2005-03-16 < Weekly activities > 2005-04-27
Wednesday March 23, 2005 – Tuesday March 29, 2005
Easter Trips
Two of the trips down south, to use the words of Malcolm Cunningham whose trip was to have gone to the Red Hills in the Marlborough area, were “a total and utter washout”. He decided there was no question of camping at the road end so they went on to the shelter at Lake Rotoiti. The next day they could hardly get out from there thanks to the spectacular flooding (Malcolm says he heard that 140mm of rain had fallen in 6 hours) and had an exciting drive fording ‘streams’ on the way home. As Malcolm philosophically said, “that’s the way tramping goes sometimes”.
Thanks to their shuttle breaking down at 1.00 am, Warwick Hill’s party bound for Mount Owen also ended up at the shelter; they had to wade out when the stream broke its banks! By then they learned the ford at the Wangapeka was impassable so they too came home. However two non-members of their party who lived in the South Island got to the Wangapeka earlier, did get in and did climb Mount Owen – minus, of course, their leader!
Further south, Hugh Barr’s party of 9 (8 members and 1 non-member) had much better luck doing a convivial trip in the Arthur’s Pass area. On Thursday they went from Klondyke Corner via the Minga to Edward’s Hut where they spent the night. Although it rained at night, they were able to go the next day over Tarahuna Pass and Tarn Saddle to the Otehake, and then on over Walker Pass to Hawdon Hut. Again, they had rain at night but on Saturday continued to a camp at the Hawdon Shelter, and then spent the next day going up to Hallelulia Flats and the Andrews Bivy. En route, five of the nine members had an unfortunate encounter with wasps.
Peter Archer’s Family Trip to Raurimu Lodge also went well. After driving up on Friday, on Saturday they did a five hour tramp on the old Blythe track to Blythe Hut. On Sunday one group went to Tama Lakes, another went cycling on part of the “42 Traverse” and two members went horse riding. Most travelled home on Monday but some tramped to Lake Rotokura. There were 7 members and 4 non-members on this trip.
Day Trips
On the Wednesday before Easter Pat Reesby had ten on her E/M trip from Karori to Island Bay. They climbed up from the Wildlife Sanctuary on to Wright’s Hill, went on to Hawkins Hill and down to the coast at Red Rocks. Several indulged in a café stop on the way to catch the bus at Island Bay.
Peter Lapsley led an E/M Sunday trip up from Clay Ridge to McKerrow. They had two heavy showers but were undeterred and the mist cleared at the right moment to give views of Wellington. Peter distributed Easter eggs as he had promised to the five members who went with him.
Total
Over the Easter week 36 (28 members and 8 non-members) took part in the Club expeditions that were able to run – at least 20 others had the best of intentions!