Organ Pipes and Mount Cargill again

Today Noel and I met at the Normanby Hotel at 10.30am. We walked to just past the summit to the entrance to the Organ Pipes walk a distance of around 5km. It was a steep climb to where the boulders and rocks make up the Organ Pipes. From here we did the final trek up to the Mt Cargill transmitter.

It was a very cold at the top with low lying mist so could not see the harbour which is normally a great view. We made good time walking down the track to Bethune's Gully

We reached our cars at 2.20pm and headed to the "Mannequin" for a beer and Nachos.

Walking and Carisbrook

Yesterday saw the final test at Carisbrook between New Zealand and Wales. There was a tremendous build-up and anticipation. My day started when I walked from Ravensbourne to the new stadium along the cycleway. I met Craig and we attended the open day to see progress on the building of the new stadium. We were told it is around 30% complete. After the walk around the new stadium I walked back to my car. Distance 4km.

The club walk started from the clubrooms with the Ariki Club as our guests. All the walkers left together and we walked down Corstorphine Rd, Sidey St and Cole St to Barnes Drive. We walked along the track beside the motorway until we came close to Carisbrook. We walked down to Neville St and looked through the gates. From here we split into two packs - a fast and slower pack. I was asked to lead the fast pack along Burns St, Hillside Rd, Forbury Rd, up Jacobs Ladder and then into Aberdeen St before reaching the clubrooms. Distance 7km.

I had to park in Melbourne Street and walk to Carisbrook. Distance 2km return. The game was brilliant with the All Blacks winning 42-9. There was a ceremonial digging up of some turf by past All Black Jeff Wilson and the soil was picked up by helicopter which landed on the ground.

Pineapple Track Again

It was a perfect day, weather wise to walk up the Pineapple Track to Flagstaff. As it was a testing walk, only fitter walkers were encouraged to participate. An alternative walk for slower walkers was arranged through Ross Creek.

15 of us met at the Wakari Union Church carpark at 1pm. We headed down Helensburgh Road and then onto Wakari Road. This took us to the start of the Pineapple Track and took 30 mins.

The walk to the Swampy Track took another 45 mins.
The walk to Flagstaff Summit toook a further 20 mins (45 mins stated on sign).

The walk back to the Union Church took an additional 1 hr 10 mins.

The 15km walk took 2hrs 45 mins. It was cooler between the Swampy Track turnoff and the summit. Once on the flat it was noticeably warmer.

The picture included with this post was taken by a person who was with his family. He took it with his cellphone and emailed to Kieran our group leader.

Mt Cargill Summit - 4th attempt

Over the past two years I have tried on four occasions to reach the Mt Cargill Summit via Bethines Gully. For a variety of reasons I have had to turn back. It is an eight kilometre return walk climbing to around 630 metres. The various websites state the walk will take 3-4 hrs.

My friend Danny Knudson and I did the return trip in 2hrs 30 mins. It was a frosty day when we started from the Bethunes Gully carpark at 9.45am but the sun was out and conditions were perfect for walking.

We followed the Lindsay Creek and later crossed a bridge over it. We walked through a pine plantation and then a native bush area. We ascended to a gully with a small waterfall. We then came to a small loop track with a view of Mt Cargill. We continued to follow the uphill track to Mt Cargill. Our track meets another track that goes to the Organ Pipes. We met the AH Reed track to the summit. We paused to look at a plane table.

The views of Dunedin were striking.