This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 93, no 10 November 2021
Lowry Bay - Lees Grove Wainui E
Wednesday 13 October 2021
The weather outlook was decidedly unpromising, but nine keen trampers met at Lowry Bay, clad in rugged outdoor gear appropriate for the conditions.
We set off up the Cheviot Track through luxuriant native bush. Drizzle commenced. Our enthusiasm at this stage was high. On reaching the top of the ridge, it was apparent that the temperature was falling.
We turned right along the Main Ridge Track in a southerly direction. Shivers, it was cold, so a stop was made at a sheltered spot on the track for hot drinks and nibbles.
Our intrepid group continued on. The wind whistled through the trees. A series of knolls followed, leading some to question how many more knolls were to come. The leader replied helpfully, but not convincingly, that we would soon be in the shelter of the Wainui side of the hill. We rolled on over the knolls.
Our lunch stop was atop Mount Lowry. Trees dripped upon us. A group photo was taken to commemorate our soggy expedition. We sloshed on past Mount Lowry trig (just a pipe in the ground). After reaching the turnoff to Lees Grove, a steepish descent followed along a good track through misty groves of nikau palms, eerie shapes in the drizzle.
Our walk finished at Lees Grove and we eagerly boarded a bus back to the Hutt Valley.
Because this was a one-way walk, three participants who had parked their cars at Lowry Bay had to walk an extra five kilometres from Waiwhetu to Lowry Bay to retrieve their vehicles, encountering horizontal sleet and gale-force winds en route.
As leader, I thank all who bravely turned out on this wild, wet and windy Wednesday wander.
- Party members
- Alan Benge (Leader and scribe), Barbara Crawford, Julia Fraser, Deborah Holdsworth, Lois Kluger, Helen McNeil, Peter Nixon, Jocelyn Syme, Leon Tang. Non-members (3) were Leon, Jocelyn, and Deborah.