2012-09-05 < Weekly activities > 2012-10-10
Tramping Reports Wednesday 2012 Sep 12 to Tuesday 2012 Sep 18
Wednesday:
John Foden led 4 members on a Ramble. They were met at the beginning of the Kelson Track with hail showers and a ("damn") cold southerly.They decided instead to look at some tracks in Speedys Reserve. They were delighted to find a charming benched bush track heading north along Speedys Stream, which they followed for an hour and a half before lunch and return. Track had been formed as a bridle track in the 1890s, was earlier a Maori war trail into Hutt Valley.
Syd Edwards led a walk to Te Marua Lakes, Tane Track, with 8 members. It rained but wasn't cold. They enjoyed a 4-hour walk, went through a couple of tunnels. (E)
Tricia French led 8 members, 1 non-member on a MF trip. They enjoyed snow falling at the beginning of their walk, which however led them to call off their off-track exploration to 720m on Mt Tauherenikau. Instead they tramped to Tutuwai for lunch and then out.
Ski week 9-14 Sept: Carol Kelly led the ski week. They had up to 14 people there at various times. Monday to Wednesday it snowed, and they were snug in Tararua Lodge with good food and company. Thursday and Friday they had great skiing on fresh snow.
Weekend:
Alistair Betts' ski-weekend was cancelled due to bad forecast and lack of support.
Tom White's Taranaki – Pouakai Circuit has been postponed to 28-30 September.
Vicki Wogan led the Hunters and Gatherers Gourmet tramp to Waerenga. 8 members and 2 non-members. "We dressed in the Hunters and Gatherers theme and dressed the table with a white tablecloth and matching white dinner ware. Started with Hors d'oeuvres at 6pm and ate our way through some spectacular courses, some of which had good wine matches. Once we had eaten a course (and the dishes had been done) the next chef got up to prepare their course. We ran out of steam and so stopped at course no. 7 and went to bed. We picked up again on Sunday morning and had dessert for breakfast, petit fours and coffee for morning tea and cheese board and fruit for lunch while sitting in the hot sun on the deck."
Saturday:
Russell Cook led a M off-track walk with 12 members and 1 non-member. They ascended from the Mikimiki track to Bruce Hill: grand views of snow-covered Mitre and Kings. Then followed animal trails along the Blue Range ridge to Te Mara peak; dropped down a southerly spur to the saddle on the Kiriwhakapapa-Mikimiki track and back to road end. 8 hours.
Sunday:
Colleen Davey led 16 members and 2 non-members on an EM walk from Pukerua Bay station to Plimmerton via the inland track and back via the coast. They had glorious weather, first lunch at Plimmerton. Then walked past the marae and quarry and had second lunch on the rocks, watching the big waves. The coast path was very bouldery and quite a clamber. They caught the 3:23 back to Wellington, beating the rain.
Geoff Marshall led a cycle trip, listed from Paekakariki to Pekapeka, with 5 members and 1 non-member. They had an enjoyable and interesting ride, but with a couple of mishaps. One rider fell off going over a speed bump at the start, but though grazed was able to continue with the trip. When they got to Waikanae, another rider discovered that his bike-frame was cracked, so they decided to turn back instead of going all the way to Pekapeka. The frame held together for the trip back.
Total 74 members and 7 non members
John Thomson: 'Rimutaka Incline - Tunnel Gully, E/M. On Wednesday 26th. The travel will be on the old railway line and on forestry roads - the Easy end of E/M. Meet 9.10am at Ngaio Town Hall or at 9.30am at the Block Road car park. Ring leader if further details required.