Saturday, August 12, 2023

#77of 100 trips for 100 years - Spiers Road & Ross Bush Track 6 August 2023

 

Spiers Road was the start of the old bullock track, also known as the Snowy Mountain Track, and was the first road northwards out of Dunedin until the coastal route was established.  Our mission for the day was to follow the Snowy Mountain Track from Spiers Road, across the tussock to the OTMC's Ben Rudd property before taking the Pineapple Track to Pineapple Point and down the Ross Bush Track.  It must have sounded like a good plan because a group of 16 people wandered up Spiers Road on an overcast Sunday morning.
Once we had crossed over the style and onto the paper road the going became a little rougher as the 'track' threads it's way through a gorse patch.  Navigation of the track was easy  but did involve pushing through some prickly gorse that blocked the way forward along with the occasional slippery muddy section. This slowed us down for a time but thankfully the gorse only covers the lower section of track. 
As we climbed higher the gorse thinned and the track became clearer and we started to get glimpses of the city opening out below us.  After climbing 100m from the start of Spiers Road, the gradient flattens off and the gorse gives way to paddock and we were rewarded with panoramic views of the city.
The wintery sunshine warmed us as we crossed the open and we found a good spot to stop for a break and catch our breath.  We chatted while admiring the views in all directions with the city and harbour spread out in behind us,  the coast towards Taieri Mouth, the distinctive shape of Saddle Hill, the township of Mosgiel and flat of the Taieri Plains to the right - a real feast for the eyes.

We had to drag ourselves away from the view and turn our attention to the next part of the track which involved another small section of gorse before entering the native vegetation of the reserve.  The track through the head high flax and tussock makes navigation reasonably easy which is just as well because the gradient steepens as we gained another 120m in height before reaching the Pineapple Track.
We regrouped before starting our next part of our trip which involved us going 'off track' to follow the old bullock track or Snowy Mountain Track, the first road northwards out of Dunedin.  While this road is no longer used and has mostly been swallowed by the native vegetation, there are still some parts visible and our aim was to follow this indistinct trail through the tussock and flax.  Any one watching from afar might have thought we were wandering aimlessly through the tussock but using a GPS we stayed on the old bullock track.
During our wander through the tussock we were dismayed to notice the dark clouds and a few rain drops falling which resulted in a rush to don rain jackets but thankfully the rain didn't last long. While it would have been much quicker to stick to the Pineapple Track, we all enjoyed our trek along the old bullock track and were a little sad to reach the Firebreak track which felt like a highway after wandering through the tussock. 

We followed the Firebreak track to the seats on Ben Rudds where we stopped for lunch. Some sat at the low seats while others climbed the bank to the higher seat which had a panoramic sign showing all the areas/hills of significance.  A lot of the #100 trips have already been to many of these areas/hills and we were able to sit and reminisce about those trips while eating lunch.  These areas included Swampy Summit, Silver Peaks including Pulpit Rock and The GapMt Cargill/Kapukataumahaka and Mt Watkin/ Hikaroroa

As much as we would have liked to stay longer, time was getting on so we packed our bags and continued along the Firebreak Track to the Swampy Summit/Pineapple Track turn off where we opted for the right hand track which took us back to the Pineapple Track.  From here it is a steep 100m knee jarring descent to Pineapple Point where we took the short detour to admire the views and newly installed seat.
After a brief stop at the seat we took the Ross Bush Track (also known as the old Pineapple Track) dropping 260m down through the native bush.  The Ross Bush Track is narrow, muddy in places and often overgrown with ferns but also much more interesting as it winds it's way past gnarly, papery fushia, large, straight Miro, ferns and broadleaf, before reaching the car park 4 hours and 8.7km after starting

Sunday, August 6, 2023

#75 of 100 trips for 100 years - Outram Glen-Lee Stream 30 July 2023

 

While the temperature was cold, the sun was shining in a clear blue sky when 15 of us started along the Outram Glen Track alongside the Taieri River. The Taieri River has become synonymous with river crossing practice since 1955, especially as part of the OTMC Bushcraft Course, given it is the closest river of any size close to Dunedin. The normally placid waters of the Taieri River were fast flowing stretching from bank to bank - in winter this is not a river to be taken lightly but thankfully we weren't crossing it today, instead our plan was to walk for about 5km upstream on the track.  

The first couple of kilometers is an easy walk on a wide track that follows the river.  It is a well used track and is a few metres above the height of the river giving us good views of the turbulent waters flowing past.  Having been here a few times for river crossing over the years, it was quite a surprise at the difference in river height during the middle of winter compared to the low river levels during summer. We made good time on this section of track and soon found ourselves at the turn off to Lee Stream which climbs steeply gaining 80m in height over a short distance.  
The general chatter came to an abrupt end as we had to use all our breath for walking and once the height had been gained, the track narrows and undulates for the next couple of kilometres, rising and descending for short distances.  It's a lovely piece of track with tree roots and rocks to negotiate and a couple of small stream crossings.  A short morning tea break was called about 15 minutes before reaching our destination where Lee Stream joins the Taieri River. 
It was lovely to pop out of the bush into the sunshine and we spent sometime watching the river and marveling at  the volume of water flowing past.  It was interesting to see where the dark green waters of the Lee Stream joined the chocolate brown waters of the Taieri River.  We each found a comfortable rock in the sun to sit for lunch. 
The weak winter sunshine was no match for the cold breeze from the river so we didn't linger long over lunch before packing our bags and heading back into the bush on the return journey which started off with a gentle uphill climb.  Despite the winter conditions, the track is in very good condition with only a few muddy sections that are easily avoided. 
It is always a surprise when the return journey feels much shorter than the inward walk and that is exactly what happened today.  We reached the turn off to Lee Stream and joined the much wider Outram Glen Track in reasonably quick time and stopped to regroup before the final couple of kilometres back to the cars wrapping up a 10.9km walk in 3.5 hours.  

Saturday, August 5, 2023

#74 of 100 trips for 100 years - Lake Whare-Possum Busters-Swine Spur 29 July 2023 (by Jade Pettinger)


 Anyone travelling past Woodhaugh Gardens early on Saturday morning must have thought we were mad! 10 trampers gathered in near zero temperatures, many in shorts and bare legs despite the thick layer of ice covering the nearby cars. The closer it got to 9am, the more time seemed to slow down as our feet were slowly turning into frozen lumps inside our boots. Hopping from foot to foot and jogging on the spot did little to alleviate the pain so it was a relief when it was finally time to depart.

Today’s trip was a circuit linking up many of the lesser-known tracks on Flagstaff’s northern side, and would require top-notch navigational skills to ensure we stayed on the planned route. The one thing we weren’t entirely sure about was where exactly the track started, so we found ourselves wandering along the road looking for a way into the seemingly impenetrable bush. We shouldn’t have worried as 200m or so up from the cars was a large sign which read “Lake Whare Track” which we couldn’t miss.
We opted to head in a clockwise direction, which meant about 5 minutes after we set off we arrived at Lake Whare - a lake so small it doesn’t appear on the topo map! The winter sun was quite low in the sky and was hitting the lake in such a way it was almost blinding to look at. Our attempts to circumnavigate the lake were short lived, making it less than 100m before being turned around by a dense wall of bush. Tucked away in the bush was a long-forgotten lean-to shelter, which was slowly being claimed by nature.
The lower section of the Swine Spur track was muddy and boggy, a sign that we were well and truly in the depths of winter. Many of the tracks on the northern flanks of Flagstaff are well-maintained, which was evidenced by a series of bridges over the worst of the bog - some quite official looking whilst others consisted of some strategically placed sticks that acted as a makeshift boardwalk. The sound of boots squelching through the saturated ground accompanied us as we meandered along the flat.
It wasn’t long before we traded in the idyllic meadows of the flat with the steep, grovely, muddy climb through the bush. We took our time on this section, making sure we had a good footing with each step to avoid tumbling downwards. We seemed to barely get going before we popped out at a small clearing, giving us clear views over Mosgiel and Maungatua, and inland to the Rock and Pillars which had a fresh dusting of snow on the distant tops. Having spent most of the morning in the bush, it was a unanimous decision that this would be the perfect place to have morning tea.
From here the Swine Spur track continues upwards towards Swampy Summit, however as that wasn’t our destination today we branched off onto the Possum Busters track. Sideling eastwards, this was a very pleasant section of track as it was more open than Swine Spur, providing occasional glimpses of the distant hills. We had a few side streams to negotiate, which thankfully were minor enough that our feet stayed nice and dry inside our boots.

Aside from the odd muddy section, we enjoyed an uneventful hour or so chatting away to each other as we had the track to ourselves. It is places like this that remind you of just how lucky we are to have such a wide variety of tracks on our doorstep in Dunedin, and to be able to enjoy them without being swamped by hordes of people. 

We stopped at a small clearing at the Porkies / Smithy’s Track junction for an early lunch, before carrying on the Smithy’s Track towards the road. The journey out to the cars was not as straightforward as we first thought, as we had some steep sections of track to contend with. Some of the uphill sections had us scrambling up on all fours, clinging onto any handhold we could find to haul ourselves up. Once at the top we were greeted by a rope anchored into the hillside to aid in the descent on steep, loose dirt. After we had conquered the hill, we had one last obstacle to overcome - a narrow path snaking around the edge of a small cliff. Not for the faint-hearted, we carefully picked our way around making sure we remained upright and on the track.

All of a sudden, we rounded a corner and just about fell onto the road! We had no idea it was so close, and were a little sad that the trip was over as it was such an enjoyable circuit through an ever-changing landscape. 

By Jade Pettinger

Monday, July 24, 2023

#73 of 100 trips for 100 years - Grahams Bush 23 July 2023

 

It had to happen - the weather gods have been so good to us with the #100 trips and waking up to rain had to happen.  There has been the odd trip with some rain threatening but nothing like the rain forecast for today's trip  - the only surprise was that it had taken to trip #73 for it to happen.  Originally trip #73 was going to Maungatua but with a 600m climb into the open tops on a day with rain overnight and steady rain in the morning, increasing to heavy in the afternoon meant today was not the day for Maungatua so onto Plan B.   Grahams Bush from Sawyers Bay is always a good backup plan on a wet day as it is sheltered and in the bush all the way.  Starting at the end of Hall Road in Sawyers Bay, the Grahams Bush track follows a paper road until the reserve.
Once off the paper road and onto the track, it is a steady climb along a well benched track.  There are a few muddy patches but nothing that couldn't be avoided.  The track initially climbs gently through native bush with the large gnarly, papery bark of the fushia tree often overhanging the track.  Once past the first crossing of Thompson's Creek which, despite the persistent rain, is an easy step across, the track gradient starts to increase.  We stopped at the large Rimu that guards the trail long enough to marvel at it's size and give it a hug before continuing on.  After the second creek crossing the track turns sharply to the right.  It was here that we stopped for a quick snack and drink break before tackling the increasing slope for the final push to climb 160m to Mt Cargill Road. 

Unsurprisingly we emerged onto the road from the bush into the mist and made the decision that there was no point in going any higher.  Thankfully it was only misty and the rain had so far stayed away.  We stopped for a brief rest before turning our thoughts to descending back the way we had come.  As often happens, the return journey down the track seemed to go quickly.  There are a number of large punga along the track with their large fronds protecting the track from the worst of the weather and we had the compulsory 'hug' a Rimu stop before reaching Hall Road in Sawyers Bay again.  The weather hadn't improved at all during our walk but at least it hadn't gotten any worse (which it did later in the afternoon).  A good walk 2.5 hour walk over 8.2km and gaining 300m in height. 


Sunday, July 23, 2023

Pineapple Point Seat Installation 22 July 2023

 

Pineapple Point was a well-frequented lookout point alongside the current Pineapple Track and is referenced in tramping reports that pre-date the club, as well as being mentioned as a resting place during the climb of Flagstaff on the OTC's inaugural trip on September 1, 1923.  Early reports talk of Pineapple Point having wonderful views of the city and was a good place to stop and eat pineapple.  As Dunedin is too far south to grow pineapple,  local Green Grocer (Oscar Balk, OTC first president) imported tins of pineapple and these were enjoyed while resting at the point with the empty tins being left on the fence posts as markers, hence the name Pineapple Track and Pineapple Point.  
 
Having been up the Pineapple Track many times over the years and never having seen Pineapple Point, we decided it was time to 'rediscover' it.  Having done some research we had an idea where it might be on the Pineapple Track and once we had reached the site it was easy to see why the point was no longer a lookout as the view was nonexistent with broom having grown over the point obscuring all views.
A plan was hatched to bring Pineapple Point back to it's former glory in time for the 100 year anniversary of the OTC's first official club trip on 1 September 2023.  Discussion was entered into with the Dunedin City Council and a plan was agreed to clear the broom from the point and permission was given to install a seat at the site.  The first club workparty was in August 2022 where we cleared about half the site of broom to bring the view back. A few hours work of cutting broom and dragging it out of the way by a handful of people proved that it was a worthwhile task and the view was restored to Pineapple Point.
Today a group of 10 came back to install the seat and remove the remaining broom from the point.  It was a real team effort to get all the materials to the site, which is about 30 minutes up the Pineapple Track. Thankfully another group had carried the 40kg of cement in and with the seat in four parts plus about 10L of water to mix the concrete and  tools to clear the broom, our progress up the track looked a little like a pilgrimage.
Once at Pineapple Point, those that knew about putting the seat together and concreting it into place were left to get onto with it while the other 7 turned their attention to the broom. Armed with pruning saws and loppers,  no time was lost in attacking the broom.  Some of the broom is very old and the trunks took quite some effort to cut through but the reward of seeing the view return kept the enthusiasm high.
A few of the group spent their time dragging the cut broom away and throwing it on the pile of old, dead broom from last year.  It was heartening to see the huge pile from nearly a year ago had compacted and started to rot so we reused the same pile and watched as the pile of cut broom grew higher.
While most of us were kept warm sawing or dragging broom away, a hardy few were left in the wind on the top of the point to dig the holes for the concrete and reassemble the seat.  Progress seemed to go quickly, although the cold temperatures meant the concrete took longer than hoped to dry. 
After about three hours of work, everyone was well pleased with their efforts and were very happy with the end result of a lovely, well made, wooden seat on Pineapple Point with the view of Dunedin City spreading out in front. The seat is now in place and the broom cleared leaving Pineapple Point ready for the official opening on 1 September 2023 which marks exactly 100 years of the first Otago Tramping Club trip.

Saturday, July 22, 2023

#72 of 100 trips for 100 years - Flagstaff Tracks 16 July 2023

 

Today's trip started like any of the other #100 trips but little did we know that it was to be like no other of trip so far.  The idea for the trip was to explore Flagstff using some of the lesser known tracks and it must have appealed because 12 of us left the Booth Road car park along a forestry road, past the McGowans Track to an indistinct trail on the right that could easily be overlooked if you didn't know it was there.  Right from the start we were given a taste of things to come as the native bush appeared to swallow us. The track was overgrown with trees pressing in around us and the ferns hiding the mud that threatened to engulf us.
There was a creek to negotiate before the track slopped upwards and here the fun really began.  It pays to bear in mind that it is mid-winter and there has been snow and rain recently which meant the track had a layer of mud on a harder surface below which made it difficult, at times, to keep the uphill momentum going, especially when it felt like we were walking with an inch of mud stuck to the tread of our boots.  At times it felt like one step forward then two back and it was only thanks to being able to grab the trees and pull ourselves up that we were able to keep moving forward.  Thankfully the mud didn't last for the whole 450m climb but it did continue for at least half of that height gain.   Eventually the Davies Track leveled out and the track condition improved meaning we were able to make good progress to the bush line where we emerged into the golden tussock with the top beckoning us on.
Despite a cold wind we decided this was a good spot for a snack break and we each found a sheltered spot amongst the tussock to nestle into and enjoy the great view of  Saddle Hill/Makamaka  and coast line towards Taieri Mouth while enjoying our snacks.  It wasn't long before the cold wind pushed us on and upwards to the top of the hill. 
The upper part of the Davies Track winds it's way through the tussock, over rocks and around giant flax bushes while continually gaining height.  The problem with walking through tussock is that you can't see your feet so it is easy to loose the obscure track.  There were a couple of times that we needed to caste around before finding the track again and we could continue on.  Eventually coming out on the Flagstaff Walkway, we were able to relax and turn our attention to the wonderful views of the city that had opened out before us. 
I have often felt that this is the best place to see Dunedin/Otepoti with harbour and city laid out so clearly and today that feeling was reinforced with views extending as far as Hereweka/Harbour Cone and Mt Charles/Poatiri in the distance. We had been up both these high points on the peninsula during the #100 trips in March and it was good to be able to see them standing out so clearly.
The biting cold wind pushed us on and we took the cross track onto the Firebreak Track where we turned right and followed it towards the Moon Track.  Despite the odd muddy patch we were able to make good time along the wide, easy to navigate track while taking the time to admire the views of Silver Stream and the Silver Peaks in the distance.  We could also see as far as the Rock & Pillar Range which had a sprinkling of snow on the top which would account for the bitterly cold wind,
It is a good couple of kilometres of this easy walking, being chased along by the cold wind, before we reached the Moon Track.  I am unsure of the reason behind the name of the Moon Track but the tranquil name does not reflect the true nature of the track because we were straight back into the mud although most of us didn't seem to mind too much as the upper part of the track is very picturesque as it follows an historic fence through the golden tussock. 
The Moon Track deteriorates for a bit before it connects with the newly built mountain bike track and the condition changes from a muddy, rutted track to a gravelled, slightly sloping bike track.  We stopped at a rocky view point to enjoy lunch and compare mud everyone had on their legs before the cold wind again, pushed us on.  We continued to follow the mountain bike track which gently zig zags down the hill past a number of lovely, large moss covered rocks.  The easy gradient gave us time to admire the views and took us into the sheltered side of the hill and we marveled at how warm it was in the sun, out of the wind. 
After easy walk on the mountain bike track, we took the Pepper Tree Track which is the first walking track on the right and we were straight back into the mud.  There were a couple of small streams to cross and plenty of mud to avoid as best as we could. The deceiving thing about the Pepper Tree Track is that drops almost 100m in height then has to regain that height to reach the Pineapple Track. Once on the Pineapple Track we took the small detour to Pineapple Point to admire the city view from this unique vantage point. 
From Pineapple Point the party split into two groups with one group opting to take the 'easy' way down by following the Pineapple Track while the other group elected to go down the 'Old Pineapple Track'  also known as The Ross Bush Track.  This track was not as muddy as we thought it might be but it was overgrown in places with your feet having to find the track through the ferns.  The lack of mud meant that the group moved quite fast dropping 200m to meet up with the other half of the group at the water treatment station.  Then it was an easy walk back to the cars.  With around 650m of climbing over 10.5km it was a memorable and muddy trip on some of the lesser traveled Flagstaff tracks. 


Otago Harbour Cycleway 30 October 2023

With my sister in town, it seemed a shame to waste a calm, sunny day so the two of us hopped on a bike each to enjoy the recently opened 32k...