kate and Liz head to the Mt Somers summit; Heron Basin and Arrowsmith Range behind Photo: Dennis Page


the summit hike as a strenuous day trip (returning via the same route) – They were somewhat surprised to learn that we had done it from the other side. The views out west were similar to those seen from our lunch spot; but now views out east were possible to complete a full 360-degree panorama that included Mt Hutt, the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, Canterbury Plains and Banks Peninsula, and Mt Peel to the south. After some replenishing snacks, drinks and the obligatory summit photos, we about-turned for our westward decent and rendezvous with David and then it was back down the steeper slopes to re-join with the Pinnacles-Woolshed Saddle track. The walk off the saddle to the first crossing of a Woolshed Creek tributary was a bit hard on the feet as it ustilised an old bulldozed farm track. We met people from other parties coming up hill and heading towards Pinnacles Hut or out to the Flynn’s Road car park (the latter seeming quite ambitious given the time of day). The first tributary creek crossing was a very welcome opportunity to refill nearly depleted water bottles having come close to exhausting them following a hot day of exertions to and from the summit. As we followed the valley out towards the Woolshed Hut basin, we took advantage of a short detour track to view some cave systems where the creek flows either underground or in other sections, through narrow canyons; these features seemed intriguing and friendly enough to view under benign conditions but not the sort of place one would want to enter in times of high water flow! We eventually reached Woolshed Hut’s welcoming shelter in the very late afternoon and freshened up in the creek before turning our minds to dinner preparations. Woolshed Hut is a newer structure and bigger (26 bunks) than its counterpart, Pinnacles Hut. Despite sitting at an elevation of just over 800 m, it is not in the bush; the area around having been cleared a long time ago for high-country farming. Farming in the area has since ceased and tussocks and other NZ native alpines are recolonising the former grazing lands. Unfortunately, unlike the spectacular display I saw when the HVTC did their January 2019 day trip, my 2020 visitation was less spectacular with respect to alpine blooms. Nevertheless, the hut is in a very pretty spot with a nice outlook up valley (northwards) towards Peache Saddle and the unnamed high peaks of the Winterslow Range. The hut was still busy, though not as full as Pinnacles Hut on the night before given that the following day, for all but Wellingtonians, was not a public holiday and that there was no rock-climbing interest nearby. Following a leisurely breakfast on Anniversary Day Monday, we bid farewell to the hut warden and headed out via the modest climb onto the Miner’s Track. Having summited on the previous day, we had no great enthusiasm to do the higher route via the Bus Stop and Rhyolite Ridge noting that some in the party had done it on the previous year and that the views gained would be more limited and less impressive than those seen the day before. Another warm and sunny morning had us sweating as we gained the high point for the day (934 m) but then there was a nice

descent to the forest edge for some morning tea in the shade of some beech trees. As we descended further, the shrubby slopes turned white with kanuka and manuka blossoms and buzzed incessantly with hordes of busy bees (and fortunately, very few wasps!). We called in for a look at the abandoned mining sites before making the final sharp descent to the lower cascades of Woolshed Creek for lunch in the shade beside the verdant leafy banks. Members of another party that had also overnighted at Woolshed Creek Hut

also joined us with some opting for The party head out from Pinnacles Hut: Dennis Page, Gerrard Liddell, Kate Livingston, Liz Crook and David Crook Photo: Kate Livingston with assistance from a fellow hut guest


complete immersion for a more invigorating cool-off. After lunch, the walk out to the Jig Road car park was comparatively short. Following a brief change of clothes, David took Kate and me back around to the Flynn’s Road car park to collect our rental vehicle and then he returned to gather Liz and Gerrard. Because we had a bit of time to kill before North Island cohort had to return to Christchurch Airport, we took advantage of the handily located Staveley Café for a well-deserved (and needed) cool drink and sweet treat – it also served as a chance for Liz, David and Gerrard to meet back up with us again for one final touch-base before we parted company for journeys to our respective destinations. Heading back to the airport via Thompson’s Track, the distinctive pyramidal shape of Mt Somers loomed large in the rear vision mirror as if forming a farewell honour guard of one; the parting final image of a trip thoroughly enjoyed in perfect weather and with superb company. The Somers Summit Baggers were: Liz and David Crook, Gerrard Liddell, Kate Livingston and Dennis Page (leader).

Dennis

TAUHERENIKAU GORGE

1 February 2020 Andrew Robinson

Tubing checklist A day when I am free Weather (ideal forecast) Tube (thanks to Keith) Wetsuit (thanks to a teammate) Transport (hmmm)

This was the situation the evening before Russell Clayton’s full Tauherenikau Gorge tubing trip. It was a trip I’d been looking forward to so I suggested to Russell an appeal be put out on the club email list. He agreed and within about half an hour we had a driver, thanks to Graeme Lyon. Yay! A few of us left the clubrooms in the club van at 9:30 and picked up some more at the Upper Hutt railway station. Eight of us left the end of Kiwi Ranch Road at 10:30, headed over the puffer and down Smith Creek to reach the start of the Tauherenikau Gorge a couple of hours later. We stopped for half an hour to have lunch, inflate inner tubes (or in Catherine’s case a lilo) and put on wetsuits (for those who had them). From our lunch spot we walked about 50 metres to the first reasonable size pool where we found the water was a very pleasant temperature. At the end of the pool we found that the low river level, part of the reason for the warm water, meant that it was tricky getting over the shallows. Russell had told us the river was at 0.7 cumecs, significantly less than the recommended 2 cumecs. We all had a go at the shallow bits, but some (including me) soon found it easier to walk them. We had our first break after an hour at which point Russell and I were able to calculate our rate of travel. It was fairly slow, due to the low river level, but no cause for concern. The river varies quite a bit with some sections providing a choice between walking and tubing and some big pools that had to be swum or floated. The number of navigable rapids was few with the low water level. Various sitting or lying positions were employed


with lying down head first the preferred method for the shallows, but sitting and facing backwards the fastest way through the pools. We stopped every hour or so and eventually got to the track into the lower Tauherenikau Gorge after four hours on the river. Some had tubed practically the whole gorge while others had done a lot of walking. Russell wisely decided that with the river being low the better option was to take the track of about an hour out rather than spend another couple of hours on the river. After deflating tubes and changing out of wetsuits we walked back to the van. We

had some very strong gusts of wind on the walk out which might have made tubing the rest of the river unpleasant. Apart from not doing the lower gorge and not being able to shoot any rapids I had a very enjoyable trip and I think everyone else did too. Hopefully next year we’ll be able to do the lower gorge as well.

Trip participants: Russell Clayton (leader), Debbie Bainbridge, Paul Labett, Andrew Labett, Tania Hatfield, Catherine Croucher, Jenny Cossey, Andrew Robinson.

Andrew

WAIRARAPA FROM LOWER HUTT

29 February – 1 March 2020 Pat Tristram

9am on Saturday morning, the group of 12 assembled under the Melling Bridge as it rained – heavily - the first rain we’d had in quite a while. Most had biked from home already and Frieda did a trip to park her car at Tristram’s and a quick ride back down. We were all fairly well laden with two lunches, extra clothing and gear, although not nearly up to the bike packing standards of some other cycle trips! With parkas on, we crossed the Melling bridge to follow the Hutt River Trail – now quite wet and plenty of puddles – up to Moonshine where we stopped for morning tea. The rain had stopped and it was quite warm, so parkas off as we enjoyed some food and drink.

On our bikes again and it was very pleasant through to Te Marua where another stop saw some of the group get more sustenance. Here it began to rain again and turn cooler as the forecast southerly came through. However it made for pleasant cycling up to Tunnel Gully and then the road into Kaitoke carpark and onto the Summit for a well-earned lunch. It wasn’t as wet here, and so not as much effort was required on the gravel surface that we’d encountered on the HRT. It is worth noting here, that of the five men on the trip, three had electric bikes.


Down the other side with a stop to check out the new bridge over Siberia corner, before a rather bone shaking ride down to Cross Creek. We had met a number of cyclists doing the Tour Aotearoa, many looking lean, fit, sun tanned and all with well laden bikes. Some were keen to talk to us about their travels, while others were keen to keep pedalling. A stop at the Cross Creek carpark for some more refreshments before turning right into Viles Road and then onto some other roads to take us in a back way to the Tauherenikau Race Course where we were staying the night. We’d forgotten two or three kilometres was on gravel as well as a (thankfully dry) ford, but we had the southerly wind behind us as we travelled No 1 Line before the left turn into the short road to The Tin Hut and the Race Course just behind it. No one was about, but the rooms had labels on the doors (doubles in one area, singles in another) so we made ourselves comfortable. This accommodation in the Jockey’s Quarters is very comfortable and available for groups of ten or more at $40 per person per night. Linen and towels are provided and there is a kitchen for self-catering with crockery and utensils. After making ourselves a brew and having showers it was up to The Tin Hut for a very good dinner. Apart from a couple in the restaurant when we arrived, we were the only people having a meal that evening. Some had biked the kilometre to The Tin Hut, while others walked and all needed our lights for the trip back. Sunday morning dawned fine, but rather cool and after breakfast (with some biking into Featherston to get a good feed) we headed off around 8.30am. John’s back wheel had become rather wobbly on the trip into Featherston and he decided to spend the day there and catch the train back at 5.30pm that afternoon. With a northerly behind us it was a quick trip down to Cross Creek and a stop at the car park where more Tour Aotearoa cyclists came through. Our pace was

much more leisurely, especially the push up from Cross Creek Station to the Summit, but we were there for a late morning tea around 11am. With a good downhill run, we took the same route, stopping at the Gums in Tunnel Gully for lunch around 1pm. It was warm and pleasant in the sun, but we realised we still had quite a long way to go and so down to Te Marua and onto the Hutt River Trail. Leena decided to go via Wallaceville Hill from Maymorn and left us there, while Debbie, Leanda, Paul J and Kate left

us at Te Marua, although we did see them all again at Harcourt Park. Down to Stokes Valley and


we were surprised to see a lot of traffic on Eastern Hutt Road and SH2, barely moving. We were happy to reach the Melling Bridge around 4pm and Frieda and I were extra happy that Bruce had ridden to his home, got his car and was waiting to take us up the hill to vehicles at Tristram’s. Paul H continued on to Lowry Bay while Leena and Ann and Neil still had the final push up Normandale Hill to their respective homes. Meanwhile, John had found that the train from the Wairarapa to Wellington had been replaced by a bus that would only take folding bikes! He bought a paper (an Auckland Sunday one!) read it from front to back including the advertisements and spent considerable time in the Fell Museum which he enjoyed. Pat, after a cup of coffee at home, headed off for Featherston, to pick him up, taking an hour from Melling to Stokes Valley (SH2 was still not moving and Eastern Hutt Road only marginally better) and then another hour to Featherston. It was 8pm when we arrived home to have eggs on toast and a glass of wine!! Thanks to Ann and Neil for a very good trip. It was interesting to carry a bit of extra gear and food for the two days – good not to have to take a tent, sleeping bag, cooking utensils, etc though. Leaders: Ann Hayman, Neil Parker; Participants – Pat & John Tristram, Frieda Collie, Bruce Anderson, Leena Stowell, Debbie Bainbridge, Leanda Rock, Paul Haines, Kate Becker and Paul Johansen.

Pat

HVTC CYCLE SKILLS WORKSHOP – 10 MARCH 2020 Elaine Richardson

It was a beautiful sunny autumn day when 11 HVTC members met at Maidstone Park in Upper Hutt. Gary Gibson of Pedal Ready was to train us in some essential skills to help us keep ourselves safe while out cycling. The focus was on some issues connected with cycling in larger groups which often happens on HVTC rides.

We started with some basic skills like cornering and hand signals and graduated quickly onto emergency stops. Here Gary was able to give us all individual tips to hone our skills. Then it was out onto Park Road to improve our actual on road skills. Park Road is a fairly busy Road. It boasts a cycle lane alongside parked cars but Gary was quick to remind us to cycle well out into the cycle lane to avoid being ‘doored’. Then it was time to deal with roundabouts – scary for some! By ‘taking the lane’ we all safely demonstrated that being assertive led to a safe maneuver. More assertiveness was needed when we had to execute a right turn in a busy street – angry hooting woman was to be ignored! Then it was back to our roundabout again – this time four of us becoming a ‘car’. A lot of traffic made for an interesting ride, but once again we all completed the task admirably and were able to return to the starting car park, glad to have had the encouragement and advice of a very able teacher.

I think we all found the course very worthwhile – Gary is an excellent teacher and I have only glossed over the many tips we gained. Something he reminded us to think of when in a large group at an intersection – riding more than two abreast is illegal, so no bunching. I think many of us are guilty of crowding in big groups in this situation and it is something we need to be aware of and avoid.

Thanks to Chris for oraganising and to all participants:

Graeme Lythgoe, Murray and Chris Mc Millan , Pamela Campbell, Pat Tristram, Doreen Courtney, Ann Hayman, Sandra Pearce, Jackie West , Elaine Richardson, John Smeith

Elaine


PLIMMERTON - PUKERUA BAY LOOP

22 March 2020 Tony Birtwhistle

A wet start to the day eased in sufficient time for 6 hardy souls plus one dog to enjoy this normally popular walk but circumstances reduced the group size.

Wind and tide conditions dictated an anti-clockwise route choice ie from Plimmerton we headed inland to Pukerua bay then back via the coast. A 9.20am start in watery sunshine took us through the pleasant back streets of Plimmerton then a steep climb through a Reserve to open spaces with stunning views of the Porirua Basin. A descent via the Pukerua Track on farmland and 10 minutes of tarmac took us to our morning tea stop outside Whenua Tapu – the local burial ground.

Continuing our journey along the shared walk/cycleway which runs from Mana to Pukerua Bay saw the weather improving and the temperature rising. From the township we descended to the beach itself with loos and picnic spots. However we were making good time so the group pushed on along the coast to Te Rewarewa Point and found a sheltered spot with both sun and shade for those of fair skin (including Jo who had forgotten her cap).

We ate our butties keeping a wary eye on Tommy the dog in case she (yes, Tommy is a she) eschewed dog biscuits for something more tasty. The tide was ebbing permitting an easy rock scramble around the point and, now sheltered from the wind, we headed for Karehana Bay known for its sting rays. (Note: Literature states that the Point can be rounded at all levels of tide. This isn’t the case – Jo and I attempted this on a High, Spring tide with a strong on-shore wind and had to retreat from the subsequent breaking waves. There followed a most unpleasant scramble upwards and across farmland to reach our destination. Also note - this from Jo - that Tony, having spent years at sea, should have checked the tide before we planned the trip!)

The walk along the beach had us ploughing through shingle in hot sunshine reminiscent of the day we tramped along the beach to and from the gannet colony in Hawke’s Bay. Sweat ran down my back but I carry the pack with most of our gear – this from Tony. At the lagoon we paused to re-group and observed the water level was way down on previous visits with no wildfowl to be seen.

A short gallop along the road originally formed for the local quarry to collect shingle took us through a Maori settlement to the beginning of tarmac and our cars. The time taken was a shade over 4.5 hours nearly an hour shorter than the previous occasion but reflecting a small, fit team!

Trippers were Tony and Jo (Leaders), Heather and Rob, Jim, Clare (Jo’s friend) and Tommy the Dog.

Tony


PICTORIAL QUIZ

Here are some images from a very memorable tramp I was on some years ago. See if you can identify where we went.

The views expressed in the articles in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the Hutt Valley Tramping Club. Any queries or comments should be directed to the writer of the article. Contributions to the Hills & Valleys are welcomed and encouraged but all are accepted on the understanding that the Editor has the authority to make minor changes if deemed necessary, refer back to the contributor for amendment, or return the contribution for amendment by the Writer.

Documents

DATE: May 2020 Vol. 73 No. 04Hokitika Gorge, up the Whitcombe River to Frew Hut, Frew Stream to Frew Saddle, down the Hokitika headwaters for a bit, then over Homeward Ridge to Sir