Tramp Reflections 825 - Crosbies Clearing

22 August 2009 to 23 August 2009

There were 8 of us on the winter weekend tramp, leaving at 6.30pm and driving to Thames, where we stopped in a local take-aways for tea. Then it was the long drive up the Kauaeranga Valley, made worse by the huge pot holes - some as big as craters that really tested John's driving skills and Adrienne's back muscles. It was the worse any of us had ever seen the road. On the positive side, we didn't see any possums on the road, possibly as there was little room left with all the puddles!

We arrived at about 10pm and after a minor diversion, set up camp at Booms Flat. Kevin B in his small tent, Val and John, Anna and Michiel, Adrienne and Kathy shared 3 tents and Don had his lovely tent - but it only had 1 of the 2 poles as he had inadvertently left one at home. However it stood up ok and didn't let any of the light showers in. It was lovely to lie cosy in the sleeping bag, listening to the Moreporks and Adrienne and Kathy chatting. The dawn chorus consisted of Kaka and Tui - pretty quiet for this area.

We were ready to move by 08.30 and said our farewells to Adrienne and John who were moving the van around to the Tapu-Coroglen road, with a planned stop in Thames for a coffee and gas lighter. Val had to tail end as she was trying the Swedish walk with 2 walking poles and was highly dangerous in a group. It was ok on the straight bits but awkward on the up and down hills until she became a bit more coordinated - that took all day!

The track was undulating, firstly through pines and then regenerating bush with a lot of Tui about. We passed a descent sized Kauri. There were a few windfalls to negotiate. It was a lovely morning and we had good views of the bulk of Table Mountain looming beside us. We had a snack and photo shoot at Orange Peel Corner, where Michiel popped the obligatory orange peel on top of the post. There was a cool breeze on the top of the ridge, so we hunkered down out of it for our lunch break. Val was finding that using both arms and legs on a tramp were making her extra hungry.

We hit the track junction to Thames at about 1pm. There was a young sapling resting across the track that the guys decided to break down to ground level. They actually succeeded in doing this just as Val was climbing over it - no bruises that time. From the junction it was a steady graded climb along the old road to the turn off to the ridge where there is a monument to the murdered Swedish Tourists. Michiel pulled out the plan for the proposed hut near the monument and we aligned it with the pegs in the ground. What a site with the most amazing views of the Firth of Thames, Whitianga and Table Mountain. Unfortunately all the grassy areas had been completely ploughed up by wild pigs.

It was a steep drop down to 'The Pines' where we were to camp for the night. Unfortunately Val had said we were staying at Crosbies Clearing so Kevin and Don headed off for there. Michiel kindly set off in hot pursuit and redirected them back.

Someone had been camping there fairly recently and had left a tent fly strung up between ropes. Adrienne pitched her tent underneath it to keep it dry. We set up our tents and waited for John and Adrienne to come in. They had had a good 5 hr walk and Adrienne complained about the terrain. Val had said it was all downhill and of course it wasn't! They had met a couple of hunters who were looking for 2 missing dogs, saw a kaka right on the edge of the track and had been blown away by all the pig damage.

We found the water down in the gully, cooked our tea, read Michiel's info of the area and were ready for bed at.....6pm. Oh my goodness! The torture of these winter tramps. The night was quiet with only a couple of Morepork calls, no squealing pigs and the gentle rumble of the snorers. Needless to say we were all awake by daylight and were away at a good time.

We didn't get downhill all the way either on the 5 hr walk. It was up and down all the way with scrub, open, pig-ploughed areas, and regenerating native bush. The weather clagged in which didn't improve the many very muddy spots. Some of us hungry ones stopped early for lunch and the others had theirs at the van where there was a continual light rain. We tried to wash the mud off in the puddles with varying success. We drove down and stopped for a look at the square Kauri. Those who had not had enough exercise ran up the steps to the viewing platform and back down again.

It was a quiet trip home with several asleep in the van. Thanks everyone for a great winter tramp. It is nice to walk in cooler weather without the heat of the summer and to have shorter days tramping. We all enjoyed a couple of nights out in the tents again and Don is planning to put the missing pole back in his tent bag as soon as he gets home!

Written by Val Hollands.

Photographs by Adrienne van Hellemond (Canon PowerShot SX100 IS).