SOUTH WAIRARAPA TRAMPING CLUB

As Maria in the Sound of Music said, When the Lord closes a door, He opens a window. This has been the case with 2 recent club trips.

On the 11th April we were supposed to try out a new route to Pinnacle Ridge, but as that would have involved crossing the flooded Atiwhakatu River, we chose instead to do the Rimutaka (or should that now be Remutaka?) Skyline to Abbotts Creek route. It was a perfect day – unusual for the top of the Rimutakas! We had sunshine and no wind, and glorious views south down the top of the Hutt Valley, north towards the Tararuas, and east over the Wairarapa Valley and Lake Wairarapa.

This is an easy to moderate trip, a contrast of bush at first, and then the pylon track, curving along the ridge and finally descending steeply to come out at Double Bridges. If you’re trying it yourself, don’t take the first two right hand turns on the pylon track, just keep straight ahead.

On 4 April we were supposed to go to Conical Knob in the northern Tararuas, but owing to the roar, and the danger of being mistaken for a deer by a careless hunter, we repeated our Gentle Annis Saddle trip from March. Our companions hadn’t taken that route before, and we didn’t mind repeating it. We noticed with satisfaction that the sign marking the actual saddle is now located at the saddle, being the lowest part of the track, rather than half a minute’s walk above the saddle, where it was previously located.

Impending club trips are:

9 May – Belmont Regional Park, taken by Barry Kempton, ph 06 304 9353. Where Barry is likely to take you in the Park is known only to Barry, so ring him to find out.

16 May – Visit Waihora, Clive Paton’s very interesting property, where you can see what Clive has been doing in the way of nurturing and planting his favourite native tree species, including southern rata. Ian and Rosie Montgomery are the people to ring to express your interest, ph 06 304 9252.

23 May – Down to Wellington for a walk along the eastern hills from the Wainuiomata Hill Road saddle to Eastbourne. This will mean locating cars at each end. Ed and Juliet Cooke are responsible for organising this trip – ph 06 304 9497.

30 May – Barry Kempton is again taking this trip, described as Point 810. To find out the meaning of this, and what is involved, ring Barry on 304 9353.
Do come and join us – we welcome anyone interested in getting out and about, often to places of which the general public are unaware. Contact Ed and Juliet Cooke, 304 9497, for details about the club.