Leader: Michele Cunningham
On a Guy Fawkes Saturday, eight trampers gathered to walk the Robert Ridge Circuit in Nelson Lakes National Park.
We set off from the Mt Robert carpark up the steep but well-graded Pinchgut Track. The initial views of Lake Rotoiti disappeared into the mist as we ascended into light drizzle. However, the group was cheerful and everyone seemed to be happy to be outdoors. We arrived at Relax Shelter just below the ridge for morning tea in the warm and dry.
From the shelter we broke into two groups. A small group continued straight to Bushline Hut, while five of us headed half an hour further along the ridge to the old Mt Robert ski-field. From the rim of the basin we couldn’t see the ski-field buildings at all, but as we descended they began to loom out of the mist. Peering through the windows we could see a cosy looking living and kitchen area, and a store-room containing skis and boots. According to the Mt Robert Foundation website, the lodges were built over 50 years ago by the Nelson Ski Club, and are still used by groups.
As we climbed back up to the main track the clouds cleared a bit for a better view of the ski-field basin, but closed in again as we walked back along the ridge and down to Bushline Hut to meet the rest of the group.
After a relaxed lunch in the hut, we made our way down Paddy’s Track. The weather was clearing as we left. Lake Rotoiti looked lovely as always, and all extra layers of clothing were quickly stripped off as we descended. We arrived back to the cars in warm sunshine, and the day was rounded off by a coffee in St Arnaud before heading back to Nelson.
Trampers were: Chris Louth, Kath Ballantine, Sue Martin, Tony Morgan, Grant Derecourt, Liz Henderson, Peter Phipps & Michele Cunningham.