Tararua Tramping Club

13/10/2024

We recently did a great 4 day trip in the Dolomites. In case you are interested , here is a blog I have just created of the trip. Thnkyou - Mike Wespel-Rose

4 days in the Dolomites Prelude I write this report in part because we had a really great time in the Dolomites. Amazing mountain country. G...

27/09/2024

Day walk from Hochgrat to Mittagberg
The Allgau Voralpen - south Germany
Duration: 7 hours
Amount of climbing = over 1000 metres

Prelude
After my last trip from Gestruben over the saddle to Oytal a few days ago, I rushed off to hear my friend guitarist Markus Kimmich play a concert in a Gypsy Jazz Trio. Markus is a guitar teacher, and a fine guitar player and singer in a variety of styles. Each time Zita and I return to Germany, I have a catch up with Markus and we play and record some guitar duets together. This time we played/recorded guitar duets by Granados and Fernando Sor. This time Markus also showed us 3 German Lieder that he has recently recorded and published on youtube. He arranged the piano accompaniment for guitar. He then sang and played the pieces at the same time. We found these performances really beautiful and so share them here.
The songs are:
1. Nacht und Traeume – Franz Schubert – (Night Dreams)
2. Da unten im Tale – Johannes Brahms – (There down in the valley)
3. Im Wunderschoenen Monat Mai – Robert Schumann (In the wonderful month of May)
I cant put links in a page but if you are interested, you can go to youtube and search on Markus Kimmich. You will find them there.

And now the trip.

Just hoping I am not irritating folks by publishing my overseas hiking accounts here. I do this because I feel they will be interesting to some people. And also – I am very happy to publish others trip reports from members. Just send me the text, photos and/or videos.

The trips goes from just below Hochgrat at 1833 metres along a mountain ridge over 5 more peaks to Mittagberg (1451 m). It is a defined and marked trail. Parts are on high summer grazing land for cows. Other parts of the hike are on sharp rocky ridges with some scrambling sections with steep drop offs. Some sections are secured with cables to hold on to for security.

Today is Wednesday. A good forecast. Tomorrow is wind and rain.

We are staying in Oberstaufen in a holiday flat . Oberstaufen is a tourist and Kurklinik town in the Allgau Voralpen.

I did this trip once before when living in Germany 25 years ago. I did it solo. Zita dropped me off at the start of day and picked me up at the finish. On that trip I had some trouble around the peak Stuiben – about half way along. At the time I could not see a route traversing below the sharp ridge. I found out later that there was a route but it was obscured by snow that day. So I was forced to stay on the ridge top which became a knife edge. There was one step which I have never forgotten. It involved putting my foot on a small sloping piece of ground with some gravel on it. I was not sure my foot would hold. A slip would have been very serious. In a dance like push I took the step and onwards – to the secure ground further on. Alles OK. All good. But I did not want to have do that again this time.

However I was also really keen to repeat this trip. It has sections on the map that indicate climbing (Klettern). I wondered how these would be.
Zita has also agreed to come with me. I much prefer to have company.

Many hikers here use walking poles. I am sure when you are on a steep path, poles improve your balance and security. I had picked up a stick from the forest on our last hike in the Oytal. Although I also have walking poles, I prefer to use this stick instead. Colin Cook style. My stick is a good friend. Maybe I will call it Colin.
Transport wise it seemed we had things sussed. There was a bus from Oberstaufen takin 20 minutes to get to the base of the HochgratBahn (Gondala). And at the end of the trip when we arrive at the town of Immenstadt, there is a 10 minute fast train ride back to Oberstaufen.

We are on the bus at 9.40am. We take the Seilbahn to near the top of Hochgrat, our first peak. Riding with us in our 4 person cabin is a couple. The man has a patch sown on his pack with the word New Zealand and the New Zealand flag. He spoke little English but he and his wife had visited New Zealand 6 times. Their daughter lives in the Coromandel with a New Zealand husband and children. They will visit again next year.

From the top of the Seilbahn it is a 30 minute steepish walk to the summit of Hochgrat our first summit. Quite a few tourists around here. Some just stay at the top Seilbarn station. Others make their way slowly to the Hochgrat summit and that’s it. There are already great views from here. A few , like us, continue on – the 7 hour trip to Mittagberg in the distance.

The weather is great. All day the main alpine chain is clear in the south.
A sign just beyond the peak announces – Trittsicherheit Schwindelfrei Erfordelich. (Sure of step and free of vertigo necessary)

First a big drop and climb up to Rindalphorn ( Calf Alp Peak). The drop and climb is 200 metres. Walking on the paths on the grazing land is straightforward but you are never quite sure what's around the next corner. Just below the summit of Rinalphorn, our first piece of exposed track. I watch my feet. Count my steps. Trust Colin. And tell myself how great this is. And it is.
I think my susceptibility to Hoehenangst (fear of heights) is fuelled by an excess of imagination.

And now another saddle. Another 200 metres. And up to Buralpkopf.

Very typical of this geology is – on one side of the ridge there are steepish grass and forest slopes, on the other , vertical rock cliffs often more that 100 meters in height. The rock itself is composed of a wide variety in size and colour of “gravels” seemingly fused together in a concrete like mass. Presumably the big vertical rock faces have been cut by glacial ice in times past.

From Buralpberg I see our first longer airy ridge path. On we go. Don’t look down. Count steps. Use my stick. Watch my feet. There you go. That was satisfying.

We come to Stuiben. A rough and broken rocky peak. The section after this is a climbing section. This is where 25 years ago I took the sharp ridge. Today with no snow I can see the track that skirts below the ridge on the left. Relatively straightforward. But would not be a goer with lots of snow.
We get to the end of this section and I look back along the ridge top with a certain relief.

The ups and downs are less now. It looks like easy ground ahead. But there is still more excitement waiting around blind corners. More steep narrow ridges and windy paths through mountain pines. Beautiful. Another ascent up a rock face with cable for assistance.

We are tired now. A marker indicates 30 minutes to our final peak. A narrow bushy track and we are suddenly on a ledge with cliffs above and below for 200 metres. At the end of this we see a ladder used to ascend / descend Steineberg. The only hikers route to this summit I think. Nur fur Geubte – is the sign (Only for the experienced). Reminds me of the Tararua Peaks ladder but busier.

A bit more pretty and windy path on a narrow ridge before a final little walk up to Mittagberg. 10 minutes further takes us to the top of the chair lift that we will take down to Immenstadt. The chair is pretty slow on its 800 metres of descent but we are not complaining. It is a quiet, relaxing and well deserved rest at the end of a super day.

We have tea/coffee and Apfelkucken at a simple little Konditerei just down the road from the chairlift station. The older woman serving us is super friendly. “Neuseeland. Das ist weit weg”.

To the train station. The train back to Oberstaufen zooms along quickly on the wide gauge german rails. There are lots of bends in the track. At every bend the tracks are chambered and the train leans into the corner like a plane banking into a turn.

Back in Oberstaufen we buy a couple of spinach patties from Feneberg, a local supermarket. There are no checkout operators in the shop. Everything is self checkout. The exit barrier opens when you scan your receipt. This is new. We hear locals express surprise and concern?.

We walk back through the park to our Ferienwohnung. The park is so thoughtfully created. Flowerbeds , water features, sculptures. An artistic oasis of beauty and calm. Just up the road is another KurKlinik. A hospital for folks with troubling psychosomatic symptoms. They would come here to sit, walk, reflect and breathe.

I am very happy to have completed this trip today. I have found I can label the accompanying photos to show where they belong in the trip.
Mike WR

23/09/2024

A gem of a day in the Allgau Alps.

(with a bit of personal sharing)

The day starts badly. I had signed up for a guided klettersteig tour with a with a mountain school (Bergschule) a couple of days previous. This was for the Hindelang Klettersteig – a difficult 6 hour trip along an exposed ridge with scrambles over rocky peaks – at times protected with cables, which you can clip onto – but at others not protected.
To do a klettersteig had been an ambition of mine for many years. But I have always had anxiety about the exposure – especially on narrow tracks, on steep ground with big drops underneath and nothing to hang on to.

Not long after signing up for the trip my anxiety levels rose and I began to dread the upcoming tour. I asked myself, what would a wise person do in this situation. So on the morning of the tour itself, I cancel my place but still pay my fee. (120 Euro) It only seemed right. And I think I was also required to pay. I drive down to the Nebelhorn Gondola base station where we were to meet with the guide and group. I wait for the guide and when he arrives I told him my decision to pull out and also pay him the trip fee in cash. He seems sympathetic.

Driving back to our holiday flat in Oberstdorf, I feel both sadness and frustration.
I have done many great mountain walks in the Allgau alps over the last 25 years – some pretty steep and difficult ones. And at times with a background worry that some section of the route will be too exposed for me. In German, the advice for trips on steeper ground is that you should be Trittersicher und Schwindelfrei – meaning sure footed and free of vertigo. I am not someone who is always free of vertigo. Some people seem to be.

On the other hand , walking in mountain country with some challenge is one of my favourite things to do on this earth! Complicated.

Back at the holiday flat , we need a decision on what to do with the day. It is a beautiful day with lots of fresh snow on the mountains.
But fresh snow is also potentially dangerous here with the possibility of avalanche. When the snow lies on alpine grass lands it is dangerously slippery underfoot and must be avoided.

We decide to do a trip we have done before. Over a saddle between 2 alpine valleys. From Gerstruber Alpe on one side to the Lugen Alpe and the Oytal valley on the other. About 6 hours walking. So it is a drive of 8 kms from Fischen – where we are staying – to Oberstdorf – the famous mountain resort town in Bavaria. My second visit of the day. Then we board a small delivery bus up the Tettach valley as far as Christels See (922m) – a small lake. We have now ended up quite late starting for this trip at 12 noon.

First we follow up beside a loud and excited stream in forest on a steep and rough track. It is beautiful in the forest with scattered sunlight sneaking through the canopy. A recent slip of about 20 metres across the track had been repaired using branches from the forest round about. There is a fabulous waterfall ½ way up.
After 40 minutes we emerge onto a sealed road that soon leads to the Gerstruber Alpe (1216m). An Alpe or Alm is a pasture area that is grazed in summer, normally with cows, but is closed when the winter snows come. The cows are taken down to the valley for the winter. This Alm has a typical Farm/Café, other farm buildings and a very attractive and well cared for small chapel. It was originally built in the 17th Century, to give thanks for the final elimination of the plague which had ravaged Europe at that time . The whole location here is outstandingly idyllic with exquisite alpine buildings , decorated in autumn flowers with huge steep snowy rugged mountains all about.

After a few photos on we go. The trail is generally clear on the ground but there is virtually no other marking. We wonder if this trail is used for access to the upper Alm in the summer. We are keeping an eye out for snow cover. We don’t know how much snow we will find as we get higher, and how manageable or not it might be. We were warned by our holiday flat host about the dangers of alpine snow in this area.

We come to the upper Alm which was certainly grazed in the summer but is clear of animals now. There is a newly built Alm hut and signs of temporary fencing around. In these remote areas, cows must still milked daily and the milk turned into butter or cheese for a later return to the towns below.

We climb up beside this Alm and back into forest which is now stunted and patchy alpine pine. There is now plenty of snow about. The temperature is about 20 degrees. The snow is soft, the path now wet and slushy. There is a turn off here to a peak – Riffenkopf (1748) - 40 mins return– but with lots of snow I don’t consider this.

I really love this type of walking. Scattered dwarf alpine pine, sharp rocky ridges and spurs. Rock outcrops. Little gulleys and valleys filled with snow. Views of big and interesting snow peaks all about.

There is snow but the walking trail is generally clear. After another 20 minutes we come to another junction. One marker points on to the Oytal valley – we still need to see if the slopes on the other side of the saddle are OK snow wise. And a sign up to Hahnenkopf (1735m). Up to this point we have only met 4 other walkers. Here we meet 3 more. But that is it on the whole 5 hour crossing. The peace and quite is a joy.

Zita decides she wants to wait at the turn off while I take the simple little path to the peak. What a spot. And what a day. 360 views for ever. The many fine mountains (up to 2650 m) with lots of autumn snow cover. No wind. Warm. Cloud free.

10 minutes later Zita arrives. She changed her mind. She is also pleased to have come to the peak. We take photos and eat lunch.
Also I can see the other side of the saddle from here. The downhill track is relatively clear of snow and will be a simple and safe descent.

We now have a drop of 650 metres through a couple of Alms. Then through forest again to the valley below. The Alms here are closed for the winter now and the cows have been taken to the valley. This event of the cows going down in the autumn is celebrated in a special way. It is called Alm Abtrieb. The cows wear specially decorated collars and also special large neck bells. It is a big local event – and many locals come to watch.

At one point we end up on a cattle path 10 metres above the normal track. On getting down to the normal path again we can't help but slip and slide on the snow covered grass. A lesson for more serious slopes.

At the lower Alm we come to the top of a really rough 4 wheel drive track. The land steepens and we head down the glacier steepened valley wall.
We find a short cut foot trail that leads away from the road. A pretty direct descent that requires plenty of concentration, especially on the wet rocky parts. But also fun.

We get to the Oytal valley at 4.15. The local Gasthaus /Café is open and we order Apfel Strudel with custard and cream. And tea and coffee. There is a paved road from here to the town of Oberstdorf (150 metres below). But no cars allowed. Just walkers and bikes. Another 8 kms and mainly down. There are scooters for hire for the descent. Beats the extra road walk.
Half way down we come across a fenced area with about 50 cows, all wearing their pretty collars and special bells. Making a huge racket. They must have been brought down from up high today.

We scoot on. So nice to move so quickly.
We drop the scooters off at the collection point. Zita stays in town to return to our apartment later. I race off to shower and then drive 50 kms to see a local friend of mine play a concert in a Gypsy Jazz trio in a church in Neutrauchburg – a village based around a Kur Klinik*. Quite a day.
Mike Wespel-Rose

*Kur Klinik – a place – a sort of hotel - where people come for a 6 week stay when they have had a rough time health wise. It can be stress and mental health issues. Or after heart attacks and strokes and other serious physical issues. Treatment involves a variety of things including counseling, group work, health education, walking and bike riding in the local area, socializing and de-stressing. A super humane and holistic approach to helping people make a quality recovery!
Being in the mountains is my Kur Klinik.

23/08/2024

One day winter Jumbo Holdsworth (Taratahi).

21th September 2024

I had offered to lead a winter Jumbo Holdsworth on the weekend of the 10/11 August. Wanting to help keep weekend activities alive. I had just one taker – Gerald Leather.

But the weather forecast was bad. So we postponed to the next day we were both free and there was a good forecast.
That was Wednesday 21st August. And Gerald invited his friend Kate. So that was three of us.

They were from the Wairarapa. Me from Eastbourne. So I was up at 4.10 am and away by 5 am. Carterton at 6.30 for a pickup.
Driving into the hills they looked less snowy than expected or forecast.

The three of us left Holdsworth road end at about 7.20 am. I wondered how my ever aging body would cope with this circuit in one day?
Up the Atiwhakatu with it tumbling river, healthy forest and enticing views of the high ridges above.

Up the steep rough track to Jumbo Hut. Snow on the ground started about 2/3 of the way up. There were fresh footprints. At Jumbo Hut we met the couple who had been ahead of us. They were also doing the crossing. The hut, a favourite of mine, was clean and tidy.

Heading up to Jumbo Peak, the snow got deeper. The subalpine track was quite overgrown and a push to get through.
On top of Jumbo we had exciting snowy views to the north. The snow cover was highly variable , with little on some faces and with plenty , going down into the bush. on others.
The light/moderate wind was cold. The snow was fresh, dry and squeaky. At times the trail groove along the ridgeline had become a running stream as the new snow melted and began its journey to the river below. No need for crampons this day.
Odd trails of small animal feet in the snow were often seen. Hares we guessed.

Mt Holdsworth seemed familiar – my second visit in a week and Geralds 3rd in 2 weeks.
As we passed through the calm saddle leading up to Mt Holdsworth, Kate was reminded of a Search and Rescue deployment when conditions were not so kind. Assisting a couple during the night , sheltering behind a small ridge in the saddle in torrential rain and strong wind. Today was more benign.

At Powell we had our second lunch. The steps below the hut were fairly icy and needed care.

On the Gentle Annie track we came across Derrick Field clearing the track with a w**d eater. I felt pleased to meet him. He and his team do a wonder job in the Tararuas maintaining and caring for tracks and huts. In my opinion , he would be a super deserving recipient of the ASB Good Sort award.

Out to the road by about 5.15 pm. 10 hours total. Not rushed. A bit less than 9 moving time.
And not feeling too bad at all.

A winter Jumbo Holdsworth in a day with snow.
A classic tops trip (Kepler of the north?).
Pretty snow.
Interesting conversation and good company.
Loved mountains.
Great exercise.
Thankyou.
Party: Kate Pitney, Gerald Leather, Mike Wespel-Rose (scribe)

14/08/2024

A winter ascent of Taratahi (Mt Holdsworth.
Wednesday 14th August 2024

Sorry about this excessive trip report. I got uncharacteristically carried away. And all my typing disappeared when half way through so had to start again.

I never tire of ascending Taratahi in snowy winter conditions. I have been doing it regularly for 40 years. I also like to encourage others to do the same.

It seemed a great idea 3 months earlier to offer to lead this trip.
But above the bushline is a potentially hazardous location in winter. In the few days before the trip I became very aware of the risks to party members, especially in icy conditions.
This makes me nervous.
All i want is a good covering of non icy snow, good weather, and a fit enough and cooperative group.

I limit the group to 12.
Crampons must have been prefitted to boots. Nothing worse than the group standing around getting cold in bad conditions, while we try to fit crampons to boots.
I also write a couple of paragraphs of basic snowcraft advice to send to participants. (Walk like a duck to avoid crampons snagging. Axe in uphill hand. On tricky bits, only move one limb at a time.)

I very quickly get 12 requests to join. But over the next days some drop out with sickness or work demands. So I invite others. The juggling of changing people and therefore transport requirements becomes complex.

I keep an eagle eye on the forecasts. (Met Service, YR, World Mountain Forecasts, Niwa). A week out THE Wednesday looks good. But Tuesday and Thursday look bad. Then the bad Tuesday forecast slips to Wednesday. Oh no! A day later it has slipped back and THE Wednesday is once again the gentle calm between the storms.

We meet on THE Wednesday at Block Road.
Two others will drive alone.
We have 2 pickups in Carterton and Greytown.

We gather at Holdsworth road end at 8.30 am.
All 12. Phew. The transport worked out!

My other anxiety, icy snow up high, would not resolve for a while.

We head off around 9 am, through the always delightful forest on the flat first part of the track. Plenty of trapping here now and also on the track climbing to Rocky Lookout.
For about $80 you can contribute a trap to the local trapping community which includes a name plate with your name. Contact Gerald Leather if interested in supporting the pest control mahi.

One of our party, a very experienced long distance walker and cyclist, is feeling short of breath and needing to stop often. This will slow our group a lot and prevent us reaching the peak. She has had a long recent cold and is still suffering aftereffects. She decides to walk a little further at her own pace, alone, and then return home. Quite safe on that good track. A gracious act on her part.

Morning tea is at Mountain House. Now the steep climb. 40 minutes below Powell, the snow starts to appear on the ground. So pretty on the ferns. With the warmth of the day, the snow in the canopy above us is melting and raining on us.
The snow underfoot is soft enough. No need for crampons at the moment. A bit icy on the steps before Powell Hut, but very manageable.
At Powell some snack before we move on. We change from poles to ice axes in case things get icier. The less experienced are coupled with an experienced companion.
The trail is a bit icy in places, but we manage fine. My earlier anxiety about snow conditions is exorcised.
We stop for lunch at the rocks at the High Ridge turn off.
No wind. Sunny and warm. Cloud free views for ever.
Robert Munster is seen pointing to various features with his ice axe as others listen.
We see our goal, Taratahi. about 40 minutes more. All want to come on. A couple of "pinch points " on the trail for the leader to be aware of, But in the easy snow, no worries.

We arrive on top 40 minutes later. All 12. Chocolate is distributed by Karen. Photos are taken. A bit of cloud in the west heralds the NorWester rising in the evening.
And there before us is one member of the WTMC. Tony Gazley. A famous tramper of many decades activity. He has a 360 degrees camera. It photographs "absolutely everything" He uses it on us. We are waiting for the photo.

There are little sections on the descent where the snow has been compacted and have become slippery. Care required.
The sun angle has lowered . The light has become more golden, all the alpine plants mixed with the snow are a delight.

At Powell Hut we have another break. Some walking poles we left outside for collection on return are now missing. Surprising and upsetting.

Down the steps, into the bush, we soon leave the snow. We chat away with companions. We pause at Mountain House. The lost poles have been left there. They must have been "borrowed" to get down the icy steps, but at least they were returned.

The walk from here to the road end seems to be getting longer by the year but the creeping tiredness is relieved by conversation.

We arrive back at the cars by about 5.30. Haven't needed torches.
Most are tired. Everyone seems satisfied.

A really good day in the hills.
Good companions.
Good exercise
Beautiful environment
Fabulous weather
Great views
Thankyou World.

Head facilitator and scribe - Mike Wespel-Rose
Party members: Cathy Milne, Karen Baker, Belynda Jack, Gerald Leather, Robert Munster, Megan Rawiri, Nina Sawicki, Zita Wespel-Rose, Celia Milne, Rachel Fry, Peter Morton. Is that 12?

25/07/2024

The Weir
Orongorongo River
Wednesday 24 July 2024
Slow/Fit
It should be noted that, as a water catchment area, this trip is in a restricted area and requires permission for entry.
Led with panache by iconic Wednesday tramper and leader Janette Roberts, 15 of us departed from Resevoir Road, just off Moores Valley Road in Wainuiomata. We had a very cold 20 minute road walk on Resevoir Road before continuing up beside George Creek. We then started up the well formed "Pack Track". At around 800 metres asl, we turned off the track and scrambled 50 metres up through steep bush to gain the ridge top and the East Whakanui Track. Morning tea with home baked fruit cake from Janette.
We proceeded along the East Whakanui for 20 minutes before veering left, off track, onto a spur on the true right of Telephone Creek. This took us down, very steeply at times, into the junction of Big Huia Creek and the Orongorongo River. This area is known as the Weir. This is a place where large concrete dam structures have been built as a water source for Wellington. A large pipe (1 meter diameter?) runs from here through a tunnel under the surrounding hills to Resevoir Road, where we had started. There is a water treatment plant there. The pipe then continues through Wanuiomata.
The following was my understanding****
(It used to lead over the Wanui road saddle, through Petone but now it runs through the hill. Then along the Hutt motorway and up to Karori for water storage and distribution. The water is not pumped but rather moves by siphon action (I think. It used to))

****However I have subsequently learnt the following from Mike Arnold. Many thanks for the update

"Can I make a minor correction to something in your post?
The water from the treatment plant to LH and Wellington does not go over the Wainuiomata Hill next to the road through a syphon (not least because the max height of a water syphon with the supply end at atmospheric pressure is 10m).
That pipe goes through the Wainuiomata Tunnel (Google it), originally planned as a road/rail tunnel, which comes out at the end of Tunnel Grove, Gracefield. It is possible that there may be an element of syphoning to get to the tunnel entrance at the end of Wainu Road in Wainuiomata, but it is all downhill from there.
There was an earlier pipe through a smaller tunnel ("Waiwhetu tunnel") a few hundred metres to the N, but that was abandoned because it was too small."

Original report continues***
At the Weir, there was a large open grassy area, delightfully sunny , where we had lunch. Also here is a substantial house. This location can also be reached via a 4 wheel drive road which is about 25 kms.
Our return was all "on track" via the "pack track". We arrived back at the cars without needing our torches..
The trip took 9.5 hours.
The weather was truly beautiful as was the golden wintery light in the bush and on the hills.
Distance about 22 kms.
The temperatures were at times painfully low in the shade, in the wet off track bush and on the ridge top in the light south wind. In the sun there was a welcome warmth.
Thanks Janette.
Mike WR

14/07/2024

Please enjoy this lovely short film by club member, Paul McCredie.

"A classic traverse of the Tararua Ranges."

A classic traverse of the Tararua Ranges.

27/05/2024

The days are getting shorter and colder and snow is beginning to fall across the country. Come along tomorrow night, at the earlier time of 7pm, to warm up with a glass of Gluhwein, and to find out about Winter activities with the Tararua Tramping Club.

11/04/2024

Wednesday Slow/Fit 10/4/24
Kaitoke, Smiths Creek, Pylon Road and Point 805, Kaitoke

Eleven club members went out last Wednesday on the Slow Fit trip, starting from Kiwi Ranch Road end and going up to Puffer Saddle before following the bottom half of the Dobson Loop Track. Before reaching Smith Creek Shelter, we had the all important morning tea before crossing Smith Creek and tackling the ascent to point 805 on a forestry road; steep at first and a fair amount of following animal and hunters’ tracks which led steadily upwards. We had lunch, still on the way up, but happily, the route flattened out as we neared the road. Ten minutes of road walking later, we found the orange triangle and handy rope that marks the route back into the bush and back down to Puffer Saddle. This track is now very well marked and easy to follow. And back to the car park.

The trip was advertised as being for eight fabulous hours which we fulfilled with an added bonus of another ten minutes.

Leader and scribe
Lynne White