2019-10-02 < Weekly activities > 2019-10-16
Activity summary: Wednesday 2019 Oct 09 to Tuesday 2019 Oct 15
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Wednesday
Tricia French led an enjoyable exploration of two spurs on the Waiotauru side and two spurs on the Roaring Meg side of the Pukeatea track. A small amount of river travel occurred but mostly the group sidled round the steep sided Roaring Meg side. There is a pink taped route from the point where the Pukeatea track descends to the fenceline to point 470 which is further northeast. Straying from the pink tapes involves supplejack gymnastics. Warwick Wright, David McNabb, Jenny Mason, Gerald Leather, Tricia French (leader), with 5 members.
Weekend
Franz Hubman led a trip into south Mitre Stream over the weekend. (rescheduled from last month due to weather). The stream was a bit up so we only got nearly a third of the way up the stream before having to bail out - up a good spur to the Mitre Peak track at about the 860m contour before returning to Mitre Flats hut, with 2 members.
Bob Stephens led a M Trip from Kiwi Ranch to Tutuwai Hut, brought forward a week from the calendar. Nine of us set out, and even returned. Well, we did not actually make it Tutuwai, instead just to Slip Stream. And even then we took 9 and ½ hours. A bit of an underestimate by the trip leader, or maybe the effects of an ageing cohort of trampers. It gave John Thompson a chance to further update Footprints, with the new bridge and travel up the true left of the river. Went up the ‘new’ Barry Durant track from Kiwi Ranch, and all 9 of us missed the large new sign indicating Puffer Saddle. So much for experience. Probably was 5 minutes shorter, but tiredness meant we did not take it on the return. Track is far nicer, but the start goes over swampy bits and streams. Lovely day going up the valley, rain staying on the main range. Temperature even reached 19 degrees at one stage – the Waiarapa effect, With 9 members.
Total 16 members and ## non members