Sunday’s weather forecast looked dark and wet, so we shifted our walk to Saturday, a sunny, windless day. Three cars rendezvoused at St Arnaud, then drove up the graveled road into Howard Valley. Ray noted how the pine forest had been harvested since his last visit in February 2017. Thus, as we started up the original 4WD, this merged with new roads, which were confusing.
Upon reaching the DOC sign, we entered public conservation estate, and with it, native forest. A side-track dropped down to the Louis Creek fossicking area. We continued straight ahead past a private dwelling, until the track eventually reached the confluence of two streams. At these forks the river bank was eroded. Care was needed here to cross, reaching the Jewellers Shop on the far bank. We noted the remains of a hut, along with mining tailings, a pleasant spot in the winter sunshine among many moss-covered boulders.
It was a steady climb, then sidle, on a tramping track up to the restored cottage, its weathered boards resplendent in brown paint. We eagerly entered this unique residence, enjoying the musty ambience, the dusty sofas, tables, chairs and rustic implements. With the visitor book signed, we gathered in the large sunny clearing.
Booths Hut was built in 1933 during the not-so-Great Depression by Sid Booth and Ray Clarke. This became the family home of Sid and Eva Booth and their son Teddy for over ten years.
After a leisurely lunch, we pushed on up a broad ridge of open beech. The NZFS had marked the track with permolat, and more recently, mountain bikers have made the ground trail quite obvious. Indeed, we met a friendly couple on their bikes.
About half an hour wombling through gorgeous beech forest we reached a proper track, and soon after arrived on the 4WD road that drops into Lake Rotoroa. Alas, the Porika Road has been trashed by trucks and other users, so at times we were tip-toeing through mud.
We made a small detour, and were surprised to encounter a veteran gold prospector who was camping in his caravan for several weeks. Back on the clay road, we had to avoid a trio of noisy trail-bikes. We detoured again, to visit the memorial cairn of Raymond Gibson a veteran gold miner. Behind this monument was the remains of a camping area where Jo had her second lunch, and the other Jo identified a cypress tree amongst the mixed beech/podocarp.
Under a row of power pylons we trod, passing by a private bach that sported a large picnic table. Our journey then became an easy stroll down Porika Road to the car.
All in all, everyone enjoyed a very social outing on a lovely day. We hope to see our four visitors on future tramps. Walkers were: Jo K, Jo G, Philip,Rosie-Anne, Ray (leader & scribe), with visitors Emma, Amanda & Jonathan.
