Trip Reports

Length of the Waitakeres   —   1st-2nd December 2001

Written by Moira Kirwan

This trip might have been more accurately named “Depth of the Waitakeres”. Undeterred by the weather forecast six hardy souls arrived by train at Swanson, just in time for lunch at the café (nice and dry). Expertly led by Ralph Fox we finally set off towards the Swanson Pipeline Track, taking the tourist route to the Waitakere Dam for my benefit. The rain was warm and soft - so was the mud. Stopping for a break at the dam we met Tom and Gerry - two beautiful white goats. They were with a family and appeared to be family pets. They were very clean - that’s how you could tell they hadn’t come very far. We were not clean at all and got progressively dirtier as we made our slippery way along Fence Line Track.

We made good progress - largely because it was too wet and dirty to stop. We passed the University Hut, a rustic-looking affair, and arrived at the (carefully concealed) Alpine Sports Hut. Newly re-built, it is a splendid place with electricity and running water. By now the rain was real rain and it was hard to find a dry corner on either deck. But inside was cosy and welcoming. Afternoon tea with Ralph’s Christmas cake made us feel human again.

With some coming and going there were seventeen people for dinner. We may never know how many more are still wandering around the bush looking for the hut. With decorations, great music and good conversation we had a very pleasant evening. Some trampers had foot massages - rumours of any other kind of massage are quite unfounded. Six of us stayed overnight and ate the dinner leftovers for breakfast.

Some people left on the grounds that the weather was foul. But Sue joined us and Anita came back with Matt. We were indebted to the support crew who had brought the heavy gear by car and took it away again, including our overnight bags - again we were six. Heading along Cutty Grass Track we saw very little grass but lots of mud. Auxiliary Dam Track was more mud than track. The “streams” which we crossed served to wash off some of the mud. Two of the “streams” were very deep. Proving that the age of chivalry is alive and well Ralph and Matt stood in the middle and assisted the women across - we hope to be able to provide photographic evidence of this in due course. Some of the party was very concerned to keep their knickers dry - in the event only one person succeeded. That was because they were not wearing any. Again we hope to provide visual evidence. The topic became the main focus of conversation for large sections of the track - further proof, if any was needed, of the mental instability of the group.

Although conversation deteriorated, our spirits remain high, as we got dirtier and wetter. We picnicked with children out for a day’s adventure on the train and headed off the long way home. As everyone was wet through we missed out on the café stop and went straight home to be hosed off outside and put into a bath before anyone would speak to us.

For me, a visitor from Scotland, it was a great Kiwi adventure and I am, once again, grateful for the warm welcome from the club and hope to return the compliment when you visit Scotland.