This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 92, no 6, July 2020
Variations on Lowry Gollans Headwaters Medium Trip
Wednesday 10th June
Twenty enthusiastic participants (all club members but one) assembled on a bright early winter morning faced with a largely off-track experience. Entering the middle ridge between the two upper Gollans tributaries we encountered a notice stating: ‘this is a bait line not a tramping track’. Clearly that did not refer to experienced TTC trampers. Despite our diligence, we soon found that we were well off our intended path, and in so doing established a new route to the valley floor. There is a cautionary message there somewhere.
The overall trip route took us up the Lees Grove Track to just short of Lowry trig. At this point we went off track down the main ridge between the two headwater branches of Gollans Stream. Realising we had veered off the main ridge, we took a decision to continue in a southwest direction down a spur to the valley floor about 15 minutes from top forks – a new route if nothing else. From there, up the slope to the west to meet the Ridge Track and onto Lowry summit. We returned to the cars via the Rata Ridge Track and Fern Gully Track.
About 1.5 hours from the start of the trip, we had an incident when a branch of a rotten tree struck one of our members on the head. As a precautionary measure that person was walked back out, accompanied by four members of the group, and transported to Hutt hospital for treatment. We understand that he is OK. In these situations it is important that there are at least three people involved in assisting the injured person; one person to stay with the injured person if they can’t be walked out, and two to carry on and seek assistance.
Special thanks to those who assisted in the incident: Dave Reynolds (one of the most experienced in our group and a paramedic), Carolyn Jenkins, Jane-Pyar Maunter, and Howard Larsen. An accident report has been filed with the club.
The take home message is don’t go on a trip without Dave Reynolds , or others with similar skills.
The trip was completed in just under the anticipated 5.5 hours.
[Ed: Paul McCredie says, “I think take out is - is it time the Wednesday brigade started wearing helmets?” Mike Crozier’s response: "Do we have to Paul? Many of us are already wearing glasses and hearing aids and using poles and ibuprofen - and that's just to get us to the start of the track!"]
- Party members
- Karen Commons, Mike Crozier (leader and scribe), Ursula Evans, Alan Graham, Paddy Gresham, Lesley Haines, Craig Jackson, Carolyn Jenkins, Justin Kerr, Howard Larsen, Kair Lippiatt, Liz Martin, Jane-Pyar Mautner, David McNabb, Lisa Northcote, Dave Reynolds, Penny Salmond, John Thomson, Helena Weller-Chew, Peter Williams