A GWBN team of Don French, Alistair Barr and Derrick Field went into Totara Flats on 4th Jan to cut the tracks around Totara Flats. Weather was bit wet, and 3 days were spent clearing the Totara Creek, Cone Ridge (Lower end) and started down valley to Makaka creek.
The work was possible thanks to a generous grant from the Trust House Foundation who supported the upgrading of the popular tramping tracks in the Totara Flats area.
Plenty of trampers passing through and staying at the hut. The alternative route via Cone Ridge to Cone hut is popular.
We met a really nice couple from Ireland went to Neil Forks with the aim of getting to Maungahuka. sadly, the husband was the tramper who went on to Maungahuka but met with a fatal mishap on Consertina knob. RIP Ivan.
The climb up Cone ridge was fairly over grown and one misleading bit that cause 2 parties to stray off track was fixed. The team cut up onto the ridge top. Any other clearing needed will be done later on.
With having done a few longist days and the weather due to get even wetter, we bailed out and tramped to Holdsworth
Return trip to finish the tracks was on 14th Jan. The track downriver to Makaka creek was completed after an 11 hour day. Finishing the route out to Waiohine Gorge.
The track to Holdsworth up Totara Creek needed a lot of cutting of tree fall and regrowth along the ridge top. Another full day was spent with chainsaw operator Don clearing many trees and debris off the track. Mostly with the Stihl MS 261 C-M with 18” bar, handled the logs. Our Stihl 12 inch Arborist chainsaw was used a lot on all of the track, also.
To complete the track, we walked into from Holdsworth and finished up to the Gentle Annie junction. Another longish day with carry out of the scrub bar and gear to Holdsworth.
Return trip to finish the tracks was on 14th Jan. The track downriver to Makaka creek was completed after an 11 hour day. Finishing the route out to Waiohine Gorge.
The track to Holdsworth up Totara Creek needed a lot of cutting of tree fall and regrowth along the ridge top. Another full day was spend on the, with chainsaw operator Don clearing many trees and debris off the track. Mostly with the Stihl MS 261 C-M with 18” bar handle the logs. Our Stihl 12 inch Arborist chainsaw was used a lot on all of the track, also.
All up a total of 13.5 kms of track was recut involving 7 days were spent with scrub bar and chainsaw on the tracks. Total of 83 hours mahi done, totalling 120 hour by the team.
Above- tracks cleared in Lower Waiohine to date
We vacated the hut, via Amalgamated Helicopters with pilot JD doing the flying.
There were quite a lot of the track overgrown with native regeneration
The chainsaw could handle all the logs across the track
