2025-04-09 < Weekly activities > 2025-04-23
Activity summary: Wednesday 2025 Apr 16 to Tuesday 2025 Apr 22
Wednesday
E, Queen Elizabeth Park led by Anne and Hadley Bond. 9M
We drove out to the Paekakariki campground and started our tramp by criss crossing between the coast and inland tracks. We had a very early morning tea and a good length of time for lunch then returned to our cars via the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, a tired but happy bunch.
EM, gentler, Rata Ridge, from Lees Grove led by Muriel Christianson. 5M and 1NM
Our group of six, including five TTC members and one 11 year old grandson completed the Rata Ridge trip. Weather was comfortable, cloudy and mostly calm. We ascended Lees Grove track to Rata Ridge, then proceeded to the junction with the Main Ridge Track for morning tea. We then walked along the Main Ridge Track to the Wainuiomata Lookout. As this was cool with some breeze, we commenced our return along the Main Ridge Track, finding a comfortable bush spot for lunch. We returned past Mt Lowry along Rata Ridge to the Fern Gully Track, descending back to our cars. Five and a half hours, 10 km.
EM, brisker, Harvaard Spur, McKerrow Tr, Clay Ridge, Middle Ridge led by Joanne Gapes. 7M
Seven club members walked the circuit. After walking up the 5 Mile Loop Track, along Clay Ridge Track for 20 metres we walked down and crossed the McKerrow Stream to a blue arrow sign indicating the Spur route. Harvard Spur route was reasonably clear of windfalls and underfoot was not slippery. The initial climb was steep, then a solid uphill walk to meet the McKerrow Track. We turned left, continued past a white sign and on for an hour, gradually climbing to meet the Clay Ridge track. We had lunch, then continued down and out along Middle Ridge track. Trip time 6 hours 10 minutes.
M, Cannons Creek – Cannons Head via Round Knob led by Marg Pearce. 15M
This medium trip turned into an EM because of wind. 15 members were on the trip that was dry and sunny but the wind was much stronger than forecast and it was an absolute battle along the ridge to Cannons Head and Round Knob. We arrived at Round Knob at 11.30 and would have gone on to the Belmont airstrip but I could tell the party did not feel like any more struggle against the wind, so we turned around, descended and found a spot with a panoramic view on the return track. We arrived back at the car park after a little less than five hours. Our distance was about 12 km and our elevation gain about 600 metres.
SF, Hemi Matenga and Kaitawa Scenic Reserves led by Bill Allcock. 3M
Three members had several opportunities to utilise their bush mountaineering skills - also referred to as vertical grovelling. There is a lot of short but seriously steep territory in the reserves. Visited the Lodestar plane crash site. Spent the better part of two hours in stream travel. Weather was early autumn ideal in the bush, out of the strong southerly. Eight hours go to whoa.
April 15th to 17th
Grand parent tramp, Powell Jumbo Circuit led by Lynne White. 7M 9 children
Seven adults and nine children aged 6 - 13 joined the school holiday Grandparent Trip; our original plan to do the Powell Jumbo circuit had been jettisoned due to the adverse weather forecast. Instead, two separate groups set off from Catchpool carpark and Sunny Grove, converging on Waerenga Hut for a cosy night with full sleeping platforms, mattresses on the floor and more people outside! Next day we had a wonderful exploration of Brown’s Stream and its main tributary, following blue, orange and any other track markers that took our fancy before returning to the hut for an early lunch and returning to Catchpool carpark along Five Mile Track. We managed to squeeze all 16 people and their packs into three cars to ferry us back to Sunny Grove. A good time was had by all.
46 members and 10 non-members