Trip Reports
27-29th December 2023
Tarn Col Traverse, Arthur's Pass National Park
Seven of us left the Hawdon Shelter on a lovely sunny morning. It was an easy flat walk for the most part and we enjoyed the wonderful fresh air and exercise after the excesses of the Christmas period! The route to the Hawdon hut was along the river flats and bush beside and above the rushing water.
13 March 2022
4th attempt...after rain, wind and lambing stymied earlier plans to undertake this walk!
This time the weather forecast was reasonable so five of us set off from the small car park at the bottom of Porter's Pass. The grassy track initially followed the Old Coach Road but soon deviated off and began to climb up another path. It was easy and open though steep. After an hour we stopped for morning tea at a collection of huge rocks where we could enjoy the views back down into the valley. And then a variable climb up towards the top of the valley, sometimes flat, at times even downhill before rising again. A small patch of bush provided a pleasant change from snowgrass and the views were always wonderful.
12 January
Due to a ferocious weather forecast for inland Canterbury areas the planned trip to the Rangitata Gorge was abandoned (for now ) and Trip Leader Dennis decided to do a more local walk.
We headed to Kaituna Valley on a glorious morning. Not too windy yet but it soon built up ! A quick car shuttle ensured waiting transport at the end of the trip. We started off uphill towards the Packhorse Hut where we planned to stop for morning tea. It was quite a grunt up the steep stony path but soon the bushes and trees gave way to lovely views over open grassland.
23 June
Ten happy hikers headed down a farm track opposite Castle Hill station which after a 30 minute walk we needed to cross Porter River after a brief stop to take boots off and put sand shoes on so we would have dry boots on the other side. We headed off down the river eventually getting to a small bluff we need to go up and over before slowly ascending the large Gully. After 20 minutes walk we stopped for morning tea.
