Leader & Scribe: Andrea Cockerton
Mount Mantell : a new destination for all who travelled, though set among familiar ridges and peaks viewed now from a different perspective. At 1606m she stands between the Matakitaki and Maruia river valleys 35 or 55km from Murchison, depending on the access route taken.
According to research, medium numbers of deer and large number of feral goats were to be expected. In reality, one very dead goat and one more recently dead goat were RIP, a tuneful kaka was heard and a few smaller birds to complete the wildlife count.
The Homeo Sapien count was seven. We rendezvoused at the Riverside, some camping the night prior. Thank you to the group guitarists Simon and Pat who beautifully serenaded the sand-flies and one chess player and nemesis who evidently has far too much time on his hands to study the game.
The access to the track is via Maruia Saddle Road, very close to marked Culvert 17. (Look up the washed-out bank to spot the first marker around 20m up.) A fun scramble up the bank and its straight into the climb, initially through podcast and beech forest. (It appears that Andrea also listens to an iPod while tramping? – Ed.)
The track was surprisingly well marked and routed, with no windfalls it made for a cruisy travelling terrain. With a few tantalizing glimpses en route, we broke out the bushline around 1300m heading for point 1472. The weather did us justice. Privileged with fine views and a cooling breeze, we bounced along the delightful ridge, around 2km to the summit with some scrambling in places.
Lou and Ralph were contented with their “Mini Mantell” and rested easy while us others rocked on up. In fact it was pretty handy they did so, as we spotted their frantic waving on our return (as we were merrily bobbing our way down the wrong ridge!) All’s well that ends well, and you never feel you have truly summited until you have done battle with a few Spaniards along the way!
Arriving back at the cars around seven or so hours later a cooling and invigorating dip in the Matak was called for. Lou sensibly, and not without humorous prompts, removed his glasses (reference Mole Tops trip, 2014).
What a blissful day, thank you to everyone for your great company. Let’s travel again, Simon, Pat, Lou, Ian, Chris and Ralph.
