Leader: Debbie Hogan

After several postponements, this trip finally ran once road works on the Cobb Valley Road had been completed. It was almost 11:00 before we were ready to leave the car park; pleased to note that there were no other vehicles parked there, meaning we could leave our sleeping mats in the car. It was a fine day with a cool breeze but because we were in the bush until the ridge top section to the hut no one seemed to overheat. Sylvester Hut altitude 1310m has views to the North West round to South East but was nestled into the trees to the south. We were soon into lunch and a hot drink. Debbie had bought a card version of Monopoly and she and I tried to familiarise ourselves with the rules while taking lunch. We then went out for an exploration of the lakes area and with only two packs between the group we made good time, We started by regaining the road which led to Lake Sylvester but soon took a north-westward course toward the ridge that formed the northern boundary to the basin containing the three main lakes. There we had the chance to observe the antics of two introduced mammals, the juvenile form of the Swiss rock-hopper. This species seemed to have limitless energy and found the terrain much to their liking. Debbie had thought that getting to overlook Lake Sylvester might be enough for the afternoon but we made such good progress we walked all the way to Iron Lake travelling along this ridge, to a high point about 1500m, before finding a way down to the lakeside, with only minor obstacles to sidle round.

There was time for a snack, photos and rock building at the lake before we descended a gentler, undulating slope, mainly tussock covered but with a few Leatherwood plants (the first I had seen in the South Island). This ridge separated Little Sylvester Lake from its bigger namesake and we had to negotiate several boggy areas between the lakes, heavy rain late in the week possibly made this area wetter than usual?

Eventually we managed to cross over the main lake outlet pipe (some still with dry feet), a relic of the failed attempt to use this lake to keep the Cobb Reservoir levels up in dry periods. The track, now well-formed, climbed up the side of the ridge we had sidled earlier and then dropped down to the hut. Several sections of snow banked up on the track diverted some (now the Swiss snow-hopper). We were back at the hut about 17:30, after a good three hour wander. 

Debbie instructed Mathis and Phileas in the proper use of the axe and later the lighting a fire so we had a warm hut for the evening. After preparing and eating our dinners Debbie produced some carrot cake and several rounds of Card Monopoly filled in the time until about 20:30 when we retired for the night.

A bright red sunrise greeted the early risers on Sunday. A leisurely breakfast still allowed pre 9:00 am start for a trip on the western side of the lake system. The idea was to be back at the hut by 13:00 at the latest and then have a quick lunch before setting off back down the hill. We back-tracked the route of the day before, avoiding the worst of the swampy areas as we now knew the dry route through, we were able to gain the ridgeline overlooking the top of Cobb Reservoir and the Cobb Valley. Debbie had bought some mini crampon style spike sets for her boots and was anxious to try them out. The frost overnight plus a light southerly meant that the snow patches, when we reached them, were firmer than the day before. Several people tried out the spikes on the way to the hill marked on the map as Peak 1619m. In the process we crossed a band of the Ultramafic red rock similar to that of the Red Hills of the Richmond and Olivine Ranges. We wandered over to the ridge edge to look down on Trilobite Hut and a good part of the Cobb valley flats.

We returned to the hut for a quick brew and lunch and people started on the way down from about 13:15 but the last to leave were still around in time to greet Ian Morris’s group from Lake Lockett.

By 15:20 we were on our way out with minor stops, and a stop for ice creams in Motueka.

Trampers: Debbie H, (Ldr) Sibylle, Scott, Mathis (11 yr) & Philéas (11 yr) B, Kim E, David C (scribe)

P.S

Despite having 2 broken toes in addition to his previously broken bones, David walked very well over the rough ground. Hard to keep an old tramper still. (Debbie)