16 Sept 2012

 We collected just one at the Yaldhurst carpark: an enthusiastic though not a ‘morning person’ guy named Simon. It was an early start – 7 am – and there was a drizzly fog which continued for some time as we headed towards Rakaia. Our starting point was the Dry Acheron car park on the Lake Coleridge Road.

 I had my doubts about the ‘Dry’ terminology as previous experience of the bursting banks of the Dry Swin River made me a doubter. (Another “dry” trip about 3 years ago. Ed) I was proved correct as we criss-crossed the river at about knee-depth for over an hour. 

 The tramp began as we trotted along the edge of pine trees on the Dry Acheron Station. Crossing a stile, we entered the Big Ben Station for a while before reverting back. We travelled at a good pace and throughout the day kept pretty much to the posted times. We had to walk extremely close to a paddock of steers that seemed to charge us. I found this a bit disconcerting! After two hours (around 10am) we began the climb of Big Ben, through tussocky scrub – Spaniard, turpentine and matagouri. It was steep all the way but by now the low cloud was breaking up and the mist lifting above us, affording views across to Steepface Hill and eventually as we climbed, views along to Lake Coleridge and Double Hill. We reached the top for a well-deserved lunch and as we ate, the views opened up more, from the snowy Big Ben Range northward to Ben More, and irrigation ponds on the station below. There was one deep-looking lake – the black hole.

 It was steep and slippery coming down, but still much easier than the climb with patches of loose muddy scree that were good for an almost-run. Just before the mountain levelled out I slipped, knocking my arm on a rock. The skin grazed and came up into an immediate lump and red bruise, but fortunately I had my polyprop sleeve down (a rarity) and there was no blood, just pain. I used the magic water from my drink bottle and caught up with Bill and Simon. Easy going from here with just one scramble where the river was fenced. We stopped to give way and skirt around a cow with a wobbly-legged calf, not wanting to upset her. Returned to the car before 4.30pm. A solid and satisfying day out.

 Wendy