A Pack on My Back to - Walking Trail Trail Boss : Steve Clark ph 03 445 0920email : [email protected] Duration : 6 days, Monday 24 February 2020 to Saturday 29 February 2020 Party size : 12 maximum This 6 day, 103km walk takes in the historic Serpentine Diggings before crossing the Taeri River to and the . From the Loganburn Reservoir we will follow the ridge of the Rock and Pillar Range before dropping down to the historic Hamilton Diggings. On our final day we will walk into Patearoa to join the other Cavalcade trails for the grand parade. While there will be a number of ascents and descents, the elevation gains will be considerably less than we experienced in 2019 on the Pisa Mountains. The first day will involve a climb from 570m ASL to the Serpentine Diggings at 1,030m ASL before dropping down to the Serpentine Flat and Paerau School at 560m ASL. The highest point on the Rock and Pillar Range is Summit Rock at 1450m ASL, while Hamilton’s Diggings are at 640m ASL. We should have plenty of time to explore the old gold diggings, tailings and water races at Serpentine and Hamiltons. Weather permitting there will be fabulous vistas of the Upper Taieri Valley, Strath Taieri and the Maniatoto. The trail finishes on Saturday walking to Patearoa for the Grand Parade. This trail is for fit, experienced trampers who must be capable of carrying up to 16 - 18 kg for up to 28 km per day over rough farm tracks with some steep ascents and descents. Accommodation will be in high country huts, and a former school. The trail is independent with all personal gear, food and shared gear carried by the walkers. There will be no back-up vehicle. It is self catering on the trail, but the evening meal on the final night will be catered. Please feel free to ring or email me if you have any questions relating to the trail.

Monday 24 February 2020 We will meet at the Patearoa Domain from 9:00am onwards. Your cars will be left in a secure location in Pateraroa and you will be transported to the start of the trail at the intersection of Linburn Runs Road and the Serpentine Road. There will be a steady climb through the day to the Serpentine Diggings. There should be plenty of time to explore the diggings, and the old Serpentine Church. DoC have a web page describing the history, culture and historical relics at the diggings at https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to- go//places/serpentine-scenic-reserve/ Approximate distance 13 km.

Tuesday 25 February 2020 Today we lose all of the elevation we gained yesterday as we drop down to the and cross the Paerau Valley to the Paerau School. The Paerau Valley is a scroll plain in which the Taieri River meanders

Images from the 2019 Hawea Gonna Get There trail. A Pack on My Back to Patearoa - Walking Trail strongly with many oxbows and water filled depressions. Unfortunately this means that we will have to follow country roads to cross the valley as a direct route across the scroll plain is impractical. Approximate distance 20 km.

Wednesday 26 February 2020 Today we start with a modest climb of approximately 260m to the Loganburn Dam. This dam flooded the Great Moss Swamp to provide water for irrigation and power generation. The reservoir has a stable brown trout population and may be fished using any of the accepted methods. Approximate distance 12km.

Thursday 27 February 2020 This will be the gruntiest day with a climb of over 500m to the Big Hut. Starting at the Loganburn Reservoir dam we will follow the Old Dunstan Road for several kilometres before branching off onto the Rock and Pillar track. Weather permitting there should be fantastic views into the Upper Taieri and Strath Taieri Valleys. The Big Hut was originally built in 1946 as a ski lodge and was extensively used until the establishment of the skifield at Coronet Peak. It is now owned by the Rock and Pillar Hut Trust who have an interesting web page at http://www.middlemarch.co.nz/big_hut/ DoC have a brochure on the Rock and Pillar Conservation Area at https://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/otago/tracks-in-rock-and- pillar-conservation-area.pdf Approximate distance 20 km.

Friday 28 February 2020 Our longest day but all down hill (nominally) from the Big Hut to Hamilton’s Diggings. From Big Hut we will continue along the ridge of the Rock and Pillar Range before commencing a long descent to Hamilton’s. The diggings were named after Captain Hamilton who took up Run 204,which became known as Hamiltons Station. The diggings proved to be very rich and the population peaked at 4,000. The town has long been abandoned, but the cemetery which has recently been restored still remains. Detailed information can be found at https://www.mindat.org/loc-298827.html. Once again Anna will provide our celebratory dinner for another successfully completed trail. Approximate distance 28 km. Saturday 29 February 2020 We will walk from Hamiltons to the Patearoa Domain for the Grand Parade at noon. Approximate distance 10 km, downhill.

Images from the 2019 Hawea Gonna Get There trail. A Pack on My Back to Patearoa Map 1 Paerau School A Pack on My Back to Patearoa Map 2 A Pack on My Back to Patearoa Map 3 A Pack on My Back to Patearoa Map 4