| Group | Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tailender |
| Stds | Selwyn | Chris | Kate | Shirley |
| Alternates | Linley | Leonie | Gary | Bruce |
Stats: distance 13.4/12km, vertical ascent 280m, time 3hrs 45mins
We set out with Keith our driver on a Torlesse bus (less rattley than the last),and with numbers reduced to 34 due to Covid and sickness. It was a clear spring morning. Anticipating warmth, the easterly wind gusting through the pines at the outset was an unwelcome surprise.
The Standards (19) warmed up quickly enough when we turned the corner and had the wind at our backs and settled into the day’s business of wading through the wet bits and clambouring over the knobbley bits of the bed of the Dry Acheron Stream. We were accompanied by, and mindful of sheep and new lambs throughout. Top count was a sheep with quadruplets! We reached the little lake at lunchtime, opting to eat in the lee of the hill among the matagouri, sheltered from the wind and overlooked by the Alternates.
The return was mostly the same route aside from putting up a pair of Paradise ducks and our Leader mixing it up a little taking us up a hill and down a cow-pugged slope. All round an invigorating walk.
Text by Jen
Departing the bus at 10.20am with Linley Trapp as leader, the Alternatives (15) followed the Standards along 2 pine tree shelter belts and down to the Acheron riverbed. We crossed the river up to a dozen times and edged gingerly around a difficult bluff above the river before we reached the Clay Valley Covenant turnoff on the right. By taking this track above the river we avoided further river crossings which had been slowing our progress. The easy ascent took us eventually to a shingle road which we continued to follow. By about 12.15pm Linley spotted a great lunch spot overlooking the river. With sunny conditions overhead and a brisk breeze blowing we nestled in for lunch, content with our efforts thus far.
We could have returned the way we had come but the majority felt following the road back as far as possible was the way to go. No more boulder hopping or wet feet for us! We enjoyed a fabulous view of the upper Rakaia Gorge – a bonus for being at that higher elevation. Interesting too that we could watch the Standards at times picking their way back along the riverbed.
Back at the bus by 2.15pm with the Standards close behind – a great day’s walk for the whole group.
Text by Leonie
