| Leader | Mentor | Tail Ender | |
| One group | Selwyn | Chris S/Ali | Moira |
Distance: 11.2 km; time: 4 hours
With only 23 booked for today’s tramp the decision was made to cancel the bus and use private cars. The numbers further reduced to 18 which resulted in five volunteers taking their cars.
The low number couldn’t be blamed on the word MOUNT so perhaps it was the word DRY that made some conjure up an image of arthritic knees vibrating on relentless uneven river stones. I thought the trip report from our last outing in 2024 may have enticed a few more trampers. It was written with the assistance of ChatGPT… : The sun painted the skies a pure cloudless blue for the iconic Dry Acheron Track promising a symphony of landscapes demanding nimbleness and agility, a true dance with the landscape. Etc.
Our considerate drivers allowed us a toilet stop at the Hororata Domain where the weather, after a gloomy start in Christchurch, was now bright blue skies with little wind. A lovely setting with the stylish corten steel sign depicting the rata flower in front of the toilets, and two racehorses to admire.
We reached the carpark off Lake Coleridge Rd at 10am and on exiting the vehicles felt the full force of what felt like gale force nor‘west winds making the temperature much cooler. We decided to all walk as one group. The first section with the wind whistle at full throttle follows the fence line beside a very long line of shelter belt pine trees where full concentration is required with many pine cones underfoot and fallen branches. When we reached the river at 10.35am it was morning tea on a sheltered bank, where a box of chocolates to celebrates Lesley’s birthday this Friday was shared.
The old stock route marked often with widely spaced orange poles meanders its way up the river through often boggy grassland areas, streams and rocky dry stream beds. There was more water in the streams than two years ago, most at the ideal depth to be easily crossed with dry feet but not too many dry beds to start our knees vibrating. One of the trickiest sections is early on where the track climbs a rocky bank with matagouri and a steep drop to the river. Careful foot placement and a few scratches saw everyone safely through.
Now in the gully protected from the wind, under blue skies, the sound of the babbling brook, little waterfalls trickling and a karearea (NZ falcon) soaring overhead, quite idyllic. Better stop, sounds like ChatGPT.
At 12md after climbing over a stile, four trampers decided it was lunch time as nearby red berried bushes would provide protection from the wind. A discussion was had and a decision made that both groups would do a loop, walking back along the road.
The 14 other trampers continued for a further 20 minutes across grasslands to the view of the haunting moody almost black lake, still with no known name.
Lunch was enjoyed beside the river some sheltering between the matagouri bushes.
The easier option of taking the road back also meant being subjected to the full blast of the wind again but with the reward from higher ground of great views of the braided Rakaia River and Lake Coleridge Basin with stormy mountain skies. Very hard to hold the phone steady to get a good photo though.
After 40 minutes we left the road to take the track through grassland and retrace our steps back through the pine forest arriving at the cars at 2pm. The other group were just changing their boots after travelling along the road a little further before taking a different track back to the forest.
The plan was to stop for a drink at the Village Cafe in Hororata but it was to close shortly so instead we headed home, back in Christchurch at 3.30pm and were amazed how warm it was, 26 degrees.
A wonderful day in the FRESH AIR.
A big thank you to our drivers transporting everyone safely, Graham, Selwyn, Alan, Chris S and Richard.
Text by Kate
