OVER FORTIES TRAMPING CLUB INC

Newsletter 342 July 2009

NOTICE BOARD We understand that tree plant- ing day was an unannounced test to check who had good You will see some minor wet weather gear. Some changes in the layout of the twelve hardy members coped newsletter and hopefully you with planting about two hun- will be in agreement with them. dred trees in continual driving The list of the committee rain and strong winds. From members is now on the back those of us who stayed at page—just as accessible—but home we thank you. This it didn’t really warrant the top area will be part of a legacy of spot every month. the ecological recovery of the hills around this city. The The front page will now have Sign of the Bellbird is a great items of more topical interest example of what is being and you are invited to achieved. Native trees give contribute with articles or the cover and food for the

photographs—it is your birds and indeed the birds Last lingering glimpse of the soft life before heading up in to have returned. Bowenvale newsletter. the hills to plant trees in Bowenvale during May.—photo by will become a part of these Any comments are welcome Cathie Graves—who was there !! though no guarantee action restored areas. will be taken. Editor NEXT MEETING

Tuesday August 25th at 7.30pm Horticultural Hall South Hagley Park .

Roland Dale “Backpacking and Photography in remote Fjordland ”

Roland Dale is a South Canterbury farmer and is a noted photographer with a special interest in Fjordland.

For many years he has spent about a month in Fjordland every year, tramping in hair raising country most of which few or no persons have been to. Roland has done many well-planned journeys lasting up to a month, using tents Look hard and you can see the rain—some hardy OverForties and co-ordinating food drops. He has many stunning land- who managed to front up to planting day in May in the Bowenvale scape and floral images. area on the hills. Postponed from the Wednesday for an even worse day on the Thursday. photo by Cathie Graves.

Deadline: by 20th July please for August newsletter Newsletter to Liz Griffiths at 351 4501 [email protected] and copy to [email protected] . Trip Planners : Saturday and Sunday trips to Judy Miles at 327 9010 [email protected] and Wednesday trips to Marj Pollock at 389 4059 [email protected].

Please note — address all correspondence pertaining to Club business to the Secretary Over Forties Tramping Club, P O Box 6505, Upper Riccarton, 8442 Established 1978 Affiliated to the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ www.oftc.org.nz OFTC

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Committee Reports

Chairman’s Report

During the month of June, we have had some very large groups out tramping - on two Wednesdays in particular (36 and 47 respectively). With the ideal winter conditions we have experienced for tramping, this is good to see, but it does call for extra care with our individual responsibilities toward the leader and co-leader. Large numbers such as these do take extra effort in maintaining the safety and enjoyment of the group.

On Thursday 21 May, 10 club members led by Gavin Hampton planted 200 native trees and shrubs within our designated area on the . Conditions were not ideal for the planters, but really good for the plants – yes, they were well watered!! While I was not part of the group, I understand the plants which were planted last year are growing well and looking good.

By the time this newsletter is distributed, our ‘Mid Winter Nosh’ on Wednesday 24 June, will have been and gone. This is an event which has developed over the past few years and the committee is conscious of the fact that there has not been an event of this type for the members who mainly tramp on Saturdays and Sundays. There is potential to strengthen the social aspect of our club and some ideas are being investigated for the near future which we hope will have wide appeal.

In the June issue of “Going Places’, it was good to see a recipe included for home made muesli bars. The food aspect of our tramping is one where I’m sure members will have many well proven favourites which they could share – home prepared dehydrated foods, high energy cakes, biscuits, etc. I encourage you to send these to our editor and maybe a ‘Cooks Corner’ will develop.

Jack Watt, our Base camp and Back packing Co-ordinator, is compiling a schedule for the upcoming season. Already he has several proposed tramps and base camps on the list, but more would be welcome. Please give this some thought and contact Jack with any ideas you have.

Regards to you all, — Warwick Scadden

Club Captain’s Report

Rescue By now most of you will have heard that our Jon Roberts had to be helicopted off the Mt Somers walkway on Sat 20 th after badly damaging tendons in his knee and not being able to walk. The party activated the locator beacon once it was clear that Jon needed to be air lifted out. The value of our locator beacons has once again been proven beyond doubt. Reminders Check your 1st aid kits • Make sure you carry an extra fleece or jersey these cold days • Put an extra energy bar in your lunch tin – just in case! • Look after each other – keep together as much as possible

Have fun.

Stu McHugh

Membership Report

Change of address or phone number

Brian Johnson 387 0469 16D Waitikiri Drive, Burwood Chch 8083 Paul Maurice 351 3488 Mary Miller 942 6371 Neville Perkins 351 9084 7 Willowbank Place, Fendalton, Chch 8052 Bruce Stanton 338 1909 1/33 Therese Street, Spreydon, Chch 8024 Nicola Smith (Jones) 348 0809 2 Spitfire Place, Wigram, Chch 8042

Change of email address

Angus MacDonald [email protected]

Resignations

Doreen McIvor 359 8970 105A Veitches Road, Casebrook, Chch 8051 Doreen, one of the regular veteran trampers has been a member for 27 years Mary Baker 326 6614 5 Burgess Street, Sumner, Chch 8081 Mary has been a member for 16 years. George Carr has resigned and moved to Stoke. Ron & Marisa Chang have resigned and moved back to Taiwan. Dayle Kerr 347 8215 Jones Road, RD 5, Weedons 7675 John Wilson 348 1775 53 Sayers Crescent, Ilam, Chch 8041 OFTC

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DAY TRIP PROGRAM The tramps are listed in order of difficulty, with the easiest first, then moderate, then harder. If you are unsure of a tramp please check with the tramp leader. CANCELLATIONS

NQ means that this tramp is not a qualifying tramp for prospective new members. All other day tramps are qualifying tramps Listen to

Please note : It is club policy that these day tramps and the tramping programmes detailed in the newsletter are for members only. NewstalkZB 1098 Also times given are indicative only and do not include car travel to and from the tramp. after 7am.

TRAMP PLANNERS Reminders to Tramp Leaders

Note — Please forward your draft list to the Club Captain TO CANCEL A DAY TRAMP by the 20th of each month Phone Newstalk ZB Saturday Colin Garthwaite 360 3770 phone (03) 340 1098—for all trips —before 6.45am , Wednesday Veterans Jane Gimpl 382 4075 and state the destination. Our club code is 47. Heather Spence 337 1690 Middle Joan Cornish 376 5146 LOCATOR BEACONS . Clive Morriss 358 2753 Collect and carry these. Please note — they are collected from Sandra Knox 339 2997 the Shell Petrol Stations at Belfast or Yaldhurst, or at Princess Elizabeth Griffin 355 7609 Margaret Hospital - at front vestibule desk. And for any private Hard Diana Kirpensteijn 332 7534 use of these beacons please contact the Club Captain to arrange.

AT THE END OF THE TRAMP . Sunday Easier Mary Brinsdon 366 9119 Please send list of participants and numbers to Mary Brinsdon at Carolina Kol 03 3127970 33 Hewitts Rd, Chch 8014, or [email protected] Middle Steve Dakin 329 6695 Will Teeuwen: 332 8236 Hard to be appointed JULY 8 WEDNESDAY TRAMPS Mulgans Track and beyond NQ JULY 1 Cost : nil Hill sections taken at a slow pace. The Willows NQ Depart : Barnett Park at 10 am Cost : $4 Time : 3 – 4hrs Pine forest, open country and river vistas beside the Waimakariri. Leader : Ian Hunter 332 2521 Depart : Yaldhurst Hotel carpark at 10 am Time : 3 – 4 hrs Victoria Park, New Horseshoe Track to Bellbird. Leader : Alf Farrant 342 6094 Cost : nil From park to Sign of the Kiwi then onto Horseshoe Track to Rakaia Walkway & Cathedral Cliffs W33 meet up with CRW to Bellbird. Cost : $14 Grade : 2 Follow walkway beside river, skirt Terrace Downs Golf Course Depart : Victoria Park carpark at 9.00am and then across rolling farmland to the cliffs. Time : 5 hrs Grade : 3 Leader : Graeme Schroeder 358 8044 Depart : Yaldhurst Hotel carpark at 8.30am. Co Leader : Clive Morriss 358 2753 Time : 5 + hrs Leader: John Wisker 960 8323 The Grange, near Oxford NW 01 Co Leader : Joan Cornish 376 5146 Cost : $10 Map L35 Steady climb on farm tracks around Knowles Gully to trig 884m Bowenvale to Bellbird PH 49 for lunch. Good views of Lees Valley, Ashley Gorge & the Cost : nil plains. Descend to Knowles Creek past a musterer’s hut before Up the driest route you can find then CRW to Trig V then Bellbird joining a similar route back to cars. & back possibly through Victoria Park Grade : 3 Grade : 3 Depart : Belfast Hotel carpark at 8.30am Depart : Bowenvale carpark at 8.30am Time : 5 hrs Time : 5 hrs Leader : Howard Harvey 342 9377 Leader : Dahya Budhia 337 0894 Co-leader : Judy Baker 359 6664

Old Coach Road & Rabbit Hill W04 Cost : $13 Map K35 From foot of Porters Pass climb Old Coach Road, then up through Just to prove that regenerating bush to head of valley. Those who wish can climb little clues can be Rabbit Hill & return under own leader back to the cars. The found everywhere. others continue round valley & down opposite ridge. Gavin and Jan Grade : 3 strike it lucky in the Depart : Yaldhurst Hotel carpark at 8.30am Craigieburn forest . Time : 5 hrs Leader : Warwick Scadden 351 9779 Photo by Liz G Co leader : John Ruske 343 1377

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JULY 15 JULY 29 Stopbanks NQ Cost : nil Heathcote/Ferrymead NQ Walk on the banks of the Kaiapoi & Waimakariri Rivers to the Cost : nil picnic area. Return via the Riverlands Camp & Kaiakanui An easy walk along the Heathcote River on a familiar walkway, Stream. then on a new track. Depart : Carpark opp Kaiapoi New World Super mkt 10 am Depart : small Domain by the old Heathcote Hotel on Bridle Time : 3 – 3.5 hrs Path Rd – cross the Ferrymead Bridge, then turn right Leader : Judy Miles 327 9010 onto Bridle Path Rd. Time : 4 hrs Mt Te Oka to Devils Gap B58 Leader : Norma Powell 384 1397 Cost : $11 Starting at Bossu Road, short easy climb to Mt Te Oka Gowan Hill, Lone Pine & Limestone NO 2 overlooking Little River & Kaitorete Spit then follow ridgelines to Cost : $ 12 main rock mass & through Devils Gap. Return similar way. Following farm tracks climb up Gowan Hill and then down over Great views. rolling countryside with good views of limestone outcrops. See Grade : 3 with Grade 2 option. split apple rock and fossil shells. Depart : Carpark opp PMH (river west) at 8.30am Grade : 2 Time : 5 hrs Depart : Belfast Hotel carpark at 8.30am Leader : Stu McHugh 323 6333 Time : 4+ hrs Leader : Bruce Stanton 338 1909 Capt Thomas to Mt Pleasant PH15 Cost : nil Map M36 Exploring with Brent, Mt Cheeseman environs W68 Up Captain Thomas track to CRW & gun emplacements & on to Cost : $18 Map K34 Mt Pleasant. From Mt Cheeseman ski field road possibly climb up via Waterfall Grade : 3 Stream to the tops & along ridge over Mt Cheeseman and down Depart : Start of Capt Thomas track, Wakefield Ave opp Tims Stream. Ice axe & crampons probably needed Duncan St, Sumner, at 9 am Grade : 4 Time : 5 hrs Depart : Yaldhurst Hotel carpark at 8.00am Leader : Ted Shields 384 3403 / 021 134 8888 Time : 6 hrs Leader : Brent Smith 377 7925 Mt Thomas 1023m N10 Cost : $11 Map M34 Climb Western Track, then along ridge to Mt Thomas & back via Wooded Gully Track. Grade : 3 SUNDAY TRAMPS Depart : Belfast Hotel carpark at 8.30am. Pick up beacon & collect Ray at Ashley turnoff. Time : 5 hrs JULY 5 Leader : Ray Twist 03 310 7520 Vets Walk NQ JULY 22 Cost : $ nil Walk Mount Pleasant and Heathcote area. Bring a lunch to share at Val and Malcolm’s Place. Capt Thomas Track NQ Depart : 30 Mt Andrews Hill Road Cost : nil Time : 2 hrs A familiar hill walk taken at a slow pace. Leader : Val and Malcolm Kitchen 384 3391 Depart : Paisley St off Wakefield Ave at 10 am Time : 3 – 3.5 hrs Kaituna Spur BP 70 Leader : Maree Bothwell 382 5123 Cost: $8 From Kaituna reserve, climb various farm tracks at an easy pace, Halswell Quarry to Bellbird BP60 to tops at 500m. Panoramic views of Kaituna and Prices valleys Cost : nil Grade : 1-2 Start from quarry carpark, up track to CRW & follow various Depart : Carpark opp PMH (river west) at 9.00am tracks to Bellbird for lunch. Return alternative tracks. Time : 4 – 5 hrs Grade : 2 Leader : Bruce Stanton Ph 338-1909 Depart : Halswell Quarry carpark at 9.00am Leader : Cathie Graves 339 0881 Mt Oxford from Coopers Creek NW 12 Co Leader : Alison Chambers 332 9755 Cost : $ 10 Map L34 Steep climb from Coopers Creek to summit then along ridge & Woolshed Hill, Arthurs Pass W50 down to Wharfedale track intersection & back on loop track to Cost : $ 21 Coopers Creek. A moderate climb of 800m from Hawdon shelter to the summit Grade : 3 (long) (1431m) for some fine views of the eastern end of APNP. May Depart : Belfast Hotel carpark at 8.30am need crampons & ice axe higher up. Time : 6 hrs Grade : 3 Leader : Marty Gimpl 382 4075 Depart : Yaldhurst Hotel carpark at 8.00am Time : 5 hrs Leader : Charlie Ledbrook 347 9463

OFTC

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JULY 12 JULY 26

Victoria Park – Crater Rim PH 29 Ferrymead River Walk – Charlesworth Reserve C 01 Cost : $1 Cost : Nil From Victoria Park to summit and Sign of Kiwi, then taking From Sand Bar carpark through Charlesworth Reserve then walkways westward to Bellbird for lunch. Return by different Heathcote river walk to Hansens Park returning via Woolston Cut. tracks where possible. However this may be done in reverse direction depending on Grade : NQ conditions on the day. Depart : Carpark opp PMH (river west) at 9.00am Grade : NQ Time : 4 – 5 hrs Depart : Sand Bar carpark, Settlers Cres, Ferrymead. Leader : Maureen Talbot Ph 942-6548 Time : 4 – 5 hrs Co-leader: Carolina Kol Ph 03-312-7970 Leader : Joan Stevenson Ph 388-0227

Governors Bay to Living Springs PH 44 Mod Mt Thomas N10 Cost : $3 M 37 Cost : $10 Map M34 From Firestation carpark up Titoki Track etc to Climb a well-graded track in beech forest to the summit at 1023 m. CRW, Coopers Knob, Living Springs to Allandale and return via Return via ridge and western spur with a mixture of forest and Waterfront track to Governors Bay. tussock. Excellent views from Port Hills to the Kaikouras. Grade : 2 Grade : 2-3 Depart : Carpark opp PMH (river west) at 8.30am Depart : Belfast Hotel carpark at 8.30am Time : 4-5 hrs Time : 5-6 hrs Leaders: Robin and Heather Fear 384 2734 Leader : Brian Farrant 384 9432

Note that there is no arranged tramp for the Hard group trampers this week or for the rest of the month—sorry.

JULY 19

‘Near the Edge’ BP 21 Cost : $8 Gradual climb following a stream up a bush valley to farm track on spur overlooking Prices Valley. Good views of Lake Ellesmere and Kaitorete Spit. Grade : 1 - 2 Depart : Carpark opp PMH (river west) at 9.00am Time : 4 - 5hrs Leader : Bruce Stanton Ph 338-1909

Worseleys Spur to the Bellbird PH12 Cost : $ 1 Map M36/37 Mt Wall trip A pleasant walk up spur to Summit Road and then by various up Paul Knox, Steve Sheen and photo by Neil Helson and down hill tracks to the Bellbird with splendid views of Lyttelton Harbour and Plains. Grade : 2 Depart : Carpark opp PMH (river west) at 9.00am Time : 5 hrs Leader : Stephanie Dombay 351 5096

SATURDAY TRAMP

JULY 25 MONTHLY BACKPACKING TRAMPS Cragieburn Valley W 57 Cost : $16 Cragieburn track entrance day shelter picnic area. A steady climb to Lyndon Saddle. Following the undulating Cragieburn Ski Field

track continue up to ski field shelter hut or to Ski Chalet above for

those who wish to. There will not be any monthly back – packing tramps for July Grade : and August, but it is planned that the programme will resume in Depart : Yaldhurst Hotel carpark at 8.00am September Time : 5 hrs Leader : Colin Garthwaite ph 360 3770

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Base Camp & Backpacking Programme 2009—2010

Month Venue Days Grade Leader August St James Walkway. Walk in the St James in early spring. Enjoy views 4 days Moderate Angus McDonald 25—28 of snow clad mountains. Good warm huts. Limited numbers 349 7109

January Heaphy Track. Old favourite. DOC Great Walk. $25/night plus 5 days Moderate Alison Chambers 18—22 transport. Names now please for DOC bookings. Good easy track. 332 9755

The main backpacking and basecamp list will be in the August newsletter. Leaders, please confirm by early July for this list.

Jack Watt—355 3493 at [email protected] is the Base-camp and Backpacking Co-ordinator

Backpacking Tramps Confirmation System

Due to members withdrawing from backpacking tramps at late stages the Committee decided the following conditions will apply :

• That a deposit of $25 be paid to the leader no later than 3 months prior to departure if advertised more than 3 months ahead, otherwise at the time of booking. • The deposit will be non-refundable except in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the leader. • Although the confirmation date will be advertised the actual tramp date will remain sufficiently flexible to allow changes to be made on account of the weather etc.

Lunch break at Godley Head tunnels photo by Clive Morris

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Milford Track in Reverse: May 2009

Doing the Milford in reverse seemed appropriate for such a backward mob : Ian Fussell, Gavin Hampton, Diana Kirpensteijn, Stu McHugh, Robin Mears, Brent Smith, Ray Twist, Jack Watt and leader Charlie Ledbrook. The forecast promised a window of good winter weather between the big dumps of rain and snow in the preceding month and the next southerly blast. And that is what we got : blue skies, sunshine on the snowy tops but not on us in the deep frosty valleys of the Arthur and Clinton rivers. No rain, except when we were in a hut one evening. Not even wet feet, despite having expected a wet-knickers trip due to bridges having been re- moved for the winter, not to mention a group we met telling us that the snow was up to the credentials on McKinnon Pass. It turned out that the bridges had not yet been removed apart from a couple swept away and partially buried in recent deluges. The water had had time to drain out enough to leave us dry track.

The long journeys to and from Milford were rewards in themselves in bright winter conditions. The last hour on the bus into Milford was a great start, with the late afternoon sun shining golden on the snowy peaks (Cue : violins). We stayed in the Milford Lodge over- night and then two boatloads across the Sound and river mouth and we were on our way.

Plenty of “Oohs” and “Aahs” as we took it easy up the Arthur Valley. Sunlight on dramatic peaks, white frost around us and the lakes and lagoons showing perfect reflections. There was a price to pay of course. Dumpling Hut gets no sunshine all winter and was frosted. Much encouragement kept a damp-wood fire in the kitchen block alive but not hot. No heating in the icy bunkroom. Prudent members had by this stage removed their teeth lest they freeze in the night to their gums.

And now...The Biggie. But first, Sutherland Falls, fortunately in a rare patch of sunlight. Our photographers, notably Brent, went into overdrive. Then the 1000m climb up the west side of McKinnon Pass was taken steadily and was greatly helped by the DOC stair- ways on the steepest bits and by the Captain’s Shout of chocolate. Above the bushline we marvelled at the extent and severity of the damage caused in recent weeks. Then into the snow. Not firm enough to walk on without going through every few steps, so we often used existing footsteps. Ray played the role of Good King Wenceslas: “ Mark my footsteps, good my page. Tread thou in them boldly.” A cold wind drove us into the shelter building for a brew-up and then down with no loitering to the shelter of the bush and out of the snow. A rock avalanche across the valley came out of nowhere and kept coming much longer than seemed possible. Another cold night with a ludicrously tiny stove in a large hut. (Are you Listening, DOC?)

Next day we had it easy again following the lovely Clinton River. A good leader has an instinct that alerts him or her when something is not as it should be. Sure enough, Charlie spotted it. Our good Captain had his shorts on back to front. Thinking quickly, Stu main- tained this was correct for a reverse crossing. Yeah, Right. Plenty of trout in the Clinton but Robin’s hopes of a Blue Duck sighting were not to be fulfilled. One more night and then a short pleasant walk through magnificent Red Beech bush took us to the pick-up jetty and thence across Lake Te Anau to showers, beer, steak and still good mates.

Despite the fact that most of us had been through the track before and seen many another wilderness vista, we agreed with Brent that when such a grizzled bunch go Ooh and Aah over the winter Milford, as we did, that has to be a measure of its magnificence.

Many thanks to Charlie for good organisation and leadership, as always. Jack Watt

Crossing MacKinnon Pass. Photo by Brent 8 THE OVER FORTIES TRAMPING CLUB INC

Training courses for 2009

Mountain Safety Canterbury is offering the following courses this year—if interested please contact Stu McHugh on 3236333

• November Outdoor First Aid- one day validation • August and October Outdoor first aid • October Navigation for experienced trampers • November Navigation for experienced trampers – alpine

Mt Vernon with 47 people Photo by Graeme Schroeder

Your OFTC Committee :

Chairman: Warwick Scadden 351 9779 [email protected] Vice-Chairman: Gavin Hampton 343 1291 [email protected] Secretary: Karyn Brookes 354 0113 [email protected] Treasurer: Peter Street 352 5526 [email protected] Club Captain: Stu McHugh 323 6333 [email protected] Editor & Web: Liz Griffiths 351 4501 [email protected] Membership: Fay Jackson 348 9276 [email protected]

Committee: Liz Campbell 357 4543 [email protected] Bev Creighton 382 1881 [email protected] Ian Fussell 358 3724 [email protected] Colin Garthwaite 360 3770 [email protected] Colin Mackie 332 4587 [email protected]

Ex Officio Royal Spoonbills Health & Safety: Mary Miller recently seen in Avon and D.O.C. Liaison: Ted Shields 384 3403 [email protected] Heathcote estuary Welfare Everyone photo— Liz Griffiths