A bright, warm day made for a good start. Eleven trampers, old and new, some with extensive experience, gathered punctually, showing eager attitude.
To walk on a marble mountain promises something special. Though this was once farmland, it’s now a fenced off QEII Covenant. I had promised evidence of farming, and this we found on the small bush track at the beginning. The mummified cow, trapped in a small hut, which has now collapsed, came as a big surprise to some. We followed the stream, leading to a cave. There were some keen explorers, even wanting to exit at the far end. Luckily they had left their packs behind and we continued as one group. To regain a 4 x 4 track, we scrambled up through Beech forest and Karst formations, had morning tea and found delight in hearing superb bird song, and this not far from the main road.
From now on we also saw a few other visitors to the hill. What I thought was the track, finished at a view point high above the Takaka Valley. Luckily nobody jumped. Great were the views to the Western Ranges, still glittering in snow. With the track turning east, we crossed heavy Karst landscape, following plenty of markers. Lunch in a clearing was rather relaxed, some stretched out. The second part of the loop showed how much gorse had encroached, apart from that, Beech forest and heavy Karst landscape again, also well marked Tomos.
After nearly 4 hours we reassembled at the car park. I appreciated the happy participation of:
Participants: Jane Solly, Caitlin Solly (11), David Cook, Lou and Chrissy Kolff, Marie Firth, Steve McGlone, and visitors Martina Könnecke, Christine Wanke, and Gareth Gilbert. Uta Purcell (Leader & scribe)