Bald Range - Rangi-Taipo - Kelly Tops 18th-19th February 2006

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary:Tramp No 57

Bald Range - Rangi-Taipo - Kelly Tops 18th-19th February 2006

So this was the original trip I did with the CTC along the Bald and Kelly Ranges back in 2006 and which I revisited again in 2011 for another epic adventure(see here) and also see Here for the actual CTC trip report.

The weather for this trip was near perfect as five trampers left the Kelly creek car park about 9:50am on Saturday morning. A nice steep climb up through Beech forest and then flax and low scrub before we hit the tussock and the Caroline Hut after about an hour and a half. The decision was made to take advantage of the fantastic day and do the Bald range first, taking another six hours to Rangi-Taipo where we enjoyed the fabulas views of the Taipo River valley and lake Brunner. Dropped down to the south looking for the start of the track down the Taipo, finally locating the cairn, before we slipped and slided out way down the upper part of the rack and then floundered down the lower and more overgrown section before finally arriving at The Old Dillons Hut, where we stayed the night. The next day involved the much easier travel of up onto the Kelly tops and back to the car via Caroline hut. Day took about 11hours and day 2 about 6.

Mt Gargarus - 12th February 2006

Uncle Roddus Tramping Diary:Tramp No 56

Gargarus 12th February 2006

This was the second time I had been up Gargarus with the CTC and I have flogged the report off the CTC web site. For photos, see my earlier trip report Here.

After the traditional meeting at the Carlton Corner, Steven, Robert and I made our way towards Lake Coleridge, we picked up Uncle Roddus on the way and kept travelling together.
We drove up to Glenthorne Station and after getting confirmation from the owner that we were welcome on his land, we started walking towards the hill. The wind was fairly strong at the bottom but was soon screened by the bush as we walked up a gentle slope. We crossed Fisher Stream and followed an old 4WD track to the west of Gargarus Hill, heading towards the saddle. After a break we started the much steeper ascent towards the summit (1655m). We got a few scratches going through matagouri and then kept climbing in less nasty scrub and scree. The 650m climb from the saddle was steep but short and we made it to the top quickly. The wind was much stronger up there and the barren top offers little shelter. We had lunch sitting in a curve of the hill, protected from the wind. After that we went for a quick walk around the top to check out the views and we could admire the Canterbury Plains, the Rakaia, Lake Coleridge, and the Wilberforce Valley, Mt Hutt and the Craigieburn Range. We went down the scree fairly quickly, then followed the same track back to the cars. We got back to Christchurch around 5.30pm after stopping in Hororata café for a drink.

Mt Peel - 14 January 2006

Uncle Roddus Tramping Diary:Tramp No 55

Mt Peel - 14 january 2006

2005 wasn't a good year for getting out tramping and it was nearly a year from January 2005 to this trip in February 2006 between trips 54 and 55. This was another CTC trip on which 7 of us headed off from the cars about 9:20am on a fine and warm day and headed up through the bush and along the spur to Little Mt Peel, taking about 2 hours on this first leg. Continuing up along the spur, we achieved Middle Mt Peel around 1:30pm and had second lunch. Ascended Big Mt Peel by 2:45pm and had 3rd lunch before heading back out the way we came, arriving back at the cars about 6:45pm. A fairly big day with a height gain of over 1300M and traveled nearly 24KM.

Heading up the first section.

The shelter on little Mt Peel.

Cool how we had this wall of fog on one side and nice sunshine on the other.

On Big Mt Peel.

Mt Lyford/Mt Terako/Hamner - Febuary 2005

Uncle Roddus Tramping Diary: Tramp No 54

Mt Lyford/Mt Terako/Hamner - February 2005

My memories of this trip are a bit vague and also I can't find any photos to jog my memory as to what exactly we did and my diary doesn't say too much either. This was a CTC trip based at Hamner. We stayed in tents at the Hamner camping ground and on a pleasant and warm Saturday we went for a wander in the hills out the back of Hamner. I strongly suspect it was up Mt Charon and possibly onto Mt Captain. Sunday we headed back to Mt Lyford and climbed up the Ski Field access road and then headed round onto Mt Terako from which there are fantastic views of the Kaikoura's and along the coast.

Sudden Valley - January or Febuary 2005

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary: Tramp No 53

Sudden Valley - January or Febuary 2005

Another well attended CTC trip up the beautiful Sudden valley. 16 of us left Hawdon Shelter on a perfect summers day and slowly wombled up Sudden Valley to the Biv, at which we arrived about 2:30PM. Had an extended rest taking in the views scenery and the sun, before heading back out the same way. An easy trip to a beautiful spot.

The Sudden Valley Biv

Uncle Roddus at Sudden valley Falls

One of the Better Photos I took. most weren't too good.

Heading up Valley

The Falls

Checking out the falls

Bealey Spur - 16th January 2005

Uncle Roddus tramping Diary: Tramp No. 52

Bealey Spur 16th January 2005

A CTC trip that was originally going to go to Mt Stewart in Arthurs Pass, but due to weather forecasts and conditions, this trip was completed instead. A party of 16 trampers headed up Bealey Spur around 9:00AM, stopping at the hut for morning tea before heading round the ridge to point 1875. Enjoyed the excellent views before dropping down Jordon Stream and rock hopping back down to the Waimak River and then back out to Bealey Bridge. A nice trip with a height gain of about 1100 M and walked about 22KM.

A good shot of the ridge we travelled.

The view across the Waimak looking up the Crow valley.

A shot from point 1875, looking up the Avoca.

Relaxin' at the top, the day turned out fine in this area.

Rock hopping down the Jordon.

Mount Taranaki - 28th December 2004

Uncle Roddus Tramping Diary: Tramp No.51

 Mount Taranaki - 28th December 2004

Mrs Roddus and Myself went on a holiday up this way over Christmas and new year and I had never had the opportunity to do any tramping in the North Island and seeing as we were staying in New Plymouth I was very keen to have a crack at The Mount although I had been warned by my mate Bruce that the weather is very fickle on The Mount and I would be very lucky to get a clear day. 

We arrived in New Plymouth late afternoon on the previous day and went straight to the DOC office to check on the weather conditions for the following day. The forecast was for heavy rain through most of the day. The day we arrived the weather had been very pleasant and warm and there was no sign of any approaching rain. I decided to be prepared and got myself ready after dinner for a possible days climbing on the morrow. I got up at 5:00AM to check what the weather was doing and found a clear day greeted me, so off I went.

 Drove to the North Egmont visitor center and parked up, already at an altitude of 952M, so only had another 1500 odd meters left to climb. Was on the track by 7:00AM following the four wheel drive track up to the Tahurangi lodge, where I stopped for a rest and second breakfast. Then continued up a gully and then some wooden steeps before continuing up the main ridge following the marker poles. I saw another tramper ahead of me heading up on the snow just to the left of the ridge and when I got to the point where he left the ridge, I decided to do the same as the ridge was quite hard going as the ground was soft and crumbling. While putting on my crampons, my camera, in its bag, rolled out of my pack and tumbled 200 odd meters down the snow, where I saw it come to rest. I couldn't be bothered going back down to get it and as I knew exactly where it was decided to retrieve it on the way back.

I continued up the snow and then the poled route swung to the left  following the ridge, but it was very hard ice and I really had to dig my crampons in to get a grip. I saw where the other tramper had gone before me on the softer snow and decided to follow his route. It was very steep up this close to the top and I soon found that this probably wasn't quite the correct route to take as I found myself having to climb a sharp ledge with my iceaxe, which was fun but not quite the way to do it with only one iceaxe. I then saw the other tramper coming out in the gut below me, where I should have been and looking up at me probably thing why did I follow his route. Any how, I dropped back down into the main crater and had lunch and enjoyed the hazy views.

 My diary is a bit vague about what I did next as it says I dropped off the West Ridge, which probably means I dropped off the East Ridge as the West Ridge would take me away to the other side of the mountain. Anyway, what ever I did, I eventually crossed the pole route and then proceeded to Bumslide down the snow back to my camera. I got back to the Car about 1:30PM, in 6 and 1/2 hours just in time to watch the clouds quickly form around the summit.

Pfeifer Biv - October or November 2004

Uncle Roddus Tramping Diary: Tramp No. 50

Pfeifer Biv - October or November 2004

The last trip in a quartet of CTC trips I did with Frank and Honora with this tramp finally getting me to Pfeifer Biv after the last time not being able to go because of weather. Crossed the Otira River near Aickins via the swing bridge on a cool and patchy overcast day. Travelled up Paratu Stream to Waharoa Saddle before hadsing south to point 1364 and looping  round to the Biv. Set up camp around the Biv and got lightly snowed upon during the night. Sunday we headed straight out via Pfeifer Creek and the Taramakau River, no mention is made of heading up on to Pfeifer summit, probably due to the weather conditions.

No photos from this trip.

Chest Peak - 2-3rd October 2004

Uncle Roddus Tramping Diary: Tramp No. 49

Chest Peak 2-3rd October 2004

Frank and Honora again led this CTC trip to Chest peak, which again is a local tramp for me and one I had been eyeing up for some time. A party of  seven, some of which were also on the previous adventure, drove into Snowdale in the Lees Valley, on a clear and still day and proceeded to head up Cunningham Stream, following the old Ski Field Access Road. Left the cars about 10:45am and stopped at the Hut for lunch. Carried on following what was left of the old access road, some of it almost all gone now, before the final zig zag up the spur past point 1225 to the end of the road where there is an old and half gone caravan. The access road had been put in some time back in the 50s after a particular snow heavy winter and the caravan had been towed up there to serve as an office. The following seasons snows did not produce enough of the white stuff to be feasible and so the project was abandoned.

 We set up camp around the Caravan and use the caravan as a kitchen, as well as Honora sleeping in it. Spent a pleasant night sitting round a fire in the snow.

 Sunday was again fine and frosty as we set off about 9:00am for the 700M climb up to chest peak, which is the highest peak in the Puketeraki Range. took two hours to the top, having to crampon the last 100M before we then  headed around the snow filled basin at the top of Salmon Creek to point 1885, where we had lunch and enjoyed the fantastic views. Went out the same way we came in and got back to the cars about 7:15pm.

The little valley before we head up to the caravan.

The caravan

The kitchen.

The camp fire.

Near the top.

On the top.

enjoying the views.

Fabulous

Wonderful.

Uncle Frank.

Heading round to point 1885

And there was snow.

A great place.

The old Xavier collage hut.

Our Camp.

The access road.