Leader: Uta Purcell
We added our three cars to the number already parked at the small car park at Cobb Dam, bringing the total to 12 vehicles. As we carried tents for eight, this was of no concern to us.
The stretch along the reservoir in shockingly hot summer conditions was tempered by the welcome shade of beech trees on the uphill section. We found just two people at Sylvester Hut when we arrived for lunch.
There were good camp sites and grand views all around: Mt Snowdon, Mt Taranaki afloat in the sky, the coastlines, Western Ranges, finishing with the Seaward Kaikouras.
Tents were pitched, and trees hung with precious possessions to keep them out of weka reach. At 2pm, all 11 of us went exploring as far as the outlet and cairn at Lake Iron. Lake Lockett looked so close from there. “Two-swim Tim” found that Lake Iron was definitely colder than Lake Sylvester, which welcomed quite a few swimmers on the return. The sun was still hot when we enjoyed dinner on the deck. Eventually the sunset was reflected on the Arthur Range.
At Sunday breakfast we were charmed with a fly-past of three kea over our tents. We set off in two groups, the fit party to climb Iron Hill through the rocks above Lake Iron, and the medium party gaining the ridge of Iron Hill by skirting Little Lake Sylvester and then ascending through tussock basins to the red scree slope on the eastern flank. Quite amazing, but it was the first time for all of us that we stood here. As strong winds on the ridge exhilarated us, we identified as much as possible of the world spread out around us.
On the descent we were most impressed, that Tim who had never tramped with us, produced some marshmallow Santa Clauses.
Both parties returned fully rewarded by their efforts within 3.5 hours. I lost count of the number of swimmers then. The last ones of us left the hut for the car park by 12.40pm.
It was unbearably hot again, but we stopped to enjoy the just-opening mistletoe on beech trees, followed by many more stops before we had to face the heat along the reservoir.
Two hours later, our cars were leaving this beautiful part of Kahurangi National Park. The happy team was made up of:
Chris Louth, Mark Graesser, Katy and Maurice Cloughley, Jo Kay, Brenda Griffin, Carole Crocker, visitors Tim Tyler, Anna Millard & Sam Atkins, Uta Purcell (scribe).