Report by Eric Skilling                  

When a white-haired, slightly ancient looking bloke with the muscled legs of a 30-year old mountaineer confidently rates an overnight tramp as a “walk-in-the-park” -  be afraid! 

When he adds “a little tester for those wanting to do an overnighter. Just a stroll in and out” - you need to be close enough to look under those bushy eyebrows and notice the twinkle in his eyes.

The real clue was when he announced he wasn’t coming along. We didn’t take note and instead headed into the woods next day and boy were we in for a surprise.

It started badly. Twice over. Firstly, we nearly missed the start. 

Then, after the earlier advice of no river crossing, we were somewhat surprised to be heading up onto the narrow track with wet feet. ‘Nuff said!

We had decided to split into two parties of five. Beth, John, Karen and Vivienne took off like bank robbers. Peter was allocated to THAT group but clearly his conscience was clear because he soon joined the more sophisticated association of Grace, Ingrid, Joanne, Tanya and of course, yours truly.

The contrast to Bealey Spur walk the day before was stark. Gone was the wide, meandering, steadily rising path through spacious beech forest. Instead, we scrambled, clambered and scaled an endless series of head-high (and higher) rocky or muddy ledges, searching endlessly for hand and footholds.

Here on the northern side of Arthurs Pass the foliage was a dense mass of beech and gnarled podocarps with numerous other broadleaf shrubs. Certain members of our group didn’t find this much of a problem and had time to stop and take plenty of photos.

However, when someone asked what we would say to Roger next time we met him, someone was heard to say…. “There won’t be any talking. I am just going to wring his neck”. 

As the trail began a traverse towards the top, we got our first views of the spectacularly steep and narrow Otira Gorge, and the Barron Range scarred by scree-slopes. The vegetation began to change to a mix of snow tussock and other alpine shrubs, the mist appeared and it got quite cold.

Carroll hut came into view, looking fragile and isolated in the expanse of the cirque. The ‘other group’ had already arrived at the hut and true to form, were happily ensconced in the hut having commandeered the best bunks.

The weather clagged in a bit, but it was a pleasure to spend the rest of the day in the cosy, spacious hut. Even the ‘other group’ turned out to be ok company.

Next morning, we took some time to explore the tarns and bogs off the track behind the hut. The variety of plants and flowers unique to these alpine environments are a must see. 

Vivienne was in her element. The lady is a walking encyclopaedia of native plants, rattling off both common and Latin names as she searched the ground around her, oblivious to the mist and the cold. At one stage she muttered “This is better than sex” but it may have been “this is a brachyglottis”. Eventually we moved on. I don’t think Vivienne noticed us leave.

Meanwhile back in Nutsville, Grace was changing her clothes after …… wait for it…. having been for a swim in a tarn. Apparently, we don’t have to worry. No isolation necessary. This condition is not contagious.

Thanks to all (even Roger) for a memorable trip.

 

The Waharau Ridge Track (3.5 hours, 11km) in Waharau Regional Park has now been re-opened following extensive track upgrades to protect kauri. The park extends from the eastern side of the rugged Hunua Ranges, to the coast.

For more information see their Facebook page or Auckland council page for Waharau Regional Park

Kevin Osten - Club President

This year has been a real rollercoaster with tramping trips cancelled during our earlier lockdown in March then ramping up again with excellent turnouts before the latest Delta lockdown changed life on the 17^th August.

Some memorable away trips between lockdowns with the Tararua trip bagging the long lost Angle ‘Knob Hut remnants, Gt Barrier Island and Tangihua were just some of the highlights.

After 107 days Aucklanders have done the hard yards and we can now enjoy those freedoms we took for granted. Our Xmas getaways are all go.

Our Trip Planning Group has done an amazing job adapting to the challenges this has presented and with the situation looking more promising for 2022 we will have some great tramps on the schedule for 2022!

Our first adventure for 2022 is on Auckland Anniversary Weekend with 2 classic tramps around  Mt Taranaki. Limited spaces still available.

A special thank you to our dedicated committee, all the drivers, trip leaders and helpers who have contributed to supporting the Club’s success.

Hope you enjoy a much-deserved break and are able to reconnect with friends and family. Let’s hope for more normality in 2022!

Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing on the tracks in 2022!

The research programme Beyond Myrtle Rust is asking the tramping and walking community to keep an eye out for the plant disease myrtle rust this summer. The fungus that causes myrtle rust infects exotic and native plants from the myrtle family, including pōhutukawa, rātā, ramarama and mānuka. The disease is most likely to be seen when the weather is warm and wet.  If you find myrtle rust while out and about, please report the find on iNaturalist.

How to spot it

Myrtle rust looks like pustules of rust-coloured pollen. The disease is most commonly found on new growth, including young leaves, stems, buds and flowers. When the infected growth starts to die, the bright colour of the pustules fades. Once the new growth dies, the plant can look singed around the edges.

Other plant diseases can look a little like myrtle rust, so the best indicators are 1) the yellow pustules and 2) the host plant. Myrtle rust only infects plants from the Myrtaceae family.

 

How to report myrtle rust

To report a suspected case of myrtle rust, you can download the iNaturalist app onto your phone or make an account on a laptop or desktop. Then follow these steps:

1. Take a photo of the plant – but don’t touch the diseased area!
2. Upload photos of the infected plant into a new observation.
3. In the “what did you see?” section, type in “myrtle rust”.
4. Depending on your phone’s privacy settings, you may need to add the location manually. Otherwise, the location field should fill in automatically.

It is very helpful for researchers to know what you think the host plant is. If you’d like to make a guess, please add this to the “Notes” section.

If you’d like to learn more about myrtle rust research, you can follow Beyond Myrtle Rust on Facebook, Twitter @byondMyrtleRust and Instagram @beyond_myrtle_rust.

The NZ Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) has upgraded its locator beacon registration database this year, and is inviting all owners of a PLB registered before 25 February 2021 to check and update their details.

https://www.beacons.org.nz/already-registered-a-beacon/

Your previous registration information is still held on file in the event of an activation, but owners moving to the new system will be able to amend the registration details themselves (In the past, you had to email changes through, which had to be manually entered by RCC staff).

New Zealand is moving to a new COVID-19 Protection Framework or traffic light system which is replacing the previous system of Alert Levels 1-4.

As part of this, DOC has decided that from 15 December 2021, eligible people, aged over 12 years and 3 months must be fully vaccinated to stay in DOC accommodation – this includes:

• Huts,
• Campsites,
• Lodges and other sole occupancy facilities,
• Great Walk huts and campsites
• Camping by huts (where not a designated campsite)
• Use of DOC huts or campsite facilities by day visitors (except for toilets).

All DOC campgrounds and huts will only be open to those who are fully vaccinated. Hut wardens and camp hosts on site and will be checking for vaccination status. When requested you, and eligible members in your party, must show your COVID-19 vaccine verification.

This measure has been put in place after assessing the risk of infection from COVID-19 to visitors, staff, volunteers and contractors and at DOC’s visitor facilities.

All customers, including all members of the group aged over 12 years and 3 months, must be fully vaccinated prior to using DOC accommodation or the booking will need to be modified to a time when they are fully vaccinated, or the booking will need to be cancelled.  This will apply to bookings from 15 December 2021.

DOC will provide a full refund for COVID-19-related cancellations including if people are unwell, subject to travel restrictions, concerned about COVID risks or are not vaccinated.

To find out more about DOC’s COVID response and policy click here.

www.doc.govt.nz

On Wednesday 1st December we were lucky enough to have Annalily van den Broeke, outreach coordinator for Ark in the Park (www.arkinthepark.org.nz) give an interesting virtual presentation. This was on the how and why of predator control in the 2270 hectares of the Waitakere Ranges that the volunteers of Ark in the Park look after. If you’re interested to learn more, or would like to help as a trapper or ‘adopt’ a bait line as an individual or as a group (similar to other tramping clubs) rebaiting three times a year, contact her on arkbufferzone@gmail.com . She is also the project manager of the neighbouring wetland conservation project Matuku Link (www.matukulink.org.nz) in Bethells, which has planting and working bee opportunities for fully vaccinated people as well – hello@matukulink.org.nz . Or follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArkInTheParkNewZealand/ and www.facebook.com/matukulink

You can view and update your details on the Members page of the club website at nstc.org.nz/members, including:

• Member profile - change addresses, contacts and email subscriptions
• Privacy settings - control the data other members can see about you
  
• Trip registrations - view your trip registrations
  
• Invoices and payments - view your trip and membership invoices, payments and refunds
• Password - change your password 

Around 154 hectares of coastal land has been vested to Auckland Council, part of a larger 180-hectare addition to the Te Ārai Regional Park, which sits on the north-east Rodney coast. Read more about the addition here, or for information on exploring Te Arai park click here.

When things don’t go to plan, your physical and emotional state can influence decision-making.  A wrong decision could have a serious, even fatal, outcome. Read more in this Wilderness article on what to do when faced with uncertainty.