2018-10-23 < Weekly activities > 2018-10-31
Activity summary: Wednesday Oct 17th 2018 to Tuesday Oct 30th 2018
Wednesday
Lois Hope, E, Westwind Recreational Area near Makara
9 trampers set off into strong wind, drizzle and low cloud, wondering if we would complete the loop. However, once into the trees we soon warmed up and enjoyed the walk down towards the beach.
There is some work being done on the track – it was rough and wet in places. We found a pleasant grassy spot for lunch out of the wind, and the rain had stopped. Then we set off up the road and back to the cars via a loop thru the pine forest.
Warwick Wright, MF, South of Mt. Reeves
6 members left the car park at the end of Waiohine Valley Road at 8.30 am and walked up the farm road to the Mt Reeves Track. Three hours later we stood on Mt Reeves in sunny, calm conditions and spent some time enjoying the views before returning about 400 metres down the track where we stopped for lunch.
After lunch we left the track and headed down a long, complex spur to Taits Stream. There were regular stops on the way down to check the GPS and compass. From the stream, a steep 250 m climb took us to a point about halfway along the ridge that runs north-east from Pt 468 to Rocky Knob. A well defined route along the ridge led us to Rocky Knob, where we stopped for afternoon tea before returning down the Mt Reeves Track to the cars.
Although the last hour was a little breezy, the sun stayed out and there was no rain. 1300 m ascent, 6 hours 45 minutes.
Dave Reynolds, M, Makahika – Te Araroa circuit
Medium trip to Makahika area on the Te Araroa track, 7 members, cloudy conditions and no views, and afternoon rain.
Saturday
Lois Buckrell, East Harbour, Hawtrey
The forecast was for afternoon rain and gales, so instead of the planned East Holdsworth circuit I did a shorter trip with Marg Pearce and Hera Cook up from Days Bay along the ridge route and down to Butterfly Creek then up a spur back to meet the Hawtrey track and down again. Good forest and back just as the rain set in. 4.5 hours.
Sunday
Nikki Joseph, MF, Mt. Matthews
In an impromptu trip organised on the previous Wednesday, a party of 4 members & 1 non-member went on "training walk" up Mt. Matthews via the Goat Stream track, returning same way. Nikki had to get her compass out at the confluence of blue packing tape, pink triangles & brand new permolat markers at around 440m to check the spur direction.
We had great fun and good company. There was beautiful weather on summit. It was difficult to leave our spot over looking Lake Onoke to come back down: 10 hrs including a 1 hr lunch break. We plodded up: didn’t race.
Tricia Walbridge, EM, Belmont Hills
We entitled today's trip a Tribute Tramp in memory of longstanding TTC member Janet McMenamin, who passed away last Monday, 22 October. People sported orange tops and jackets, and orange ribbons on their packs, in recognition of Janet's favourite colour.
23 people came, and all but one were members of TTC. This must be quite a record for a Sunday trip at this time of the year, and l'm sure was a recognition of how many people wanted to remember Janet and her love of tramping.
Our trip route started at Dry Creek carpark, by the junction of Hebden Crescent and SH2, and went up the Buchanan Track to Boulder Hill. Janet's partner, Bob Cijffers, lead the way, appropriately, to the top, and then, after a rather blustery morning tea sheltering among the gorse, he and five others continued south through Belmont Regional Park, passed the airstrip and wartime bunkers, Round Knob and Cannon's Head to Belmont Trig, down to Baked Bean Bend and out of the Park at Cornish Street in Petone.
The main group returned via the undulating Dry Creek Track, enjoying lunch in a lovely, sunny, sheltered spot before the steep descent back to the car park, there to pop the corks and raise our glasses of bubbles to Janet's memory.
Total 51 members and 2 non members