Rough Creek - Christobel Hut - Nina Valley 14-16 November 2003

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary:Tramp No 29

Rough Creek - Christabel Hut - Nina Valley 14-16 November 2003

After 3 years with the Christchurch Tramping Club, I finally decided I had learnt enough to get out on some weekend trips. The first one being this three day expedition where we headed up from Rough creek, near Maruia Springs, over to the Christabel hut for the first night and then over the saddle into the Nina Valley for the second night and then out the Nina on the third day.

Being Show Weekend in Canterbury, it was a Friday, about 10:45am as we left the highway at Rough Creek and headed up through the Beech Forest on a warm cloudy day. We made the bush line in about 2 hours, rested and refueled before heading off across the tussock to the saddle, while enjoying the views of Lake Christabel and Valley. We dropped off the Saddle in some leftover snow before negotiating the challenging track that took us to The Christabel Hut. We arrived at the hut around 6:30PM where, after giving me a bit of stick about carrying too much water, Alan Ross, revealed the 1KG block of chocolate he was carrying as well as the fact that he was also travelling with PJ's, a teddy bear and a fake plastic lower leg and foot with a fake flesh wound, which was used later in the trip as a practical joke.

Leaving the Christabel hut at 8:30am on an overcast and drizzly morning, we headed off along the track which heads to the Robinson Valley. The track was difficult to follow as we got further up valley but finally got to the top of the poled route by mid afternoon. From here, we sidled slowly, through very wet and slippery scrub and snow to the saddle at around Point 1452, before bolder hopping and then bushbashing our way to the Nina biv, arriving around 7:00PM. As the Biv could only sleep 2 persons, and after consulting the map and seeing that the Nina hut was only about 4KM down river on what was believed to be a fairly good track, 4 of the party decided that we had enough daylight time to get to the hut with bunks etc and not have to sleep the night in a tent. The other two would stay at the Biv and meet us at the hut the next morning.

After nearly three more hours of travel on what seemed to be an Ok track, but maybe due to tiredness slowing us down, we still hadn't found the Nina Hut. Darkness had come and we hadn't yet had any dinner, when about 10:30PM we decided to stop and camp on the track. It was then discovered that half the tent was back at the Biv with the other two and so three of the party slept under a jerry rigged setup with half a tent and Uncle Roddus volunteered to sleep out in his big orange emergency bag on his first overnight trip out. Lucky the rain had gone, but it was not a very comfortable night and I managed to slide halfway down a small slope by morning.

The others arrived at our camp about 11am the next day and we carried on the 15 minutes to the Hut, which we found was no longer there, just a concrete slab where it use to be. At this point someone mentioned that they remembered that the hut had been removed and a new one was built across the river, there were no sign posts to indicate this. We headed back to the highway, passing the new bridge and sign directing people to the new Nina hut, a couple of hours down the track and we arrived at the NZDA Hut at about 3:30PM.

Clearing the bush line on the way up

Fairly fresh snow in November

The view of lake Christabel

The Track to the hut

It was slow going.

Christabel Hut

Aland chocolate

Didn't take any photos on Saturday as it was quite wet and the camera stayed wrapped up in the pack all day, but here is Uncle Roddus sleeping place.

Where the hell is the Nina Hut

Queen Charlotte Track 26th October 2003

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary:Tramp No. 28

Queen Charlotte Track 26th October 2003

Was up visiting my Sisters and Mother, who were all living in Renwick and Blenheim at this time and decided to do a big day walk along the easy Queen Charlotte Track. Intention was to leave Anakiwa at sunup and try to cover 40KM to Keneperu Saddle and get picked up by my brother-in-law, Pete. I was late getting away, as I set my alarm wrong, but was on the track by 7:20am, loaded with Red Bull and plenty of lunch. Got to my first rest stop at the road intersection above Onahau bay at 9:30am after travelling 10.3KM and rested for 30 minutes. Started off again at 10:00am heading for my next stop at Torea Saddle, just under 7KM  in 1.75 hours with a bit of height gained on this section. things slowed down now with another climb up from Torea saddle and then another rest and some food at Black Rock Shelter. After this stop, I knew I wouldn't make it to my destination, but knew i could drop back down to the road from above Ruakaka bay. Got to the drop off point at 3PM after another 9.8KM from Torea saddle and rested for about an hour as Pete wasn't due for some time yet. Took about 20 minutes to drop down the very steep track to the road and started walking along the road as Pete still wasn't due for a while. Fortunately he was early and picked me up around 30 minutes after hitting the road. All up, ended walking about 30KM. According to my diary, I did take some photos on this trip, but I cant find them.

Black Hill Hut 18-19th October 2003

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary:Tramp No.27

Black Hill Hut 18-19th October 2003

This was my first trip up to the nearby Black Hill Hut in the Oxford forest and my first trip with my friend Bryce, who had just come down to live in Christchurch.
We left the View Hill car park a 10:30am on a pleasant warm Saturday and had a pleasant walk along the Warfdale track for 3 1/2 hours, with a lunch stop at Warfdale saddle. The track up to Black hill was a good climb, but not a sustained one with a fairly steep section near the top, just before the hut. The top part of the track travels through twisted and stunted moss covered trees in fairly open forest, and is very beautiful.It took us 2 hours to get to the hut from the Warfdale track and after checking out the nice 6 bunk hut and having a cuppa, we headed up through quite deep snow to Black hill to admire the views. Back at the hut, Bryce attended to his war wounds, as he had several battles with sticks and branches on the way up and dinner was cooked and eaten.Two tired trampers were asleep by 9:00pm. Sunday, we headed down the other track to check out the Townsend Hut(Now Removed), encountering 3 lovely young ladies heading up to Black Hill. From the Townsend we headed back along the Warfdale and back out to View hill.

Resting on the Warfdale

Uncle Roddus showing off

Bryce's war wounds

The lovely moss covered trees

A slightly knackered Bryce in the hut.

Black Hill Hut with Mt Oxford in the background

On Black hill

Looking towards Mt Oxford

Bryce on Black Hill wit Chest Peak in the background

Great vista of valleys and mountains.

Mt Storm 27th September 2003

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary:Tramp No. 26

Mt Storm 27th September 2003

A Christchurch Tramping Club trip from the Lees Valley, we Left from Snowdale Homestead and headed up the ridge just to the north. A party of 10 ascended the ridge direct to Mt Storm in blustery North west conditions.Half the party took about an hour and a half to reach the top, where lunch was taken, waiting for the rest of the group, who had lunch further down. Wind protection apparatus was donned for the travel along the tops as the wind was very strong up there and some smaller people had to hold on to each other to stop being blown off the ridge. I am uncertain now where we actually dropped off the tops, but my diary mentions that some of the party got ahead and dropped off at the wrong point and the rest followed. After negotiating some bluffs we finally arrived at the car which we had left at Mt Pember Station. A trip through open scrub and tops with great views of the valley, partly spoiled by the strong winds.

Lees Valley

The Puketeraki Range

Lees Valley

 

Basic Snow Craft Course 20-21 September 2003

Uncle Roddus Tramping Diary:Tramp No. 25

 Basic Snow Craft Course 20-21 September 2003

This was my basic snowcraft course that I did  with the CTC. Below is the report i wrote for this weekend posted on the CTC website.

After missing out on a place earlier this year, I was very keen not to miss out again. I booked 3 weeks ahead this time and managed to secure a place on the course. I received a call from Adrian Busby about mid week to confirm times and places, and it was decided that I would find my own way up from Oxford to Arthur's Pass.

I arrived at the club hut before the others and so I waited in my car parked outside the hut. Adrian and his crew arrived about 20 minutes later. I saw his Toyota arrive on the lane and then start to reverse into the hut carpark. Concerned that he couldn't see me, I put my foot on the brake to warn him and when I saw him pull forward to correct his approach, I thought that he had seen me. I watched in my mirror as he continued to reverse and the next thing I know is that he has backed up so close to my car that you couldn't have slid an onion skin between us. I was too scared to open the door or put my head out of the window for fear of losing it. I was just about to sound the horn when he stopped and started to pull forward. Finally when he had parked a safe distance away, I got out of my car very relieved and the first thing he said to me was, "I didn't even see you there". And so this was my first meeting with "The Great Busby".
George and his crew arrived soon after to report a fire at a hay barn near Grassmere Lodge.
A real mix was this group. We had one Australian (Brad), one Japanese (Taka), two English (John & Kate), one Kiwi woman (Bernadette), two Kiwi blokes (George and Myself(Rodney)) and Adrian (Displaced). After the introductions, unloading and bed claiming, it was straight down to business (crampons). I had with me my own crampons, brand new and still in the box. Adrian had a well stocked toolbox, a vice and various straps and rivets. He then proceeded to talk at great length about crampons, strapping, boots, and why he had all this stuff. I sat and listened, smug in the knowledge that as I had new crampons I wouldn't have any problems with my strapping.

By the end of the night I had completely rebuilt my entire strapping system, due to missing straps and the overcomplicated system they came with. I am also now very confident that I could repair any part of that system when it needs it. The only problem was that I accidentally cut one strap too short, which I didn't discover until the next day when trying to fit them on the mountain. Adrian's philosophy of keeping it simple paid off the next day when 3 people lost their crampons off their boots while walking on the mountain.
Saturday dawned grey and wet, and we set off to see what it looked like at Temple Basin ski field. It didn't look too bad and what better way to get experience in snow than when it is snowing. We ascended the mount with Adrian talking at great lengths about ice axes, snow plugging, cornices, snow caves, avalanches, white outs and lots of other stuff which may or may not come back to me in years to come. After a quick munch at the public shelter, which we had to dig our way into, we left our packs and set off to find a slope to practice our ice axe arrests.
And practice we did, sliding down this slope every which way; feet first, head first, forward, backwards, each time trying to stop our selves in the correct manner with our trusty ice axes. It was actually quite fun, although I lost count of how many times I slid down that slope. We had a fast learning group and Adrian was happy with our progress so that after lunch, instead of continuing our arrest practice we moved onto "fun with crampons". So we stomped around with our crampons for a while but as the snow was so fresh and soft they weren't much use really, so we decided to carry on with ice axe arrest, but alas the weather took a turn for the worse and it was decided to call it a day and head back to the hut. A quick stop for beer, then back to the hut where Adrian talked at great length on many diverse subjects. We finished the day with a couple of hours at the Bealey hotel, where, much to Georges delight he found out the rugby score.
We awoke on Sunday to about 4 inches of snow on our cars. This prompted a sleep in, a slow motion breakfast, more talking from Adrian and leaving the hut at late morning to head back towards CHCH and see where we could go.
Adrian led us for a stroll up the Hawdon Valley, on a beautiful clear afternoon, aiming, perhaps for the Hawdon hut. At the gate in the fence across the river, Adrian wisely decided to give us an impromptu course in river crossing. He then proceeded to talk at great length about rivers and crossing them and other associated topics. We then proceeded to cross the Hawdon several times in the method shown.
After lunch, in which we had a "group moan" about banks (of the money variety), we continued up stream and saw a group of four trampers coming downstream. We met them at a river crossing where they watched us link up and cross. We then stopped and watched what they would do. From their body language they looked undecided as to how they would cross and we thought they were going to have a go at crossing separately (the river was about thigh depth and quite swift with snow melt). They knew we were watching and eventually linked up and crossed safely. Adrian talked at great length about how they were not in the right order to lend each the best support and their linking wasn't correct.
We continued on to the east Hawdon Stream, where it was decided to turn around and go back to the cars. Before we set off on our return journey, someone brought up the subject of navigation, and so Adrian talked at great length about maps and compasses, GPS and many other things. We headed back along the east bank of the river, practicing our newly learnt river crossing technique about 3 more times with Adrian making me leader, in the middle, then deliberately holding his end of the line back to see if I was awake and correct our crossing.
A very enjoyable weekend, and on behalf of the all on the course, I wish to thank Adrian for sharing with us his vast knowledge and experience.

fortunatly there was snow

Relaxing in the Club hut

Preparing to leave

The Hawdon Valley

Continuing up the valley

through the trees

A little hill in the background

Posing for the river crossong.

Bealey Spur/Jordon Stream 14th September 2003

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary:Tramp No.24

Bealey Spur/Jordon Stream 14th September 2003

This was another trip I did with the CTC and below is the report I wrote that was posted on their web page.

And so it was that your humble scribe decided it was again time to get off my behind and venture out into the wilderness with those nice people from the CTC. After having to pull out of the trip to Tarn Hut the weekend before, I figured that a nice moderate day trip up Bealey spur with Bernard would be a good way to start getting back in shape for the summers tramping. Now because this scribe is not always the most motivated tramper, it had been some months since my last outing, and due to my complete abhorrence to any form of regular exercise outside of tramping I figured that a moderate trip would about be my limit. A quick glance at my topo map on the computer at the area to be tackled and I was sure that it would be no problem.
9:00 am Sunday and I met our party of 5 blokes and no women (!!) at Springfield as I usually do. Weather was slightly overcast, not too windy, with patchy rain on the way up, as it was to stay for most of the day. The usual confused car shuffle occurred at Bealey huts resulting in Bernard leaving his car at the Waimak bridge and myself taking us back to Bealey huts and a game of catch up to the others who were now 10-15 minutes ahead of us. With great gusto we set off up Bealey Spur, with myself setting a brisk pace (by my standards) in hot pursuit of the rest of our party.
We caught up with the rest of the crew at a lookout point with great views of Bruce Stream. It was at this point that we picked up our hitchhiker. When Bernard and I arrived, the guys were chatting with a young Japanese woman whose name sounded something like Ume. She was well equipped with cameras and was staying at Arthurs Pass. After a few photos of my own, and the donning of our precipitation protection apparatus, we set of for the Bealey hut, with Ume accompanying.
Considering that I was wearing a watch, I am not sure what time we arrived at the hut, but I was definitely lagging behind at this stage. At the hut we found the easy trip crew had beaten us to all the comfortable places inside the hut and so we were relegated to standing round outside, eating and having photos taken with Ume.
A quick lunch and Bernard is ready to go as he knows better than most of us that there is a way yet to go and the intention is to be out by 5:00pm. I am especially keen on this plan as I have a party to go to that night and wish to get away as soon as possible. Ume decides that she is going to continue along the spur with us, although she probably had no idea of where we were actually heading to. (Of course it turns out that I had no idea of where we were actually heading to either).
Now it is from this point on that we hit the snow, and it is with great gratitude and relief from this unfit scribe to our leader and Mike for making our lives so much easier that day (of course they were in front because no one else could keep up with them).
At about 2:30pm, with Ume still with us and merrily snapping away with all her cameras, Bernard stopped on a snowy peak looking down on Little Jordon stream and announced that we would have to adopt "Plan B".
"What's Plan B?" I asked.
"To start our descent from here." He replied.
"So what was Plan A.?" I inquired.
"To continue along this snow covered ridge to that high point along there and then travel down that long spur there, to that stream way down there." He pointed.
"Oh" I exclaimed, "Plan B sounds much better to me, are you sure that is a moderate trip?"

We walked back along the ridge a way, and then Bernard made his next announcement.

"We could just go straight back along this ridge the way we came or we could drop down along here somewhere and bushbash our way down to the river flat. I'm gonna bushbash, if you want we could split up and those who want to can travel back along the track. You can follow me, but I take no responsibility for where we are heading."

One thing I'll say for CTC members, they don't shy away from adventure, and so it was that a bushbashing we did go, in time honoured CTC fashion, with Ume still game enough (or mad enough) to stay with us no matter where we went.
A plunging we did go into the bush. A stumbling and a slipping. A crunching and a cursing. With an oching and a snagging, with cries of "rock" echoing across the river flat. Until just when I thought this descent would never end, a voice called out from the River flat:

"They must be CTC members to be mad enough to come down there!"

As we tumbled out of the bush, we were met by Keith Johnston and Pam, walking their dog and trying to find where we were going to come out.
Your unfit scribe was rather knackered by this time and struggled complainingly over the last small hill towards the car, unsure whether he would be able to still stand at the end, let alone go to this party that night. We took Ume back to her car and gave her a copy of the CTC newsletter. So maybe our hitchhiker may turn up on another CTC tramp sometime soon.
As for me, not only did I get to the party but I even danced half the night away. There's hope for me yet.

me, on Bealey Spur

Bealy hut, Lunch.

Power Stream

A nice bit of snow to keep us on our toes. It was soft though, didn't need crampons thank god, didn't bring any.

Power Stream again.

looking down the waimack river

The Bush bash

Ryde Falls 31st August 2003

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary:Tramp No.23

Ryde Falls 31st August 2003

Another trip to the falls, my third visit this calender year. A nice day and went with some friends. See below for photos of the Falls.

Hamilton Peak 22nd June 2003

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary:Tramp No. 22

Hamilton Peak 22nd June 2003

This was a trip I did with the Christchurch Tramping club and below is the trip report I wrote at the time which was posted on their web site.

It was a reasonably clear and dry Sunday morning as I met my fellow explorers at Springfield, lead by Captain Warwick, his advisor, First Officer Frank, and their crew of seven.
After the usual relief stop, pies and map consultation, we set off for Craigieburn Forest Parkland; our destination, Hamilton Peak.
We parked our horseless carriages at the Broken River ski field car park and climbed the access road through the luxurious resorts of the Broken River ski club. We then ploughed our way up the slopes of the ski field with first officer Frank doing a sterling job of making the rest of our lives easier in the snow. A stop at the top afforded awesome views of the snow capped Grey and Black Ranges. Jackets were donned to keep out the wind as we traveled along the ridge via Nervous Knob and onto Hamilton Peak.
After a very quick lunch, we descended down the spur towards Camp Saddle. Here we were introduced to the new Olympic sport of bum sliding, by Honora. And so several grown and mature adults(!!!) spent the good part of the next 45 minutes sliding down the slope in various contorted ways.
Captain Warwick trying the "Head first on stomach" method, Joanna trying the "Wanting to see where I've been" method and Frank and Honora going for the "Flat-out" method. I knew snow had a purpose. Much fun was had and it was with some reluctance that we left the snowy slopes and entered the bush track back to the car park.

Some of the vista from atop Hamilton peak

A quick stop to refuel

Looking along the Craigiburn Range

this is one of my favorite photos from this period.

I think this is looking down to Hamilton hut on the Cass saddle track.

I was there too.

A Photo

Some people Bum Sliding

Ryde Falls 25th May 2003

Uncle Roddus Tramping Diary:tramp No.21

Ryde Falls 25th May 2003

Didn't get out tramping again for several months for what ever reasons and this trip was a revisit to part of my

last trip(see below). A CTC trip this time with a leisurely jaunt back to Ryde Falls. See below for pictures of the falls.