Gibbston Cycle Trip 1st November With a 10:30am start to allow recovery after the early morning excitement of viewing the Rugby World Cup final, everyone was in good spirits as we started off from the Chinese Village in Arrowtown. The weather was good as we pedalled past the Arrow Junction and the bungy bridge, working up a good appetite for our arrival at Gibbston just after 12pm. Unfortunately it turned out that the tavern was closed, and we had to push back into a growing head wind to find sustenance at the bungy bridge cafe. After lunch, we made our way in a series of bedraggled groups back to Arrowtown for a relatively early finish, which was good as most of us had been up since 5am. Party members: Peter B, Judy, Greg, Peter DLM, Pip, Joy and friend, Adopt a Plot – Ben Lomond Monday 9th November For those that haven’t heard about Adopt a Plot – it is a scheme whereby local groups or individuals can adopt an area of tussock/alpine shrubland beside the Ben Lomond track and endeavour to eradicate wilding pines from that area. Finally the weather allowed us to head up the Ben Lomond track and start work on the Tramping Club plot. We selected an area just beyond the tongue of beech forest and above the track. There were many trees about 4 years old that were too big for loppers, so much saw work was needed. We spent a good 4 hours on the area, by which time it was getting pretty hot, so an ice-cream was needed back at the Skyline. It is our intention to continue this plot up to the ridge-line, so more sessions will be organised over the summer, and hopefully one before Xmas. If you are interested contact Peter De La Mare. Party: Peter, Judy, Roger, Lorraine, Greg Posing in front of our plot at end of session Photo: Judy
A couple of photos from a private trip to Martins Bay 13th to 17th November
Demon Trail completed, perfect weather
Fiordland Crested Penguin at Martins Bay
Pigeon Island 19-23 November 8 club members and 7 visitors were involved with this year’s working bee. Besides the usual planting, weed and track clearing, flash new outdoor seating was installed in front of the hut. Plenty of work done and a good time had by all.
Coal Pit Saddle – Mt Salmond 22nd November
Alan, Paul and Peter D took Peter’s 4WD up the deeply
rutted Coal-pit Saddle Road from the Gibbston Highway. Calling it a day at the
coal-pit reserve we donned some extra layers against the cool conditions and
walked the final climb to the saddle. From the saddle the track keeps to the
1000m contour above the Doolans valley for an hour or so before branching off
to follow the old water-race to the upper valley. Easy travel followed for the
next hour and being generally sheltered from the forecast winds, made for
pleasant progress. The final hour was more testing as the race became
increasingly overgrown and affected by slipping. Maintaining our contour we
sighted the rarely visited hut after three hours travel from the saddle. The
hut, around 70 years old and scrim-lined, proved welcome shelter for lunch. Report and photos: Alan Following the water race route up the Doolans Right Branch - Remarkables glower beneath gathering clouds
Peter and Paul emerge from the lunchtime shelter of Raceman’s Hut. The climb of Mt Salmond begins here.
Roys Peak 29th November
A beautiful high pressure system finally arrived and Sunday dawned clear and sunny after days of inclement weather. Pip, Judy F, Roger, Lorraine, Jude C, Sally, Di, Peter DLM, and Lindsay set off at 0800 for Wanaka. Roy’s Peak was our destination, and after a brief stop in Wanaka we started up the hill. It is a 1570 metre climb to the top, and we were soon ready for 1st lunch at 1030 rather than 11. Some of us felt like we had lead strapped to our legs, but we slogged on up, and eventually the magnificent views opened up in all directions. Mt Aspiring was visible as were all the other peaks. The track was popular, with many visitors toiling up and down. Lunch was enjoyed on the top looking out over Wanaka Town, and then we descended down all the way down to the bottom. Our legs were feeling it by then, and we felt that we had earned our ice creams back in Wanaka for afternoon tea. Report: Lindsay
2nd rest stop photo: Lindsay
Glendu Bay and Mt Aspiring photo: Peter
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