Distance(s): 8.83/10.9km                                                                              Time Walking: 3h 45min

Elevation: Max Alt 1249m         Min Alt 834m         Vert Ascent: 547m

One Tramping Club had decided to cancel their trip to Rabbit Hill because of dubious weather predictions in the high country.  This however did not deter the Bishopdale Trampers who backed their weather team’s decision to continue the day’s programme (with a back-up plan to do Hog’s Back if the tops looked clagged-in when we got over Porter’s Pass).  President Peter welcomed visitors:  Glenys, Tessa, Sun, Soo, Enju, Margaret and Jan after acknowledging one of our regular drivers, Paul.

A stiff climb, but the view was worth it

The Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park has been set aside for the protection and promotion of eastern South Island high-country landscapes and ecosystems. In 1849 surveyor to the Canterbury Provincial Council, Charles Torlesse was the first European to climb the slopes of the range led by local Maori guides.  From very early times, Maori of the Waitaha iwi through to Ngai Tahu held the land here in special regard.  The basins and ranges gave the best access to mahinga kai (food gathering) and formed an integral part of the network of safe seasonal trails to the west coast.  This high, dry mountain terrain contains some remarkable flora and fauna which includes: mountain beech, unusual scree plants [like vegetable sheep, penwiper/porotaka, lobelia and Haast’s buttercup] and on a good day (not today though – the animals were lying low) one might chance on the sight of hares, butterflies, grasshoppers, kea, karearea [falcon], native bush birds and so on.

Starvation Gully was living up to its name (bleak alright) as the Standards and Alternatives grouped separately for the winding and reasonably steep 4wd track up to the ridge above.  Slightly overcast conditions and meagre sun cast ethereal shadows around the tops; it was cool but at least there was no rain.  A steady pace was set to counter the cold but once again it was good to be back amongst the mountains.

Patches of snow to negotiate

Morning tea gave everybody a chance to hunker down in the shelter of low Dracophyllum and slim-leaved snow tussock (wī kura) for a breath-catcher and to scan the surrounding tops of the Torlesse and Big Ben Ranges that overlooked our respite.  We could see from the snow level that we might expect some patches to traverse as we moved higher.  Just as the Alternatives reached our spot, the Standards were ready to continue.

Pushing on up the ridgeline, the track was soft and slippery in places from recent snow melt but soon we came up to Trig M (1251m) and paused for a photo and moody views over Lake Lyndon and the Craigieburn Range.  The snow on the Craigieburn Ranges was noticeably sparse and around us in a few permanently shady spots odd remnants of the last snowfall tempted a few trampers to try out their snowball throws on the leader!  The Alternatives would go back from here to the junction where the Coach Stream track descended the long ridge down to their destination at the hairpin bend at start of Porters Pass.

The Standards at Trig M

Any thoughts of a leisurely stop here were curtailed because of the wind chill and we did not wish to linger.  From this point on we would be navigating an unmarked route following the undulating ridgeline towards Rabbit Hill. This passes through a tussock basin with patches of stunted mountain beech and dotted with rocky outcrops and scree. There are many springs in this area and it can be very wet underfoot as indicated by the boggy ground we had to negotiate before the ascent of Rabbit Hill began (no rabbits but a lone hare was visible scuttling away).  To keep warm for lunch we settled for a sheltered hollow facing eastwards and below the summit.

Over the top after lunch and a rough sidle down to the saddle between Rabbit Hill and Transmitter Hill, the Standards made their way to the gnarly track which followed the little gully that would eventually take us onto clear tussock-grassland across the terrace and out to the bus parked on the Lyndon-Coleridge road.

Under way it was careful navigation by Paul to avoid ruts and pot-holes until we reached the main road and then back up over the Pass to collect the Alternatives at the finish of their tramp.  There was time for a refreshment stop in Springfield before the coach trip back to base.