OVER FORTIES TRAMPING CLUB INC

Newsletter 386 July 2013

NEXT MEETING

MONDAY 1 JULY Horticultural Hall 7.30 pm JILLIAN WILSON Jillian spoke to the club last year about her kayaking adventures around Antarctic waters. Those who attended were impressed with both her intrepid adventures and her fantastic photographs. This year she will speak to us about her recent experiences in the Arctic circle, to Svalbard, 400 miles north of Norway. She assures Peter Woolshed Hill May 29—photo Russell Ramsden Mears (who is now arranging speakers for Club nights) she doesn’t particularly like the cold!

Chairman’s Report

Looking outside today is not very inviting to even go out for a walk. The city and parks are sodden with the persistent rain we have had over the last few days. Snow is still predicted. Still, I do hope you are all managing to keep warm and dry at home and keeping the “Cabin Fever” at bay. Unfortunately some re- cent tramps have had to be cancelled or modified to suit wintery conditions so when we get some drier weather we will all be rushing to get out there.

Many thanks to all of those who turned out for the mid winter nosh at TaiTapu on such a dismal day. It was a good opportunity to catch up with tramping friends on a more social basis. It was also great to see some members who have not been able to get out in recent times owing to injuries etc. Although the weather was not suitable for tramp- ing to any degree, an alternative walk up Otahuna Valley on the roads filled in some time before we headed back to the Clubrooms for a luncheon of hot soup and finger food. A big thanks to Bruce, Ian, Paul, Tom & Lois for providing some excellent humorous entertainment.

Our May statistics show we had 198 trampers out on 18 trips with only one cancellation. I suspect June figures are going to be somewhat different due to wintery weather. It’s great to see evidence of some the club trips via the pho- tos members send in to Ian Fussell for distribution. Keep it up. Continued over page

Note the deadline for Newsletter items to the Editor is the 20th of every month for the following month’s Newsletter—send to Mavis Airey at [email protected]

Trip details by the 15th of every month to Trip Collators: Sunday trips to Karyn Brookes—354 0113 [email protected] Wednesday trips to Barbro Guard—980 2792 [email protected]

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

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Committee Reports

Chairman’s Report (continued)

It’s really pleasing to see such a good response to the DOC track clearing/making trip in the Lake Coleridge area. Many thanks to Ian Fussell and John Lewis for organising this on-going project.

The Club Captain position has still not been filled and I would like to take this opportunity to ask all of you to think hard about taking it on. Maybe you could whisper in my ear of a possible candidate for the job and I could ask them to them to consider it. We as the committee have tried several people to no avail. Remember, this is all about volunteering and if we all willingly have a go at these positions then it makes it easy for the club to operate as per the rules.

Club Captain Responsibilities: • Liaise with tramp planners and co-ordinators to ensure that all tramps are well organised and have suitable leaders. Advise leaders, when requested, as to the suitability of participants for a given programme. • Liaise with the Health and Safety Officer in order to provide regular advice to members on ways to improve their physical and mental wellbeing and also on safety. • Education: Organise and encourage members to attend courses and programmes that will increase their enjoyment, confidence and tramping skills. • Communicate with members on a regular basis regarding the club’s polices related to tramps. To hear comments and concerns regarding the organisation, suitability and conduct of tramps. • To regularly report to the committee and Going Places on tramping matters.

We have just returned from a trip to and on our trips out and about the city we realised that there are many significant day walks in the Waitakere hills to the west of the city. Several main roads go through the hills and plenty of parking spots have been created for day trippers to leave their vehicles. The bush there is very pretty with plenty of well signed tracks to tramp on. Most are of only a few hours duration. Huia was our top place with a great coffee shop.

Just a reminder of the Bowenvale Tree Planting on the afternoon of Thursday June. The meeting place is at Bowenvale Avenue at 12.45pm, not at PMH, as previously mentioned.

Keep warm and “Happy Tramping”. Ken Lavender

Membership Report

Changes of address Tim Emson 383 3819 24 Millcroft Place, Parklands, Chch 8083

New members Andy Parke 349 6875 40 Tosswill Road, Prebbleton 7604 Peter Coursey 332 4833 106 Stanbury Avenue, Somerfield, Chch 8024 Kathleen Coursey 332 4833 106 Stanbury Avenue, Somerfield, Chch 8024 Lesley Smith 343 5217 1/112A Totara Street, Riccarton, Chch 8041 John Spragg 354 2909 2/153 Northcote Road, Northcote, Chch 8052 These five people completed their overnighters on May 25-26. Andy went to Hope-Kiwi with Ian Fussell and the other four went to Boyle Flats Hut with Anthony Clayden and Tom Cholmondeley.

Rejoining members Alan & Correen Haslett 382 8888 508 Marine Parade, South New Brighton, Ch 8062 Alan and Correen have returned from overseas and are going to tramp with us again.

Resignations Thelma McNiven 03 445 3144 13H Mead Avenue, Cromwell 9310 Thelma was one of our earliest members, having been in the club since its formation in 1978. During this time she has been our newsletter editor and has led many trips in her 35 years of membership. She founded the “Whispering Wheels” cycling group with club members. Because of the earthquakes Thelma moved from Sumner to Cromwell. Marcel Robb 383 9996 33 Kingsbridge Drive, Burwood, Chch 8063 Marcel is moving out of Canterbury as a consequence of the earthquakes. Sid & Adele Stewardson 339 0722 110 Penruddick Rise, Westmorland, Chch 8025 Sid and Adele have been with us for 14 years. Will Teeuwen 332 8236 15 Corson Avenue, Beckenham, Chch 8023 Will has been a member for 26 years.

Registered Prospective members There are now 11 registered prospective members waiting until spring for their overnighters. Fay Jackson OFTC

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DAY TRIP PROGRAMME The tramps are listed in order of difficulty, with the easiest first, then moderate, then harder. CANCELLATIONS If you are unsure of a tramp please check with the tramp leader. For all trips others than vets: NQ means that this tramp is not a qualifying tramp for prospective new members. Go to the OFTC website home All other day tramps are qualifying tramps. page - Cancellation Notices. Travel costs for trips are calculated at three passengers per car.

Please note: It is club policy that these day tramps and the tramping programmes Vets: Ring the leader of the trip detailed in the newsletter are for members only. or Norma Powell 384 1397.

Reminders to Tramp Leaders TRAMP PLANNERS Note — Please forward your draft list to the Club Captain by the 20th of each month TO CANCEL A DAY TRAMP Saturday Colin Garthwaite 360 3770 Go to OFTC website and log in. Click on Members section, then click Wednesday Veterans Pat Tapper 348 5553 on Cancellations on the lefthand side list. Type your message into the Heather Spence 337 1690 dialog box then click save. This must be done at least 1½ hours before departure. Any changes to your trip or equipment Middle Anne Fullerton 339 2448 requirements should be placed 12 hours in advance. Leaders are no Russell Hignett 355 5670 longer required to go to the start meeting place provided their Cathie Graves 339 0881 cancellation has been posted on time.

Brian Meadows 337 4423 Vets: Ring Norma Powell 384 1397 to confirm your cancellation. Hard Bridget Barclay 03 312 0626 Russell Ramsden 322 8856 LOCATOR BEACONS Sunday Easier Mary Brinsdon 366 9119 Collect and carry these. Please note — they are collected from the Carolina Kol 03 312 7970 Shell Petrol Stations at Belfast or Yaldhurst or at Princess Margaret Middle Claire Matoe 388 6427 Hospital — at front vestibule desk. For any private use of these beacons please contact Stu McHugh to arrange (323 6333). Wendy Hughes 388 3295

Peter Moore 348 0765 AT THE END OF THE TRAMP Hard Ian Fussell 358 3724 Please send the number of participants to: Mary Brinsdon at 366 9119 or [email protected]

A leader has the responsibility and right to refuse any- body they consider for any reason may not be able to cope with the conditions. JULY 14

SUNDAY TRAMPS Travis Wetlands & Beyond C 02 Cost : Nil JULY 7 Easy walking on tracks in the Wetlands and the chance see new plantings and birdlife. Plus an opportunity to extend the tramp to Spencer Park and forest areas. Botanic Gardens & Mona Vale Cx Grade : NQ Cost : Nil Depart : Car park off Travis Swamp end of Beach Rd 9am An easier walk around the Botanic Gardens, Mona Vale Time : 4+ hours and environs. Leader : Maree Bothwell 382 5123 Grade : NQ Depart : Christchurch Girls High Tennis Courts – Cnr Matai Basic Snow Craft - Combined Middle and Top Groups Street East & Mona Vale Road at 9am Cost : $24 Time : 4+ hours A visit to Mt Hut ski field where we will get a chance to Leader : Russell Moffitt 384 1979 learn and practice the basics of how to use an ice axe and crampons, plus snow skills. It will be a slow paced climb Montgomery Park – Mount Fitzgerald to where we find the right sort of snow to practise on. BP 32 N36 Grade : 3 Cost : $13 Depart : Yaldhurst Hotel car park at 7.30am From Montgomery Park Reserve at the Hilltop climb Time : 4-5 hours through native bush to ridge and on to Mount Fitzgerald, Leader : Ian Beale 376 5026 with wonderful panoramic views. Return the same way. Co Leader : Ian Fussell 358 3724 Grade : 3 You must ring Ian Beale prior Monday 8th to confirm your Depart : Car park opposite PMH at 8.30am intention to be there, so that we can arrange extra sets of Time : 5 hours crampons/axes etc. Ian Beale will run a pre-trip meeting Leader : Kirsten Nissen 332 0830 on Monday 8th at his place, 1 Rockview Place, Mt Pleasant at 7.30pm. Bring boots, ice axe and crampons if you have them. If weather looks unsuitable this will run Saturday 13th.

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JULY 21 WEDNESDAY TRAMPS

PMH to Worsley Spur & Return PH 43 JULY 3 Cost : Nil From car park opposite PMH follow tracks and shortcuts up to Rangiora Ramble NQ Sign of Kiwi and beyond. Return via different tracks where Cost: $4 possible. An interesting walk across parks and reserves in the Ran- Grade : 1 giora area. Depart : Carpark opp PMH (river west) at 9am Depart: Belfast Hotel carpark at 9.30 am Time : 4-5 hours Time: 3 -– 4 hours Leader : Mary Brinsdon 366 9119 Leader: Lois Watson 03 313 3491

Awa Awa (McLennan’s) Reserve SW 05 K35/36 Omahu Bush/Gibraltar Rock PH 23 Cost : $21 Cost: $4 From Reserve car park climb through bush to Scott’s saddle Using mainly walking tracks in Omahu/Ahuriri/Summit Road and on to ridge, proceed to Road. Good views of areas with extension to Gibraltar Rock. Mount Hutt and Pudding Valley. Return along same route to Grade: 2 Alder forest track finishing at the Reserve Depart: Carpark opp. PMH (river west) at 09am Grade : 3 Time: 5 hrs Depart : Yaldhurst Hotel car park at 8.30am Leader: John Hayman 335 0984 Time : 5 hours Leader : Claire Matoe 388 6427 Stoney Bay Peak from Akaroa BP17 Cost: $18 JULY 28 Well-formed track from Akaroa township to Stoney Bay Peak (830m) with great views in all directions. Side trip from Stoney Bay Saddle to Flag Peak before descent. Plenty of Halswell Quarry to Bellbird PH 46 cafes to recover in at the end of the tramp. Cost : Nil Grade: 3 Skirt Quarry rim and climb Kennedy’s Bush Spur Track to Depart: Carpark opp. PMH (river west) 8.30am CRW and continue to Bellbird for lunch. Return by some al- Time: 5 hrs ternative tracks where possible. Leader: Don Mee 359 8605 Grade : 1 Depart : Halswell Quarry car park at 9am Time : 4-5 hours JULY 10 Leader : Joan Stevenson 388 0227 Takahe to the Kiwi and beyond NQ Co-leader : Val Armstrong 384 3391 Cost: nil

Walking on tracks to the Kiwi and beyond. Steep places Lagoon Saddle – Mount Bruce Combined with Top taken slowly. Group W51 K34 Depart: Takahe at 9.30 am Cost : $27 Time: 3 – 4 hours From Cora Lynn DOC car park, climb through bush to open Leader: Pauline Timms 351 5161 tussock along Lagoon Saddle track to the Saddle and on to A frame bivvy for lunch. Return the same way. Top group will Lake Rubicon W 16 ascend Mount Bruce from Lagoon Saddle track and descend Cost: $12.00 to Broad Stream then to car park. Ice axe and crampons may Over farmland and through riverbed to Lake Rubicon. Re- be needed for those going to Mount Bruce. turn via different route. Grade : 3-3+ Grade: 2 Depart : Yaldhurst Hotel car park at 8am Depart: Yaldhurst Hotel carparkat 8.30am. Time : 5-6 hours Time: 5+ hrs Leader : Wendy Hughes 388 3295 Leader: Dallas Ford 339 2308 Leader : Ian Fussell 358 3724

Co Leader : Claire Matoe 388 6427 Mt Thomas Cost: $12 SATURDAY TRAMP Up summit track and depending on time down Wooded Gully and/or Ridge Track. JULY 27 Grade: 3 Depart: Belfast Hotel carpark at 8.30am Knowles Tops NW15 Time: 5 hrs Cost : $13 Leader: Jill Spooner 03 312 8665 Round trip with short car shuttle. Initially steepish climb through bush then easy grade across open tussock tops. Great views over upper Please collect beacon and meet Jill at car park at the Ashley River and Lees Valley, especially in winter. base of Mt Thomas Grade : 3 Depart : Belfast Hotel car park at 8.30am Time : 5 hours Leader : Colin Garthwaite 360 3770

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JULY 17 JULY 24 CONTINUED

Kowai River to the beach NQ Old Coach Road W 04 Cost: $5 Cost: $16 Walking along Kowai River towards the sea and then Leave cars at foot of Porters Pass. Enter DOC land at U through the forest to Leithfield Domain. bend on road. Climb old coaching track until reach Porters Depart: Belfast Hotel carpark at 9.30 am Pass Rd. Head south across slope, follow fence line to top Time: 3 -– 4 hours of adjacent ridge. Track soon opens out. Follow ridges Leader: Pat Tapper 348 5553 around head of stream to return to cars. Possible extension at top to Trig M if conditions favourable and group desires. Westmorland to Worsley Spur & CRW PH 86 Grade: 3 Cost: Nil Depart: Yaldhurst Hotel carparkat 08.30am. Various paths, steps and reserves in Westmorland to Time: 5 hrs Worsley Spur, CRW and beyond. Return via different route. Leader: Bob Lysaght 323 5585 Grade: 2 Depart: Carpark opp. PMH West at 9am. Lyndon Hill – Red Hill W 01 Time: 5hrs (promise ☺) Cost: $19 Leader : Cathie Graves 339 0881 Climb Lyndon Hill from Lake Lyndon shelter then traverse along ridge to Red Hill. Great views. Return down scree and Balancing Rock BP 50 Acheron Valley over low pass to Lake Lyndon. Cost: $13 Grade: 4 Follow farm tracks with steady climb to ridge at approx Depart: Yaldhurst Hotel carpark at 8am 500m. Good views over Little River and Okuti Valley and Time: 6 hrs out to Lake Forsyth. Tramp includes some lovely bush rem- Leader:John Allan 326 4966 nants on old dairy farm. Grade: 3 Depart: Carpark opp. PMH West at 8.30am. JULY 31 Time: 5 hrs Kaiapoi to Pines Beach NQ Leader: Bruce Stanton 3381909 Cost: nil Walking on tracks to Pines Beach and the domain. Foggy Peak – Castle Hill Peak Depart: Raven St near Kaiapoi Working Men’s Club at Cost: $16 9.30am Climb Foggy Peak going onto Castle Hill Peak returning the Time: 3 – 4 hrs same way. Ice axe and crampons required. Leader : Maree Bothwell 382 5123 Grade: 4 Depart: Yaldhurst Hotel carpark at 8am The Cathedrals, Gorge area W 33 Time: 6 - 7hrs Cost: $17 Leader: Ken Lavender 348-6738 Via Rakaia walkway then over rolling farmland. Magnificent views. JULY 24 Grade: 2 Depart: Yaldhurst Hotel carpark 0830 McLean’s Forest NQ Time: 5+ hrs Cost : nil Leader: Gaye Morton 332 2284 Walking through various tracks in the forest park. Depart : McLean’s Forest carpark (opp. Orana Park) on The Grange near Oxford NW 01 McLean’s Island Rd at 9.30 am Cost : $12 Time : 4 hrs Steady climb on farm tracks around Knowles Gully to trig at Leader : Heather Spence 03 261 2002 884m for lunch. Good views of Lees Valley, Ashley Gorge & the plains. Descend to Knowles Creek past a musterer's hut Halswell Quarry to Sign of the Bellbird BP 60 before joining a similar route back to the cars. Cost: Nil Grade: 3 From Halswell Quarry car park, up track to CRW and follow Depart: Yaldhurst Hotel carparkat 8.30am. tracks to Sign of the Bellbird for lunch. Return alternative Time: 5 hrs tracks. Leader: Howard Harvey 342 9377 Grade: 2 Depart: Halswell Quarry carpark at 8.30am Mt Ida W 69 Time: 5hrs Cost: $26 Leader: Don Turner 322 7641 Climb to low peak (1642) and summit (1695) up ridge by Lake Ida skating area. Traverse summit and descend scree Reminders: back to Lake Ida. Ice axe and crampons required. • The Saturday tramp to the Hogs Back Track is on June Grade: 4 29. See June newsletter for details. Depart: Yaldhurst Hotel carpark at 8am • The postponed Mt Manson trip is on June 30. 7.30am Time: 6 hrs start Yaldhurst hotel carpark, check with leader on ice Leader: Ian Fussell 358 3724 axe/crampons requirement. Ian Fussell 358 -3724.

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Glenthorne Station Track Work Update John Lewis, Charlie Ledbrook, John Staines & myself met up with Chris Stewart from DOC on Monday June 10 at Glenthorne station to review what work is required on the tracks there. The existing Ryton track from Lake Selfe to Lake Ida needs mainly tidying up with some benching and mostly trimming. This track goes on around from Lake Ida to Lake Catherine where it needs more work than the pre- vious section, cutting through Matagouri and benching/ trimming plus some marking. The track then goes on from Lake Catherine around to the Mt Olympus ski field access road where work will be required and then it continues on up to Mt Cheeseman. Ryton Valley and Craigieburn Range with Mt Enys at The second track called the Harper track from the Harper right—photo Ian Fussell road to Avoca Valley, Lake Lillian and upper Harper Val- ley has not been formed yet and the farm manager will initially cut it through with his tractor and mower. It will Snowcraft Training Day then need a follow up with hand trimming and benching where required. Sunday July 14 or if weather unsuitable Saturday July There is accommodation at Lower Glenthorne, which is 13 or the following weekend. This will be run on a ski very tidy with all the facilities and can sleep up to around field (Mt Hutt) where good snow and safe run-out area 20 people. There is other accommodation at the Retreat available. hut which would be handy for when working on the Harper

track. Accommodation is provided free. Helmets will be required along with crampons & ice axes. It looks like the work will probably have to wait until Spring We are trying to get a loan of helmets but McEwings, now but I will get an email around advising club members Yaldhurst Rd have helmets, crampons & ice axe for hire when we decide to go into Glenthorne next. Anyone who at reasonable rates, phone 342 8528, bookings advised. wishes to come along is welcome; you will need your own

hand tools. Ian Beale will be running this training day. Ian has con- Regards, Ian Fussell siderable experience in mountain rescue so this training day should not be missed. Please contact Ian, 376 5026

for a pre-trip meeting at his home, 1 Rockview Pl, Mt Pleasant on Monday 8th July at 7.30pm bringing your Outdoor First Aid Course boots, ice axe & crampons if you have them. Regards, Ian Fussell The club needs more members willing to be the "First- Aider" on our tramps, so the committee are hoping some of you will volunteer to do this Mountain Safety First Aid Course. Backpacking & Base Camps 2013 / 14 • Title: " Workplace First Aid in the Outdoors" course Thank you to the leaders of tramps and base camps who • Date: 23/24th November 2013 made it all happen this last season. Now is the time to • Venue: Rimu Park Yaldhurst (non-residential) begin thinking • Cost: $130—the club will refund 50% of the fee. about next year's adventures! We had a good number of More details are available via the Mountain Safety Coun- trips last season and excellent weather so, with other cil website, under "courses" keen leaders lining up already, here is your chance to add a trip or two to the summer 2013/14 list. If you have a current First-Aid certificate and need to do the 2-yearly update, City First Aid run a suitable course, Where would you like to go? Where is that place you’ve "Workplace First Aid", which covers the same "Unit stan- always wanted to tramp to and spend a night or maybe dards" as the MSC course. These courses are run fre- two or three? Give me a ring or email me SOON with quently, and you can book in at short notice; they are your wish list and we will see what can be done to get held in the cricket pavilion in Hagley Park , and cost your ‘trip of the year’ arranged. approx. $90; again, the club will refund 50%. AND please put your hand up if you are keen to lead a Please phone or email Jill Lyall if you are interested. trip next season. You may have a trip in mind OR you Ph. 3581115 [email protected] may be available to lead a trip that others are keen to do.

Cheers, Ian Fussell (backpacking co-ordinator) Phone: 358 3724 Email: [email protected]

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Erewhon Base Camp Trip Report March 2-8, 2013

32 keen trampers ascended/descended on, into and around about Erewhon Station for a week. Here we are: Robin Mears (leader and organiser), Bob Lysaght (co-leader), Jill Lyall (cooking leader), Jean Fryer, Judy Eden, Robyn Matheson, Ruth and Peter Mears, Trevor and Ngaire Rigby, Russ Kiddey, Kathy Kernot, Alison Moore, Jill Goddard, Dave Collins, John Wisker, Charlotte Rivers, Barbara Ly- saght, Howard Anderson, Sandi Leith, Helen Conroy, John Horgan, Sandra and Paul Knox, Alison Chambers, Lois Prebble, Tom Cholmondley, Cathy Graves, Gaye Morton, Sally Connolly, Helen Wells and Ruth Reid (scribe).

We arrived on Saturday and found our beds inside the house or set up our tents/caravans nearby. Russ Kiddey set up an impressive outdoor shower complete with floor both inside and out for the use of the campers. After happy hour and dinner (thanks to Jill Lyall for organising the week’s cooking arrangements) we began our evening routine of having a group get-together with Bob Lysaght who asked for And so we lived to tell the tale, No mishaps or sorrow the day’s highlights from the various sub-groups and helped But I’m sure looking forward to, A l – o – n – g day off organise the next day’s trips. Thanks Bob, your input tomorrow! helped many of us get much more from the base-camp and kept a good record for safety purposes. Highlights:

Excursions (as we felt so inclined) included the following: • Most of the group seized the opportunity to ride over Overnighters to the Lawrence Hut, the Growler Hut, the Erewhon Station on wagons pulled by 6-horse-teams of Black Mountain Hut and the MacCoy Hut (and up the Fran- Clydesdale horses – a truly wonderful experience. cis to the ice-fields). Day tramps to the Power House, Mt Sunday, Mt Caroline and down Lizard Gully (read Cathy • The red bowl saga: A grumpy lone tramper left an old Graves ditty!), the Clyde Zig-Zag, Lake Clearwater circuit, plastic red bowl in a hut and wasn’t impressed when he Jumped-up-Downs, Mt Potts ski-field road, and Black Moun- returned and saw it had been moved. Our OFTC fe- tain hut. The bikers explored each day too, sometimes male trampers were then not brave enough to tell him nearby, and at other times places like Lake Emma, the old the uses his red bowl had been put to and watched in McRae’s homestead site and Mt Sunday. Some went swim- barely restrained mirth/horror as he proceeded to eat his ming, exploring, photographing and even did a spot of paint- dinner from it. If you want a good laugh, you’ll have to ing. ask Sally Connolly to expand on this story.

Erewhon Ditty – by Cathy Graves • Songs and poetry in the evenings – we could all relate Day 2 at base-camp Erewhon, Some real good friends of with humour to the kea poem read by Trevor Rigby. mine, Thought – why not spend an hour or three, And climb Mt • Two lovely Scandinavian girls who were working on Caroline? Erewhon Station, visiting us for happy hour and then We summited before mid-day, Easy. Piece of cake. staying for the rest of the evening with us. And so we all decided on, A wee detour to take A saddle beckoned, then a ridge, Some scree, a mob of • Finding out that our average age was 68.2. What an thar achievement, when you consider the excursions that And it wasn’t long before I thought, “I wish I’d brought the we’d been doing over the week! car” Vicious matagouri thickets, Spaniard and Spear Grass • Dinner at Mt Potts homestead on our last night and see- A dead Beech forest where we had, To slide down on our ... ing our OFTC men get excited about the swords etc that ... bottoms had been used in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies. Check out the photos – by Ruth Reid, Cathy Graves, Howard Then the gnarly Lizard Stream, 2K of rocks and (water)falls Anderson and Paul Knox. Not the easiest for those, Who navigate by malls! A huge thank you goes to our wonderful, warm Robin Mears Eventually we saw the Clyde, And not too far ahead! for organising the base-camp emails, accommodation, wagon- But we had not remembered, The 4K river bed rides etc and his smiling bravery in including such a large num- Off again – an hour we thought, Until our destination ber of trampers to be part of the group. But ... Lights ahead! They’ve come for us, Imagine our ela-

tion Ruth Reid

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Your OFTC Committee Dry Stream Circuit June 15—photo Heather Pearce. Chairman Ken Lavender 348 6738 [email protected] Vice-Chair: Gavin Hampton 343 1291 [email protected] Secretary: Lois Prebble 325 2838 [email protected] Treasurer: Peter Street 352 5526 [email protected] Club Captain: TBA

Editor Mavis Airey 326 6753 [email protected] Back-up Editor: Sue Townsend 942 9196 [email protected] Membership: Fay Jackson 348 9276 [email protected] Committee: Ian Fussell 358 3724 [email protected] Colin Garthwaite 360 3770 [email protected] Jill Lyall 358 1115 [email protected] Claire Matoe 388 6427 [email protected] Gordon Murray 356 1164 [email protected] Ex officio Russell Ramsden 322 8856 [email protected]

Ex Officio Health & safety: TBA

DOC liaison: Ian Fussell and Colin Mackie contact details above Web editor: Paul Knox 339 2997 [email protected] Gavin Hampton 343 1291 [email protected] Beacon coordinator: Stu Mc Hugh 323 6333 [email protected] Little River Rail Trail June 2—photo Neil Helson. Welfare: Everyone

Club Equipment

The following equipment is available for members to borrow:

Maps (a large collection) Meredith Stewart 332 5694

Emergency tents (three) Howard Harvey 342 9377 Stu McHugh 323 6333 John Hayman 335 0984 (It is recommended that these tents be taken on backpacking trips)

Dehydrator Claire Matoe 388 6427

Books & tapes Ian Fussell 358 3724

Wanted A soft backpack suitable for carrying a 3 ½ yr child. Not a Vets try out equipment at the Events Centre during frame pack but one that could be rolled up when not in use. a tramp around Lincoln on June 5—photo Clive Any ideas, please contact Judy Harvey, ph. 342 9377; text Morriss. to: 0210667223; email: [email protected] .

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