DATE: February 2019 Vol. 72 No. 01

Final camp, Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Loop Photo: Andrew Robinson

Please submit your March 2019 H&V articles to the editor by 2nd March 2019 HVTC Postal Address: PO Box 30-883, : Clubrooms: Birch Street Reserve, Birch Street, Waterloo Internet: http://www.hvtc.org.nz E-mail: [email protected]

President: Phaedra Upton 021 023 26726 Secretary: Murray Presland 562 8194 Trip Coordinator: Nick McBride 021 410 551 Treasurer: Jim Cousins 586 2135 Editor H&V: Bruce Miller 563 5966 [email protected]

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WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAMME

Starts 8.00 pm promptly 30 January : Chris and Jackie West – Walk 2; English National Trails. Early in 2018 the Wests spent 6 weeks in England. The highlight of which was 6 days walking the Ridgeway and 9 on the Cleveland Way in Yorkshire. 6 February : Graeme Lythgoe – Big Bay/Hollyford. For his extended tramping trip in 2018 Graeme and the group flew into Big Bay, tramped to Martins Bay and out via the Hollyford. Come along and see images of this classic tramping area. 13 February : Rene Davies and Keith Thomas – Walking off track in the MacDonnell Ranges. While the Larapinta Trail provides an excellent introduction to walking in the MacDonnell Ranges, walking off track provides the experienced tramper/bushwalker with many opportunities to explore this ancient landscape with gorges flanked by red sandstone walls, rocky peaks and ridges rarely visited. The open and rocky terrain partially covered by spinifex (depending on when it was last burnt) allows you to walk anywhere. Off track extended walks have to be approved by rangers. The only physical limiting factor is water and it is important to know where you are likely to find it. Our talk will focus on these lesser known areas of this magnificent National Park. Sales Table run by Graeme Lythgoe. Bring your cash and your saleable items. 20th February : Zita and Mike Wespel-Rose – Cape Rienga to Bluff by bike - the pensioners version Christmas 2017 Zita and Mike rode their bikes from Cape Rienga to following the Tour Aoteroa route but independently. This Christmas they plan to complete the rest of the trip from Picton to Bluff. Hear how they got on. 27th February: Dennis Page – Cruising Fiordland on the Milford Wanderer In early September 2018, 32 lucky HVTC members, led by Graeme Lythgoe, headed south to Manapouri to explore by boat, the southernmost fiords of 's largest national park. The trip was hosted by Real Journeys and began with an exhilarating chopper ride to Preservation Inlet to rendezvous with the Milford Wanderer and then commenced a delightful week of cruising and exploring six of the seven most southern fiords in the country. Tonight we showcase some of the country's pristine natural history and beauty but in addition, we highlight the wealth of early European history the area has to offer - A history that predates much of that which occurred in Northland and is perhaps under-appreciated by many.

6 March: Andrew Robinson – Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Loop Seven club members spent 9 days over New Year exploring the Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, following the Te Pua-a-Tāne loop. Lots of birdlife and big trees, occasional mountain bikers and thunderstorms, the odd bit of windfall and a cave made for an interesting and varied trip.

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FORTHCOMING TRIPS

TRIP CATEGORIES

Tramping Cycling T = Overnight or longer tramping trip D = Day tramp = Very easy = Intermediate = Dog Friendly = Advanced = Moonlight Walk = Easy

NOTES Where there is no leader given for a trip, please contact the Trip Coordinator to volunteer to lead a trip, either as shown or an alternative.

FEBRUARY 2019 feb Marton and surrounds Michael Grace 563 9040 tba

1 – 3 TARARUA FOREST PARK: T1 Cow Creek hut Jim Cousins 586 2135

Su 3 D1 Mountain house loop Irene Davies 021 056 6442

2 – 7 NORTH CANTERBURY : Lewis Pass T1 St James Walkway Kate Livingston Fully booked

Leader required Tu 5 Karapoti challenge Murray Presland 562 8194

9 – 11 TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK: Ruapehu Lodge T1 Lodge Work Party Ian McIlraith 475 8458

10 – 11 REMUTAKA FOREST PARK Su 10 D1 Orongorongo hunters camp Jim Cousins 586 2135 D1 Clothes Optional day trip Patrick 567 0157

Fotheringham

Mana Trails: Spicer Link Tu 12 Mana Trails: Utiwai

Makara circuit Graeme Lythgoe 479 6630 Thu 14

16 – 17 TARARUA FOREST PARK: Wairarapa T1 Camp on Cone C & J West 528 4697 T2 Neill Winchcombe Murray Presland 022 656 8309 Su 17 D1 Puke Ariki traverse Marina Skinner 021 792 260

Tu 20 Clubrooms-Waiwhetu Stream Helen Lukes 589 7484 Shared meal Eastern Hutt Hills Murray Presland 022 656 8309 clubrooms D1 Walk Margaret Aiken 566-2731

23 – 24 REMUTAKA FOREST PARK: Orongorongo river T1 Papatahi hut Emma Dobbie 027 252 5045 T2 Remutaka exploration Jim Cousins 586 2135 Su 24 D1 Old 5 Mile – Cattle Ridge Tony Birtwistle 934 9229

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Tu 26 Korokoro Stream Debbie Bainbridge 027 209 3721 Belmont trig-Korokoro Strm Phaedra Upton 021 023 26726

Round the Bays Th 28

28 Feb–6 Mar MOKIHINUI - LYELL BACKCOUNTRY Marina Skinner T1 Old Ghost Road Fully booked Pamela Campbell

MARCH

Country Road cycling Frank and Robyn 569 5996 tba weekend Usmar

2 – 3 TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK T1 Pinus contorta eradication John Simes 565 0259 Su 3 D1 Pinnacle Ridge David Barnes 021 143 7281

Belmont-Harcourt Park Tu 5 Belmont-Dry Crk-Boulder Hill Andrew Robinson 586 2438

9 – 10 TARARUA FOREST PARK: Otaki T2 Ohau-Otaki Rivers Murray Presland 022 656 8309 Su 10 D1 Kaitoke-Te Marua ridge track John Evans 0204 166 4410

Leader required Tu 12 Battle Hill Puketiro loop

10 – 19 HAURAKI GULF T2 Great Barrier Island Graeme Lythgoe Fully booked

UPCOMING EVENTS

SALES TABLE 13 February. This month the Sales Table will be held on the day before St Valentine’s Day. Please bring along items that you wish to donate to this effort. Home baking and preserves are especially welcome. Garden produce is also popular so bring along all the excess from you vegetable garden. Everyone else bring some cash to purchase some goodies with. This is chance to relieve yourselves of unappreciated Christmas gifts. Prices are always reasonable. . Graeme Lythgoe RUAPEHU LODGE WORK PARTY 9 – 11 February

The first Ruapehu Lodge work party of 2019 is scheduled for the weekend of 9-11 February. Here is your chance to help with the maintenance that keeps the lodge running for you. A participant in a previous year said “Who knew that work could be such fun?” You get to climb on

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roofs, ladders, decks and scaffolds. Also to wield hammers, saws, screw drivers and paint brushes. The "après work" facilities are outstanding. So come and join in the fun. We are looking for 10-12 able bodied persons to undertake thorough cleaning of the lodge, changing mattress covers etc., we want to complete the painting of the north end wall and we want to continue with the stripping of the paint on the concrete blocks plus re-mortaring and sealing the blocks. We won’t have the benefit of using the chair lift for access this year so all tools and materials will have to be carried, although we don’t expect to have too much of this. If you are interested please sign the sheet in the clubroom or, better, contact Ian McIlraith on ph. 4758458 ([email protected]).

PINUS CONTORTA 01 – 03 March

Here is a notification of the next Pinus contorta trip so make sure you write it on your calendar. It has been about 40 years since the club started doing this environmental exercise to help keep the National Park clear of rogue pine trees. It was originally started by Duncan Cunningham and then taken up by the Tristrams and John Gregory for quite some time. After this Jan Heine and Bruce Miller did it for some years and now Bruce and I have been working on it for a good few years. There may well have been others. It is a great way to make a contribution back into the country we recreate in. It is always an enjoyable and sociable experience and interesting in that you will be spending quality time combing over an area we would normally flit past rather quickly. Hence you are more likely to discover items of interest. We will likely be joined by members of the Wanganui Tramping Club as we have done for the last two years. We don’t yet know exactly where we will be working except it will be on the southern or south eastern slopes of Ruapehu below the round the mountain track. There will be some communal food provided and DOC normally supply meat and this is often local venison. There will be a nominal charge for food but transport is covered by koha from DOC for our efforts. More details to be provided soon. The trip list will soon be up in the Clubroom so make sure you get your name on it or contact John Simes on 565 0259, at [email protected] ======BITS OF INFO FROM THE GENERAL COMMITTEE

Our Club receives information each month from many sources, much of which you will not be aware of – so here is a brief summary of stuff that has arrived recently: Escarpment Walkway: During the period 1 January – 16 October 2018 27,477 people walked the track! Daily averages – weekdays = 60 ; weekend days = 184 people. Busiest day of the week = Sunday; busiest day this year = Anzac Day when 897 people walked the track. 60% of people walk southwards from Paekakariki.

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The Friends of Mana Island recently celebrated their 20th Anniversary with an exhibition and short talks at Pataka Museum in Porirua about the restoration of Mana Island. You can follow the event in two short videos – at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycmm_B7CHUo and a walk- through of the exhibition at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_R95Sx9z-A&feature=youtu.be . FOMI frequently organise work parties on Mana, which they advise us of by e-mail message. Let me ([email protected]) know if you would like these forwarded to you Recent newsletters from Te Araroa Wellington Trust, Friends of Mana Island, Manawatu Tramping and Skiing Club, Kaumatua Tramping Club, and Remutaka Conservation Trust are displayed in the Club Library for a few weeks after they arrive – or you can ask me ([email protected]) for an electronic copy.

Interested in exploring a different part of the Central Otago tussockland ranges? Welcome Rock Trails offers hiking, biking and accommodation options over a private 27 km trail (21 km is newly formed single track) on the range east of Garston (64 km south of Queenstown) and leading off from the top of the Nevis Road. Information is available at https://www.welcomerock.co.nz/ .

Help: We need volunteers for a couple of occasional, but essential, tasks – Clubroom Bookings – Patrick Fotheringham has managed bookings for the Clubrooms for – ummm, a very long time, but would like to be relieved of the task. There are a number of regular users (easily scheduled) plus occasional requests to use the clubrooms for an event – requiring a check for any clash. Patrick assures it is not an onerous task – but it must be managed well as it is a public interface for us, plus a source of income. If you can volunteer please talk to Patrick (ph 567 0157) about the task or contact the Club Secretary (Murray Presland ph 562 8194). Electronic Address Maintenance – Our Club is increasingly disseminating information using internet addressing. Doug Flux has set up address lists for several tasks – eg for distributing newsletters and other Club information, notices of bike rides – but the lists need to be maintained and new members’ addresses added (that information coming from the Membership Officer). Doug is happy to continue managing the electronic lists but should have a deputy who is also authorised to edit the lists as necessary. It will not be an onerous task, but it is one that is essential for managing communication efficiently within the Club. If you are able to help, please talk to Doug (ph 529 8960 or 027 383 6087).

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General Committee Items: At recent meetings we have needed to consider:  Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding we have with DoC for use of Papatahi Hut. For the past five years we have been granted free access for 8 nights, over 4 weekends, per year. The usual fee for use of the hut is $100 per night. The MOU expires in May 2019 and the Club has opened discussion with the Wellington Area Operations Manager about its renewal.  The Centenary of our Club will arrive in June, 2023. That is a long way off but some possible projects to celebrate this milestone would take considerable preparation. As a first step the members of the General Committee are listing the events that each would like to happen – rather than just those that would, by convention, happen. When that exercise is complete, we intend to publish our ideas for all members to consider and to seek your suggestions – but you could put your thinking caps on now, about the events you would like to take part in during the celebrations.  We have noted, with regret, that Pat and John have retired from organising the regular (monthly) after-ride meals on Tuesday evenings during summers – a task they have managed for nearly 10 years. Thank you, Pat and John, for the pleasure and fine cuisine you have very successfully brought to the many Club members who have joined you after their bike exertions! Murray Presland (email: [email protected])

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Please join us in welcoming these new members to the Club Ida Yassein Ross Jamieson Liz Lander Jocelyn Turnbull Reuben Smith Bjorn Johns Sarah Griffiths Smith Gary Siddells Deborah Ryan Anne Anderson Jennifer Deben Aaron Wynyard John Willmer Yvonne Wynyard Jocelyn Woof Alan Benge

Please remember to advise the Membership Officers if your email address changes.

Irene Davies and Keith Thomas

Membership Officers

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TREV AND THORA JONES

As Andrew’s Whirinaki trip put me close to Tauranga, and Brian (Pickering) was going home to Rotorua, half-way there, I had my best chance to see Trev and Thora Jones at last. Thora is still Thora, and energetic as she always was, though time does slow us up. She is still in their very pleasant home at 9 Balmedie Ridge, Bethlehem, Tauranga 3110. Trev has been breaking the odd bone or two, and is now in Matua Radius Hospital, 124 Levers Road, Matua, Tauranga, in care while they mend. He is bright, especially when you talk about old friends, and those good trips they revelled in. Those trips were in the Cobb and Karamea when Trev was working on the Cobb hydro scheme in the 60s, later with us in NW Nelson, i.e. Kahurangi National Park, hunting for kakapo sign, that later we decided were lightning strikes. Trevor’s firelighting skills were well respected, even or especially in the rain (caught on camera at Lake Rotopai to prove that). Now he is not so enthusiastic being stuck in a Hospital. Who is? (Ask Don Millward in OPR Unit, Hutt Hospital.) If you would like a photo of them, I will email it to you. Jan Heine [email protected]

THANKS FOR THE CAKES

The Socials Committee wishes to thank Emma Dobie and George Kendall for the delicious chocolate and fruit cakes enjoyed by the club members at the recent club night. Greatly appreciated by all!

TRIP REPORTS

PINNACLE RIDGE DEVIATION Friday 7 December 2018 Graeme Lythgoe

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Scheduled for the previous day and postponed because of rain and cold, eight of us met at Holdsworth in overcast conditions and a cold southerly wind. The walk up to Atiwhakatu hut was pleasant and we had a short break there. Then it was necessary to cross the river which was still swollen from the previous day’s rain. (I kept dry sandals by carrying a pair of crocs for the two crossings). I had come down the non-DOC track previously and thought I knew where it was but I made an error in crossing a small stream and finding ourselves on a very nice spur. I decided to keep going. Our spur was immediately south of the marked one but going up was easy navigation and the weather was now clearing to bright sunshine. Indeed, from the top we got good views of the tops from Mt. Holdsworth around to South King. We headed south along the ridge track for 15 minutes and stopped for lunch at the marked junction. Again this is an unofficial track but the ground trail is so good, the Where we went. Image: Jim Cousins few markers are hardly necessary. At the bottom we had to ford a stream which might give trouble after heavy rain, and then we sidled on the TL until we could see the old track on the other side and crossed the main river. A few minutes’ walk and we were at Donnelly’s Flats. We had a short stop there and then out to the road-end. The sun was now hot and feeling like high summer - at last! The tramp took about 6.5 hours including all stops. Distance 14km. Total Ascent 750m. Travel Time 3hrs 24min. We rounded out the tramp with a Christmas Mince Pie and coffee/tea at our place in Greytown enjoying the 27 degree late afternoon heat.

Those partaking of a very enjoyable and varied walk were: Cathy and Mike Priest, Russell Oliver, John Smeith, Graham White, Martin Watson, Jim Cousins, Dash (carried across the river twice) and me. Graeme

5 MILE - SOUTH SADDLE - MUKAMUKA - SOUTH COAST Sunday 16 December 2018 Graeme Lythgoe This tramp used to be popular in high summer about 20 - 30 years ago and I thought I would lead it to see how much the terrain had changed. The forecast was good and I called for a very early start to make the most of the cooler part of the day. After meeting at Woburn we left two vehicles at the southern coast before grouping at the Catchpool. We left there at 07:40 hours with the sun already quite high in the sky. It was a pleasant walk through the 5-mile and then out into the sunshine of the Orongrongo Valley. The river level was low and it was refreshing to get one’s feet cool in the clear water. We had a bite to eat about where Baines Hut used to be. That part of Baines Stream is now bank to bank gravel and the wisdom of abandoning the hut and site, long

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since vindicated. There is a short stretch of gravel up to where the track takes to the bush and begins a steep climb towards the main range ridge. DOC’s times on the signs were rather depressing and I was pleased that we managed to beat them, even as the party started to slow up after the easy valley walk. The sun really made itself felt during the climb making it very hot work. Fortunately there was a cool south- easterly wind. The climb is steepest to start with and then eases off a bit before sidling around to the saddle, where we had lunch. Despite its height there are only bush views westward but with a good view Refreshing Photo: Keith Thomas down Mukamuka Stream. There is no cell phone reception.

The start of the track down the stream was as I remembered it - steep, gravelly and slippery. However it soon flattens out a bit and becomes a normal rough creek, with only very odd patches of Ongaonga (Urtica ferox) to be wary of. Once a major tributary joins from the south the stream bed widens out and becomes much more open although still dropping quite steeply. With only a couple of kms to go it becomes wide and flat and easier travel. We had a break and re-grouped at the coast and then it was about 10 kms of following the 4WD track that is now part of the Wellington Cycle Trail. It was more sheltered here and the clouds disappeared completely making it very hot work. By now of course we all tiring and it was with relief that we reached the car park after a thoroughly good tramp which covered all types of A normal rough creek Photo: Keith Thomas tramping terrain apart from tops travel. The party was:- Ida Hussein, Tanya Hatfield, Yvonne and Aaron Wynyard, Mike Priest, Graham White, Keith Thomas, Dash and me. Tramp Stats courtesy of Keith: Total time: 11 hours. Distance: 28.9 km. Total Ascent: 885m. Total Descent: 937m. Highest Point 579m. Graeme

WAIOPEHU-BLACKWATER STREAM 1-2 December 2018 Jackie West

A long long time ago Chris was on a club tramp led by Mike Forsyth up Blackwater Stream. They climbed out in the dark above the present hut site. Recently Chris has yearned to return to Blackwater Stream and Tony Jaegers told us it was not difficult if you headed down off the track by the hut.

We left Poads Rd end just after 9.30 am. The uneventful but rather hot and humid climb to Waiopehu Hut took 6 hours. To our delight and surprize after the number of vehicles including the

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Tongue and Meats van in the car park the hut was empty. This was my third night in Waiopehu Hut and the warmest and most enjoyable. Just before 7o’clock the cloud came up but then drifted down leaving us looking down on the clouds with various peaks poking out like islands in the ocean. With the evening sun shining on the Main range, Ruapehu and Taranaki and the birds including a long-tail cuckoo singing in the nearby trees we didn’t want to be anywhere else. Aware of a big day ahead of us we were all in our sleeping bags Looking down on the clouds Photo: Jackie West by nine o’clock.

Chris was up at 6 to light the primus and by 7.40am we were on the deck donning our muddy boots when to our surprise four males appeared. They had camped at dusk on the old hut site. We were pleased they hadn’t continued on to the hut and disturbed our sleep. Away at 7.50 we walked down the track for a few minutes to where the map showed a spur. We left the track and battled our way through dense leatherwood to a clump of beech trees. We then had a steep scramble down to a side creek which we reached ninety minutes after leaving the hut. It was a relief to be in the creek but Chris discovered he had lost the nozzle from his water bladder & his pole during the bush bash. Fortunately he quickly found a stick to aid his progress down Blackwater Stream.

Travel down Blackwater Stream was not difficult but still took a lot longer than we expected. We were pleased it was a beautiful hot sunny day, perfect conditions for river travel. At lunchtime Chris checked our progress on Ihike only for us to be disappointed by how much further we had to go. As it was taking so long for our location to appear & A steep scramble Photo: Jackie West the battery was low Chris didn’t use it again. Just before five o’clock while we had a rest Chriselda & Tania studied the map and the lie of the land and decided it would be over an hour before we reached the bridge. We had been walking for 5 minutes when we saw a track heading up a bluff on the true left. Chriselda went up to see if it was worth following & called us up. As we started up Chriselda yelled that she could see a bridge. Much to our delight and great relief we had reached the track and the bridge over Blackwater Stream. The track we had just come up was the track down to Blackwater Stream and though we had all walked passed it before had not realised it was there. The time at the Gable End turnoff said 1 hour 30 minutes to the car park which was our walking time but we stopped for a break at the Waiopehu turnoff so it was just after 7 when we reached the car making it a rather long 11 hours and 15 minutes day.

Thanks to Tania Hatfield & Chriselda McMillian for joining us so Chris could cross Blackwater Stream off his bucket list. Jackie

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FOR YOUR AMUSEMENT

The accompanying photo, forwarded by Pamela Campbell, is of a ball-gown in a shop window in Paris. Note that the striped top is a high-visibility yellow safety vest. To all lady cyclists, Pamela suggests this as a use for your cycling vest in the evening!

PHOTOGRAPHIC FILLER

Here is a small selection of images stolen from the club’s Facebook page, of trips and other events over the last few months.

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The views expressed in the articles in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the Hutt Valley Tramping Club. Any queries or comments should be directed to the writer of the article. Contributions to the Hills & Valleys are welcomed and encouraged but all are accepted on the understanding that the Editor has the authority to make minor changes if deemed necessary, refer back to the contributor for amendment, or return the contribution for amendment by the Writer.

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