This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 96, no 8, September 2024
Butcher Track-Cattle Ridge-Ōrongorongo Track EM
Wednesday 7 August 2024
Eleven trampers met at the Catchpool for a day out on this old favourite.
We slogged up the steady climb of Butchers Track, taking time to admire glimpses of the lush forest down and across this steep valley. It took us about an hour, and it was great to know that once we reached the junction with Cattle Ridge, the hardest part of the day was over.
We turned to the right, heading up the hill for another few minutes, just in case we could obtain views at the old lookout. But, as we had been warned, it is now overgrown and there is only a small peep back down towards the Catchpool. So we settled down nearby and at least could enjoy the sunshine while we had our welcome cuppa.
Turning to the north-east, we undulated along Cattle Ridge Track to its far end. Although everyone in our group had been on this track in years past, for many of us that was long ago; there was much delight about revisiting this very good track, with views now and then across the Ōrongorongo valley on our right to the wild Remutaka Range high above.
For our lunch stop, we diverged left onto Browns Track for a few minutes to find a sunny, sheltered spot where we sat in comfort. Had we gone a little further, we would have come to a rocky outcrop with open views, but we decided that shelter from the wind was more to our taste.
Cattle Ridge totalled two hours of walking, including the final steep descent to the junction with the Ōrongorongo Track. Now heading homewards on very familiar territory, the speedier members of our group said a fond farewell before disappearing into the distance.
The rest of us took our time. We had an interesting pause when Paul located the spot where Browns Track begins, including showing us how the Browns Track sign is hidden a few metres up that track, on the 'other' side of a tree, presumably to keep the track's whereabouts a bit secret.
Our last little adventure of the day was to diverge onto the lower part of the Catchpool Loop Track for twenty minutes or so through lovely bush on an excellent track. It made a pleasant change from the usual route and is no longer than it. I recommend this diversion to any groups returning home to the Catchpool.
In total, we climbed about 500m, and walked about 13 km. At a leisurely pace, our tramp lasted 5h 40, making it a perfect offering for a delightful Easy Medium day.
- Party members
- Joan Basher (leader and scribe), Paul Bruce, Trish Gardner-Smith, Carolyn Jenkins, Jane-Pyar Mautner, Cheryl McDonald, Bob Stephens, Alison Stephenson, Tina Stewart, Angela Vanderpoel, Rosemary Wilson.