| Leader | Mentor | Tail Ender | |
| Standards | Selwyn | Chris H | Judy R |
| Alternates | Les | Ali | Moira |
Distance: Standards 10.2km/9km, elevation gain 873m, time 4hr/3hr
There were 18 Standards and 13 Alternates braving the elements. Among the walkers, we were very pleased to welcome back into the fold two members who had been away for a spell – Chris S and Kate.
The weather during the bus trip was looking a bit bleak, and the drizzle set in shortly after setting off from Castle Hill village. We were assured by one walker that there would only be 1.2 mm rain during the day. More than that fell during the first seven minutes of the walk even before we turned onto Hogs Back Track.
Standards
For the Standards, led by Selwyn, the route followed an anti-clockwise loop, starting on a gently rising track up through the bush. The track was well formed without gnarly roots trying to trip up the unwary. The first “birdsong” came from a magpie flapping around in the rooftops cawing loudly like a demented banshee, seemingly annoyed at our presence in his habitat. This was soon replaced by the more dulcet tones of bellbirds greeting us on the path.
Morning tea for the Standards was beside the Thomas River, and the hitherto undulating walk was then replaced by a more persistent climb up out of the bush and into the open. The drizzle came and went until lunch, as did the rain coats. When we arrived at the Slump, we couldn’t see the Alternates at first, but then we found them in the bush nearby trying to elude most of the weather.
Shortly after lunch, the sun came out as we sidled around the hill then onto a ridge for a gentle walk down to the impressive limestone rock formations and back to the bus waiting for us there.
Alternates
The Alternates, led by Les, walked up the road from Castle Hill village to the St Andrews College Outdoor Ed Centre where they sheltered on the deck for morning tea. They continued up the track to the Slump and as it was still drizzling, they had lunch in the bush just beyond there.
As it was raining after lunch nine of them decided to walk back to Castle Hill village via the Loop Track being sheltered in the bush. Four joined the Standards. It soon fined up but they continued down the very lovely track abandoning the leader Les on the way as he decided to join the Standard group. It took about 1¼ hours to get back to the bus.
Note on the Limestone Formation
The limestone rock formations at Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti) are world renown among similar karst formations around the world. Visitors come from all over the world to view them. The limestone was once under a shallow inland sea, but 30 million years ago, were pushed up to where they are now at 700m ASL. Sculpted by wind and rain over the intervening millennia, they are the impressive shapes they now are, but still give the impression of defiance in the face of the weather onslaught.
Text by Chris W and Jan M
