This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 84, no 5, June 2012
Abbotts Creek to Rimutaka Summit - (E/M)
Sunday 25 March 2012
Summer having not arrived in Wellington this year, 17 of us were keen to make the most of a fine but windy Sunday morning. Meeting at the Rimutaka Summit at 10am, we left two cars there and drove down to the twin bridges at Abbott Creek. After carefully crossing the road we made our way up a 4 wheel drive track, stopping to pick ripe blackberries. Part way up, we left the track and entered into gentle bush which gave way to low lying scrub.
Morning tea was had at the rock chimney while we admired the extensive views of the Wairarapa. We continued up the ridge line until we met the main ridge. There we ate lunch looking over to the muddy and desolate Lake Wairarapa whilst the conversation in our group meandered through the state of the stockmarket, the devastation to paddocks by unchecked Canadian Geese, the pros and cons of deep sea oil drilling and the merits or otherwise of domestic cats.
After lunch we followed the ridge line in a westerly direction though low scrub, with views of vivid green pastures of Kaitoke ahead and the main Tararua Range to the North. So far the secateurs had not been needed as there was evidence that the track had recently been trimmed. The power pylon at Burnt Spur whirred eerily in the wind as we regrouped before entering the very pretty bush, which again brought us out onto a gorse lined track.
Being high up, the steady stream of cars looked small as they wound up and down the Rimutaka Hill Road and the extensive road works were dwarfed by the hill, which we could still see over the top of through to Lake Wairarapa. Making our way up and down through gorse, we arrived back at the summit at 3.30, lamenting the demise of the café. There followed a logistical exercise of how many cars were needed to transport drivers down to retrieve the cars.
Thanks Bob, great weather, great views and great company all made for a most enjoyable day in the hills.
- Party members
- Bob Cyffers (Leader), Michael Berrisford, Sandra Bourgingnon, Colleen Davey (scribe), Michele Dickson, Brian Hasell, Sally Hasell, Diane Head, Mark Henderson, Mary Inglis, Einar Jensen, Alan Knowles, Syd Moore, Lynne Pomare, Peter Shanahan, Barbara Stet, Adrienne Vermueulen.