Nina valley

This trip was on the Christchurch Tramping club programme. The club reputation had taken a knock on its trips to the Nina in recent years. So Craig Beere was quite brave to accept responsibility for leading this one.

However Honora decided to back him up by running some navigation coaching on the trip. At least that would ensure we wouldn't repeat the problems the earlier parties had just getting to the hut.

We headed away on Saturday morning. first stop was at Culverden for morning tea. That's not normal CTC practice but it's certainly Honora's and mine. Then it was on to the Deerstalkers hut, Palmer Lodge, at the Nina.

There were 11 cars parked there! Of course the worry was that this could mean there were 44 people already on their way up the valley. But then luckily a guy with a tri-pod wandered by. He told us all the cars bar one belonged to photography club people there on a day outing. Apparantly recent conditions had caused a proliferation of picturesque fungi.

It was certainly cool and humid, but we'd left the rain behind in Christchurch.

We wandered off at a fairly mellow pace. There was a stop at the first clearing for some compass triangulation practice. It seemed like everyone had something to contribute, and it was all very laid back and low key.

I have to admit I prefer big open valleys with all day views. But the Nina keeps you in the bush just long enough so you really want to stop and enjoy its pretty river scenes when you come to them.

After an hour and a half or so we came to the new footbridge.

Apparently on the last CTC trip up here the leaders just walked past the new bridge, and signs pointing to the new hut, without noticing them. No one in our group could figure out how that was possible. Maybe they were just engrossed in talk and not thinking...

After lunch we continued up the true right side of the valley. A sunbathed clearing was another place for studying the maps.

While stopped here John Henzell burst into the clearing behind us. What a welcome surprise. I've only been on the same trip with John once before, and he arrived unexpectedly then too. That was at Townsend hut four years ago and he turned up with six others that time.

Our trip continued. The new track to the new hut was fairly muddy in places. It's also fairly narrow and twists and turns tightly through the trees. It's a shame DoC doesn't seem to have the skill for track work that was developed in the old Forest Service days.

The new hut though is quite impressive. It's located on an open raised terrace, and is of the same pattern as the new huts in the Poulter, Crow, Taipo, etc - platform bunks sleeping 10, and plenty of floor space.

There were only two occupants, father and son, Murray and Brad Spiers.

It was quite a fun evening, with yarns and jokes to spare. Craig and Trevor were both contenders with the jokes, but Trevor was runaway winner with yarns from his younger days.

The hut was warm too. The firebox does a very good job warming the place. In fact, at bedtime it could have been a bit less warm. I don't think many got right into their sleeping bags. Lisa went out and slept on the verandah.

In the morning there was mention of some snoring, but nothing seems to have been thrown during the night so it can't have been too bad.

It was frosty outside. However Lisa said she was comfortable right through the night, and she wasn't visited by possums either.

John parted company with us and headed off over Devilskin Saddle to the Doubtful River. We crossed the river to look at the old Nina hut site. There was only a concrete pad and a small amount of debris left there.

I know some in the CTC have been demanding DoC put signs at the old hut site giving directions to the new one across the river. However the new hutbook shows large numbers of inexperienced people finding their way there without incident. It seems this might just be a CTC issue. And the evidence from those club trips suggests it's more a problem with the club 'establishment' than with the 'newbies'.

Anyway, enough said...

Off we went down valley, on the original track down the true left. A map in the hut had this section marked as "overgrown". But there was nothing wrong with it.

It was all pretty cruisy really, and we were out at the road before lunch.

We drove over to the Maruia Springs for our lunch stop. Most of the team were keen on a soak in the pools too. Gareth and I just chewed the fat in the cafe while they were out there.

Then, as if we hadn't had enough of the socialising, we all stopped at the Hurunui pub for tea on the way home. The roast dinner they dished up was really good value too.

So, end to a really pleasant weekend tramp. The new hut really makes the Nina an ideal place for an easy getaway with a few friends. And the team were: Craig Beere, Trevor & Colleen Scott, Gareth Gilbert, Lisa Gladding, John Henzell, Honora & Frank.

Comments

[Craig Beere]

Excellent report, Frank. I enjoyed the trip and the company.

One clarification, however.

I would like to see signs at the old hut site pointing to the new site so that people who are coming down the valley can find the new hut. People coming up the valley should be able to find the hut fine, as you point out.

I don't believe its just a CTC issue as in the week after Gareth's trip last year I found two people with the same issue, one of whom is my hairdresser. Both had complained to DOC, as Gareth did. Both recieved the same brushoff.

Cheers
Craig

[Frank]

Hmm.. maybe you're right, Craig, but I'd expect if people came over the ridge from Lake Christabel they'd need some route information and navigation skill. Maps had the track to the Devilskin Saddle marked crossing the river from the old hut. If people knew the new hut was on the true right of the Nina, I thought it just be obvious to cross over using that track. After crossing there the only question would be whether the hut was up or down valley. As it is, the hut is right there!

And, sure, it's not just a CTC issue. But, always hopeful, I really believe CTC tramping skills can be as good as any.
I hope you're not just satisfied with proving CTC skills are as bad as any!

[julian slade]

I found the nina track very easy to follow to the hut.Doc have instructions on this track and most others on there website which seem to be very accurate.I have found the waimakiriri office very helpful and they are doing great work.Maybe the ctc should use their imformation more.We are all very lucky to have a beatiful country to enjoy.It would be great to see more appreciation of what we have in your reports as there seems to be complaining about high country farmers and doc.They are doing the best they can in these changing times.

[Frank]

Thanks for your comments Julian, and good points they are too. When I'm able to start posting reports again I'll see how I can bring those things through a little more clearly.