2025-10-22 < Weekly activities > 2025-11-05
Activity summary: Wednesday 2025 Oct 29 to Tuesday 2025 Nov 04
Wednesday
E Crow's Nest and beyond led by Michele Dickson. 1M
We should have been 3 members, but for various reasons the last-minute number became one. The leader decided to do most of the trip as a time recce. So, this was it. Crow’s Nest, Skyline south, view looking way down on Muriel's trip coming up the Skyline Track, more Skyline, Style, Pines, Moko Rimu, Wilton Road and no. 22 bus back to Ngaio. Time 4 hours.
EM Silversky - Skyline - Bells Track led by Muriel Christianson.
We set off from the Ngaio Railway station at 9.30 am, with the weather looking promising. We made our way through Heke Park to Thatcher Crescent and Silverstream Road, then followed the Silversky zigzag track up to the Pylon Road. On reaching the Skyline we had morning tea in a sheltered spot, but noted that black clouds were on the horizon and that rain was beginning to fall, signalling the start of the forecast southerly wind. We made our way to the top of Bells Track, but did not continue much further towards Kaukau due to the increasingly cold and strong southerly wind. Our initial descent down Bells track was into the strong southerly, but on reaching a sheltered grassy picnic spot we decided that this was a good place for lunch. A couple of our party lay back and closed their eyes with the welcome warmth and lack of wind. We continued down Bells Track to the junction with the Koromiko Track. We made our way along this track until the exit to Huntleigh Park Way. A short road walk took us back to the Heke Reserve and down to Ngaio Railway Station. A total distance of 9.3 km for the loop.
M Shepperds Stream Spur led by Marg Pearce. 12M
We went into the Tauwharenīkau Valley in fine weather, We had an eventful day, beginning with a startling number of large fallen trees in the Tauwharenīkau Valley. Soon after morning tea, a party member went for a slide and hit a stone and was struggling to walk. Three members went out with him to assist his walking and make sure he knew the route out. That left seven of us to climb Shepperds Stream spur, which was quite slow going because of multiple windfalls. We were also hailed on at one stage. We did not reach the Marchant Track until 12.30 so we lunched on the track instead of going on to Dobsons. Soon after lunch, another member of the party went for a slide and badly hurt his ankle. He was unable to continue and we had to set off a PLB for a helicopter and the only available helicopter was from Hawkes Bay, so we had a long wait before he was winched up sometime after 4 p.m. The intended trip of 6.5 hours for 12 ended up more than 9 hours for 7. I finally got home at 7 p.m. One casualty is just very sore and will take several days to recover but the other has a fracture.
MF Winzenburg Hill – Pinnacle led by David McNabb.
We headed up the valley behind the Holdsworth Camp to find the Winzenberg track. Starting through "blackberry bog" and a few swollen creek crossings, the recently re-cut track took us up the ridge to a sunny Winzenberg Hill. This was followed by a scrubby bush-bash through a saddle and a steep climb up to Pinnacle for lunch in the sun. Then along Pinnacle Ridge and down the long spur to Te Whakaturākau Stream. After a safe eight-person mutual-support crossing of the fast-flowing stream it was a short walk back to the cars. 13.3km, 8 hours, mainly fine weather with a couple of hail showers.
Weekend 1st and 2nd November
M Waiopehu Hut led by Mark Edwards. 5M
After a rendezvous at Ohau, we travelled to Poads Road end and the 5 of us set off about 9.15am. We had all reached Waiopehu hut by 4.30pm with a few stops on a nice day. Two climbed a bit further to Waiopehu at 1094 and on to Twin peak and the memorial beacon at 1097. Incredible visibility meant many of the Tararua peaks north, south and east could be seen. Dinner was great in a busy hut with 14 of the 18 bunks occupied. A game of dice polished off the evening. A clear night meant spectacular lights on the plains west to the coast. There was a staggered departure in the morning on another great day. We were all out to the road end by 2.00pm.
Total 36 members.