2022-02-23 < Weekly activities > 2022-03-09
Activity summary: Wednesday 2021 March 2nd to Tuesday 2021 March 8th
Wednesday
Cannon Point Walkway, EM, Linda Beckett
Topo Map
We had 18 and pretty good weather. It's a nice walk - a mixture of a climb to the trig (.345), Birchville dam and back along a stream through the bush.
Everybody made it out alive after 4.5 hours. I was pleased! An even balance of easy mediums and mediums so slower than usual, but at the same time fairly relaxed.
Tramp/bike: Kiriwhakapapa, Mikimiki, M, Celia Wade-Brown
Topo Map
Five of us all tramped there and back, no bikes, with Skye dog as a good companion. Nice and sheltered on a drizzly day. Left at 10:15, back at Mikimiki car park at 15:20.
Crossed paths with Palmerston North Tramping Club trampers. Two fallen trees and a stream to cross, otherwise easy path.
Interesting to see the eucalyptus and redwoods planted by the Forest Service in the 1930s still flourishing, as well as plenty of healthy native beech, rata, rimu, karamu and other typical Tararua species. We saw a miromiro (tomtit) and heard a number of tūī or korimako.
Harry Todd – Turere – Nikau Creek, SF, Colin Cook
Harry Todd Reserve Info(approve sites)
Topo Map
Four members completed a seven and one half hour loop in the Remutaka Forest Park, entering via the Harry Todd Track and exiting down the very steep and little used Nikau Creek Track.
In between they completed a middle crossing of the Turere valley, descending a spur off Bump 680 which was notable for the complete absence of both markers and all signs of trapping activity. We think we know why!
Saturday
Lockheed Ventura Crash Site, Mick, M, Colin Cook
Topo Map
Seven members walked up the Mick Track at the head of the Waitohu Valley, intent on locating the site of the February 1946 Lockheed Ventura crash. Some of the party had visited the site in earlier times but doubts had arisen as to its exact location.
As it turned out, a piece of wreckage placed track side had become somewhat obscured due to wind fall; after sighting that, pinning down the precise location was straight forward. Party members went on to inspect a large area, finding one of the engines and other wreckage.
Crash info(approve sites)
Sunday
Mt. Kaukau and Skyline, E/M, Tricia Walbridge
Topo Map
We started off from Khandallah pool, 6 TTC members, all with vax passes. One turned back shortly afterwards as they were feeling unwell (not Covid symptoms) and subsequently texted, as requested, to say they were safely back at the Khandallah pool car park.
The remaining five of us continued on up to Mt. Kaukau (Tarikākā) and then took the brave decision to continue southwards along the Skyline Walkway towards Johnson's Hill, rather than take the (relatively) more sheltered route along the Te Araroa walkway to Ohariu Valley. This turned out to be overly optimistic as we got increasingly battered by the wind, so a unanimous decision was made to head off the Skyline down Bell's Track to Ngaio, then along the road to Simla Crescent where we were able to pick up the bush track back to Khandallah park and the very welcome Cafe du Parc!