South Wairarapa Tramping Club news – Farm excursion

One of the advantages of belonging to the tramping club is being able to go on farm walks inaccessible to the general public. We were fortunate to be able to join the Masterton Tramping Club recently on a visit to a farm on the Tararua foothills.

21 of us set out on what promised to be a very hot day. On our way across the farmland the owner talked to us about the farm, and various aspects of how they in particular handled their land and animals.

We criss-crossed a stream, water levels low enough for there to be no danger of getting our feet wet, and gradually rose up through the bush, passing 2 small huts which looked rather inviting.

The slope increased in intensity, a steepening slog upwards, gaining about 400 metres of height. The nice grassy track deteriorated into a bulldozer track, with loose gravel and small rocks slipping under our feet. We were dreading having to come back down the track, as we envisaged ourselves carefully inching down, clinging on to the wire fence and the occasional tree for support, but it turned out to be a round trip.

The older members of our group found the going quite difficult, and wished they had the boundless energy of our leader – probably 30 years younger than most of us! Several turned back, and we were down to 15 trampers by lunchtime.

After lunch the track levelled out, and we had magnificent views of the Mangatarere Valley on our left, and out over the Wairarapa valley far below on our right.

Our route downwards was zigzagged, making for much easier walking. It was so hot by then that the stock water troughs almost looked inviting enough for a quick dip! We got back to the farmhouse after a really satisfying 5 hour excursion.

SWTC welcomes new members! Phone or email Ed and Juliet Cooke 304 9497, efjac@xtra.co.nz if you are interested. See our facebook page and website.

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