Crusader. Organiser: Tony Haddon
Veeerrry hot day. 8 starters, 6 summiteers. Large falling rock on way up and large falling rock on way down. Particularly itchy and scratchy undergrowth. Two chamois on top. Two pairs of shorts written off. One pair of shorts badly damaged. One ancient track re-discovered. Back at the cars at dusk. Lots of large buzzing bright green beetles. Bedraggled happy people: Alison Nicoll, Gretchen Williams, Brian McLean, Jim Maxwell, Mark Graesser, Andy Clark, Ian Roberts (Auckland TC guest) and Tony Haddon .
22 & 23 January 2005 - Salisbury Lodge/Mt Arthur. Organiser: Uta Purcell
"Rain to reach Kahurangi by late morning Saturday and rain on Sunday!" With that prediction the following trampers sat off for the Tablelands: Mark Graesser, Grahame Harris, Rosemary McCallum, Cathy Worthy, Andy Clark and Nicola, and Uta Purcell.
To give us a chance of views and success, we did Sunday's programme in reverse on Saturday. The odd cloud provided us with welcome shade as we turned off the Arthur Ridge towards the Pyramid. Down and up repeated for a number of times, we crossed the open limestone landscape that displayed the mountain herbfield with all its flowers at its best. The one little waterhole proved useful when Grahame stood in it to soften his stiff boots. Some of us went directly to Salisbury Lodge (nobody else there), others meandered through the poled route of the potholes to the hut. A fascinating side trip - just like the next side trip, which took us between 5 and 7pm across the Tablelands to Balloon Hut and back. Miraculously the weather had been good for the whole day. Without too much effort our group, ranging from 12 years of age to those still in their 7th decade, had accomplished and enjoyed a full programme. Throughout the tramp we pondered the natural and man-made changes in this area full of history. What did it matter that we had to wear raingear on the way out along the Flora track? It got us so hot, that we felt this Sunday, 23 January 05, could have been mistaken for a summer's day!
30 January 2005 - Marsden Valley Bush Tracks. Organiser: Robyn Walsh