To the Rangitata River

Friday March 23 18.3 kms 5 hours

Good fog cover the next morning, and an early start, but today is my last TA day this season, so I was soon on the trail. Track easy enough to follow, and I even managed to spot the point at which the markers took me away from the old farm track that I had followed to that point. By the time I reached the saddle down into the Lake Clearwater basin, the sun was out for me … but ahead and below was a sea of thick fog.

Navigation was easy enough at first, following the markers down a fenceline, and at the bottom I instantly spotted another unmarked junction with marker poles going in two different directions. But I had my TA marked map, so knew which route to take. Because this was going across country with no obvious track, this section required some care. At one point I stopped for 5-10 minutes at a marker pole, looking at my shadow on thick fog ahead of me before continuing.

But soon after the fog cleared, providing views of Lake Clearwater on my left, and the mountains around Mt Potts in the distance ahead of me. Grateful for the “deviation” to avoid private property, as this took the track onto a ridgeline with good views, and then onto the lip of the high banks of the Potts River.

Then down to the meeting point with Hazel at the road bridge, leaving my pack in the car, before a quick walk there and back to the first branch of the Rangitata River. Across the river were great views of Mesopotamia Station and the start of Bush Stream, where I tramped with the ATC last summer, and will return next summer on my TA journey – I can’t wait !

Double Hut to Paddle Hill Creek

Thursday March 22 26.7 kms 7.25 hrs

Light rain overnight, and awoke to low fog covering the hills. A later start than usual, Following an old farm track down a valley with mountains on either side, with the fog gradually clearing. Popped in to check out Manuka Hut – a pleasant sheltered spot beside a stream – and then after a while climbed a low saddle and descended the other side to Lake Emily – an open patch of water in a treeless landscape.

Then again on a farm track out to the Lake Heron Road, and met up with Hazel for a lunch stop at Maori Lake. Now a warm sunny day, but not as hot as the day before.

A short road walk, then off on the track towards Lake Clearwater. General direction clear, but poles again a long way apart – this time the binoculars routine was enhanced by having to remove my sunglasses each time. This eventually became tedious, meaning that I ended up on the wrong side of the stream with dense matagouri (spiky) bushes protecting the banks on either side…. Backtrack to where the marker poles crossed the stream !

An unsignposted junction with the obvious poles heading the wrong way, so an extra couple of kms as a result. But eventually found a place to camp with a good enough water supply. Ominous clouds arriving from both sides, but in the end the overnight showers were not much.

Clent Saddle to Double Hut

Wednesday March 21 14 kms 7.25 hrs

Today was expected to be a slow day, and I was not disappointed. But it was a great day – fine, sunny, warm, no clouds, with a real mountain saddle to cross. Not pressured for time because of yesterday’s efforts, so just a day to enjoy it as it happened. First off, the trail continued on up Round Hill Creek with more river crossings. I deliberately took the spur up the hill after Logans Stream to get up onto the tops sooner to see more of the mountains. Which meant more tussocky sidling, and I managed to fall in a hole on top of my trusty wooden river crossing pole – I was fine but it snapped in half. Fortunately no more river crossings of note this trip.

So soon enough I reached Clent Saddle (1500m) with views onwards down into the Lake Heron basin. A number of decent scree slopes to sidle across next. As expected, the marker poles were a long way apart, and not having good eyesight, this meant a stop at each one, using the binoculars to spot the next one (if I was lucky), and / or using guesswork, and generally relating the superb scenery to the map. Visibility perfect – what a relief !

So worked my way over scree slopes, into and out of side streams, down ridgelines, and then onto a telltale trail down an old fenceline down into the valley below. Now hot with no wind, so pleased then to reach the signposted turnoff to Double Hut, with a view of a shining Lake Heron in the distance.

Glenrock Station to Round Hill Creek

Tuesday March 20 18.7 kms 6 hours

A fine brisk morning drive up the south side of the Rakaia River, with time for a coffee with friends at Redcliffe Station. Some interesting history of the stations in the area, and some tips around good view spots, so we duly drove past the TA start point, around a few more corners, and could then see all the way up the Upper Rakaia valley towards the Arrowsmith and Ragged ranges – what a day !

So then off on the TA track following a stream through Glenrock Station, and following the old 4WD track all the way up to Turtons Saddle – some good views back behind me, and then to the sun burnt spectacular mountains ahead of me. Clouds soon vanished, but a cool southerly blowing towards me up the valley. The A frame hut provided a sunny lunch spot sheltered from the wind, and then it was on further to Comyns Hut.

Early afternoon, so a good opportunity to shorten tomorrow’s promised hard day by continuing on up the north branch of the Ashburton River. Many river crossings – and more promised for the next day too.

Soon enough found a suitable campsite at its junction with Round Hill Creek. No sandflies – YAY ! Out of the southerly wind, but still cool, and the sun soon disappeared behind the mountains, and a very cold night that night. Grateful for my decision to trade my summer sleeping bag for my winter one for this week !

Lake Coleridge to the Rakaia River

Monday March 19 7.5 kms 1.75 hrs

A cold wet start to the day, and only a short walk required,
so a morning off in and around Methven, before returning to the
trail early afternoon. A very pleasant walk on the Lake Hill
Track right on the edge of Lake Coleridge – a lone sheep under
the willows was quite startled when I turned up. Across some open farmland with views of the lake, before joining a minor road, that took me off to the top of Coleridge Arboretum with its large conifer collection.

Down the hill parallel to the intake pipes for the power station, and then at the bottom followed a vehicle track all the way down to the northern bank of the large Rakaia River. Still cloud and rain about, but some good views of the mountains on the other side. Back to Methven for the night.

Harper River to Lake Coleridge

Sunday March 18 36.3 kms 7.25 hrs

Continued on the 4WD track with a few more river crossings and
over open grassy areas, past the Pinnacles (eroded hillside) on
the other side of the river. Crossed the Harper River one more
time, then the wide delta of the Avoca River before soon coming
up onto a newly metalled farm track on the other side. This took
me all the way out to the pleasant little Harper Village near the
top end of Lake Coleridge – but the NW wind was now strong and
heavy rain was not far away in the mountains.

Late morning, so no reason to check out the camping spot, so off
along Harper Rd towards the other end of the Lake. After a while
Hazel turned up to relieve me of my full pack, and with the wind
behind me, it was just a matter of a few hours before reaching
my destination for the day – the junction with Homestead Rd at Lake Coleridge Station. Some lovely lakes along the way, and grand mountains around me, so plenty to see along the way.

So a motel night in Methven, rather than a windblown wet camp at the top end of Lake Coleridge. And it snowed a little on the tops that night too…..

Bealey to Harper River

Saturday March 17 22 kms 8 hours

Back on the trail after a few weeks’ break. A fine and sunny day
for a gradual ascent through the beech forest, and then out into
the open on the way to Lagoon Saddle. Great views of mountains
and valleys, but rain further west on the Main Divide. Past the
saddle the easy track soon enters the forest again. Stopped in
to fill out the hut book at the A Frame Hut, and found I was
No 17 walking TA this year.

Then on again following the river, with a sunny lunch spot beside
a side stream, until reaching the Hamilton Hut early afternoon.
Tempted to stay and do a side trip, but taking advantage of the
fine weather, I continued on. I was expecting this next section
to be a rough river walk, but on encountering a sign about no
further vehicle access from the direction I was heading, I
knew I was in for some faster travel on a 4WD track. I continued
on, eventually finding a camping spot in some trees beside a good
side stream, which was sheltered from the NW wind coming down
the valley.