Mt Binser 24th September 2000

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary: Tramp no.2

Mt Binser 24/9/2000 

This was my second trip with the CTC , heading for Mt Binser, off the Mt White Rd, looking over the Waimakariri  River. Things got off to a bad start when the leaders car broke down just near the limeworks outside of Springfield. Lots of time was lost getting his car back to Springfield and then heading back to Sheffield to get my car which we left there when they picked me up.Don't quite remember how we achieved all this, but we must have had 2 cars as there were 6 of us minus the leader who stayed behind to sort his car.

  The rest of us didn't get started on the Binser Saddle Track until about 10:45am on this fair day with a light nor'wester.The track starts off with a steep but short assent before flattening out to pleasant travel through Beech forest.After a while we got to a long open tussock area just below Binser saddle, where we stopped for lunch before an easy bushbash off to the right taking us up the ridge onto the first point of Binser. There was still some snow on the tops but not enough to need crampons or ice axe, which was good as I didn't have any nor did I know how to use them back then. As it was now around 3PM and starting to snow lightly, any thought of actually getting along to the highest point of Binser was abandoned and back to the cars we went to reach them by about 5PM. This Mountain became the first to be added to my list of trips still to complete.

No photos available for this trip.

Bobs Biv (Mt Thomas) 3rd September 2000

Uncle Roddus tramping diary: Tramp No 1

Bobs Biv (Mt Thomas)3/9/2000.

This report concerns  the very first tramp that I participated in as far as my serious tramping career is concerned. Before this time I just use to do short bush walks or hill climbs with friends or by myself. usually not more than 2-4 hours walking and always on well formed tracks etc...(apart from doing the Milford track back in 1991).I had always wanted to get more serious about tramping and so finally decided to find a club to go out with and get some more experience. This trip, with The Christchurch tramping Club was the first of many with that club of which I have been a member for almost 10 years now.

This particular trip to Bobs Biv was a last minute change of plan as the weather forecast wasn't too good for the planned trip and the trip leader picked this one as an alternative. I meet the group at the Mt Thomas picnic area, as I live not far from this place, on an overcast and drizzly morning. Leaving at 9:15am we headed up the Wooded valley track, which is a pleasant winding and undulating track up through Beech Forrest. According to my diary, it took us about 2 & 1/2 hours to reach the junction track to Bobs Biv. From the junction we travelled in a westerly direction away from Mt Thomas, traversing an open spur of rock and tussock before re-entering the bush of lovely moss covered stunted beech. During this time it started to rain. Further along the ridge we encountered a swampy open area of tussock and I seem to remember having a standing lunch somewhere along here, hiding  under trees with steady rain falling. We re-entered the Forest and arrived at the Biv after another 100 or so meters. Bobs biv is a lovely spot with a fire place out side and a basic old two person forest service Biv. It took us 5 hours to get to the biv. 

After a rest to enjoy the tranquility of the spot, we headed back the way we came heading for No.2 track to take us back down to the cars.I was in the front of the group chatting with a fellow Sparky who was a club regular and experienced tramper. We had gotten ahead of the rest of the group and suddenly we  found ourselves at a fence and style. I was sure we had not encountered this on the way in but my companion wasn't so sure, so we stayed putt until we heard the leaders whistle behind us and discovered we had  been so engrossed in conversation that we had missed the junction and started to head off down to Pinchgut Hut.We re connected with the rest of the group and headed off down track No.2 through more Beech, then a  cleared patch with great views of the Canterbury plains, before entering the last leg of our descent through the commercial pine forest.Arrived back at the cars about 5:45PM. Quite a long day for my first serious tramp, but I wasn't in too much pain afterwards.unfortunately I have no photos from this trip.