2024-10-09 < Weekly activities > 2024-10-23
Activity summary: Wednesday 2024 Oct 16 to Tuesday 2024 Oct 23
Wednesday
E Trip Lower Hutt Art Walk led by Paul Jones. 11M
From Melling Station we walked through Hutt City to the Dowse Art Museum where we stopped for Coffee and cake. After morning tea, we had a look at the art in the Museum and then walked to the Odlin Art Gallery. Everybody enjoyed the Art on Display in fact some of the group bought some of the art on display. From this gallery we walked to the north side on the Hutt Town Hall where we had lunch next to the new fountain on display there. After lunch the weather turned out fine so we decided to walk along the north stop bank Back to Melling Station.
EM Trip Catchpool-Harvaard Spur, led by Marg Pearce. 7M
The trip began at Catchpool, went up the Clay Ridge Track and then sidled down to the base of what is now popularly known as Harvaard Spur. There had been several windfalls and it was quite a tangle and clamber to get through. Some of the party had never travelled the spur before so it was a new experience for them. At the McKerrow Track junction we turned left and went for another 30 - 40 mins to our lunch spot at the Clay Ridge turn off before our return to base. We had wonderful conditions for the trip with really lush bush, a clear sky and a very cheery group of trampers. 6 hours.
M Trip Karapoti Gorge and Beyond, led by Alistair Beckett. 13M
This Medium tramp took place in the Akatarawa Forest. It started at the end of Karapoti Road in the carpark at 8.30am when 13 of us set out to tramp through the scenic native bush-clad Karapoti Gorge to McGhie’s Bridge. Earlier in the preceding week, the area had been subject to significant rain, but concerns about water flow in the stream we had to cross 5 minutes in from the start, were not realised. With the fast-flowing Akatarawa River West in one side and steep rockfaces on the other, the gorge is quite beautiful, enveloping us with mature trees, waterfalls and birdsong. The route was variously rocky and gravelly, and complicated further by many large pools of water in the middle of the track, some of which had to be negotiated with care. It took us just over an hour to reach the bridge and from there we tramped up Hukinga Road which is a forestry road. Soon we entered a heavily harvested pine forest, whose slash was an assault on the eyes. We had morning tea at a lovely spot beside the river (which would also become our lunch spot) and continued on up Hukinga Road, passed the intersection with Pram Track. At the end of the deforested area, we ascended (rather steeply in places) through more native bush until we reach the turnaround spot on the brough of a hill and returned to reach our lunch spot just after 12.30pm. Our return route afforded us a second immersion in the glorious gorge. The tramp took a little over 6.5 hours, and we tramped approx. 22kms.
SF Trip Kapakapanui, led by Peggy and Chris Munn. 4M and 1NM
At short notice the Kapiti Coast branch of the TTC swung into action and 5 people mounted an ascent of Kapakapanui. The stream crossings were cold and the wind bitter as we climbed higher. But then, at the trig the wind died away and we could admire the extensive view of the coast and the main range. Only Hector hid behind cloud. We had lunch at the hut in sunshine and as we crossed the streams again the water was refreshing cool. We had a very good day out
MF Trip Fit, Waiohine Gorge, 745, Mt Reeves, led by Franz Hubmann. 4M
Four club members had a nice trip to Mt Reeves via the Coal Stream Spur. Great views from the summit.
Sunday
EM trip to Crowther/Whakanui Track loop led by Elizabeth Bridge. 9M
Nine members enjoyed a fine day climbing from Hine Road up past Mt Crowther, along the McKerrow Track and back down the Whakanui Track. Beautiful bush, the track in decent condition, and lunch on the ridge in the sun made for a good walk. A Mr P Maxim was encountered lunching at the McKerrow/Whakanui junction, but he declined to join the EM group when invited. In fact he contributed to several members not completing the full circuit, by offering a lift down Sunny Grove to the finish. 5 hours.
Total trampers for the week 41M and 1NM