2016-03-23 < Weekly activities > 2016-04-05
Activity summary: Wednesday 2016 Mar 30 to Tuesday 2016 Apr 05
Wednesday: ‘’’David Oglive’’’ led MF Trip on of the Clay Ridge track and the McKerrow-Orongorongo River track, arriving there at 2 pm. We then went back to the carpark the easy way. The valley has cleaned out in the past 11 years, so the pools are back, and the waterfalls are at least 2 m higher. The trip has changed from EM to MF.
‘’’Jan Nye’’’ led the medium group from Porirua Station through the Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve, and across Takapu Road into Belmont Hills. The group was escorted across Takapu Road by a burley workman who was surprised to see so many people wandering amongst the heavy earth moving equipment. The group lunched in perfect conditions by the Belmont trig, preceded to Oakleigh Street and down the Waterfall track to Percy Reserve. They covered 17 km in 6 ½ Hours, with 20 members
‘’Weekend’’:'’’Alan graham’’’ led A trip to Mangahao hut, leaving Wellington in very heavy rain which continued right up to Otaki. After about three hours driving arriving at the road end bu the Mangahao Upper Number 1 Reservoir. There was pretty much no water in the reservoir so we walked along its side to the track at the head of the lake. For 6 ½ hours we tramped through good bush on an unbenched track to Mangahao Flats Hut, crossing three bridges along the way and avoiding a big detour over a slip by crossing and re-crossing the Mangahao River. It rained overnight. Our seven hour return trip involved taking the detour over the slip as the river was too high to cross. The detour involved some very steep climbing and ropes were provided in two places. It was mostly a showery day so the track was wet, dark and slippery. The Mangahao Upper Number 1 Reservoir had risen 4m by our return. So it must have rained very heavily overnight. We took the track beside it to get back to the dam, With 5 members
‘’Saturday’’ ‘’’Peggy Munn’’’ led the medium trip to Holdworth, leaving Wellington in heavy rain. Was it going to be worth it? The weather was better in the Wairarapa so we set off in the dry but not for long. The trip went up to Forest Lookout, through Gentle Annie Saddle, up onto Carrington Ridge and then onto the old Gentle Annie track. By this time we were soaked. The leader had a cunning plan - a quick march on the main track to Mountain House for shelter and billy boiling for a nice hot cup of tea. Alas! The shelter was overflowing with 60 girls on a Duke of Ed exercise. Fortunately it had ceased to rain so we boiled our billy under the trees whilst being entertained by 60 teenage girls. A rumour spread that there was cell phone reception but squeals of delight soon turned to disappointment. We next took the track down to the Atiwhakatu and turned towards Donelly Flat. Just before the flat we headed back upstream on the old track and crossed the river to head up a spur over 634 onto Pinnacle Ridge. The old footpad had been cleared by Wayne Griffen who has done an amazing job and this is a very nice route. It was a rather long day at nearly 9 hours, with 5 members and 1 non member.
Total 30 members