Cobb Valley (Christmas, 1964)

Machine-read text (unproofread)

Read from the scans by software, so it contains mistakes. Typing it up properly would help blind readers: use Suggest an edit.

* COBB VALLEY (Christmas, 1964) This trip, almost a last-minute effort, the top, which is about 5800 feet, we was planned and organised when the looked across Tasman Bay on the one arrangements for the other Christmas hand and the tablelands and Mt. Cobb trips had just about been completed. in the distance on the other. I don't One difference was, of course, that we think there is any mountain in the area were only going for a week while others over 6000 feet. Retracing our step,s we were going on trips of three weeks or arrived back at camp about 4 p.m.longer. just nice time in which to get tea ready. On Boxing Day, six of us flew down We packed up the following morning to Nelson, where Rosemary joined us, and headed down the Flora Stream on and after lunch at her place, proceeded a very well graded track, and about to our starting off point, the Graham half way down, turned off up Balloon Valley, by private transport. After tramp- Creek. The walk was made very pleasant ing about four hours, broken by many by the sound of the stream running over rest-stops, we reached Flora Hut. This the rocks and small waterfalls, and the hut, we found to be "rather univiting", singing of bell birds in the nearby so we camped out on the grass in front beech trees. of the hut. We decided, after a look at Salis- The next morning we were rudely bury Hut and the surrounding area, awoken by keas in the nearby trees. We which was somewhat swampy, to go decided to take a walk up to Mt. Arthur back a short way to a rock shelter. It after breakfast. So, taking some lunch was a great rock which leaned out at and jerseys and parkas with us, we set quite an angle, sufficient to shelter a off up the track which we found very maori type bunk and a fire place from easy going. It was a beautiful day. From the weather. We very much enjoyed the novelty of sleeping under a rock, that After a day of lying about, three of night. us went with day packs, up to the Dia- Next day, we made our way across mond Lakes and Iron Hill, while the the tablelands, looking for caves on the others went up-river as far as Chaffrey's way. We found one which we explored Creek. The climb on to Iron Hill was as far as we could before the ceiling got well worth while, it being more of a too low. We had a shower of rain that climb than the other two mountains we afternoon, the first fall of rain on the "bagged". Sitting on the rock on the trip, but we had reached Balloon Hut top was really the climax of the trip for by then, so it didn't worry us. Balloon me. I could have stayed up there longer Hut was in excellent condition as it had but for the weather threatening to close only been built about a year before. in. So, reluctantly, we made our way back down to camp. Needless to say, We set off for Mt. Peel and the Cobb we didn't find any diamonds there! Valley the following day. Most of the day was spent above the bush line, so The following day we broke camp we enjoyed good views of the surround- and headed round the side of the resering hills and valleys the best part of the voir to the dam. The Electricity Departday, particularly from the top of Mt. ment chaps were very good to us in pro- Peel. Not far from the top was a small viding transport and accommodation in lake where we stopped for lunch. After Upper Takaka, for which we were very about an hour or so we presed on, thankful, it being rather wet that day. following the track which sidled a Those of us who were on the ridge, on the other side of which we namely Rosemary Chittenden, Kelly trip, looked down on the Cobb Reservoir. John Bell, John Boot, Barrie Noyce, Jack Yip, We had some difficulty finding the track Ayliffe and myself, would recommend leading down into the valley, but this area to anyone who wants a comstumbled on it after a while. paratively easy trip of about a week. As On reaching the valley floor we set permits are required for both tramping up camp about half an hours tramp up- and shooting in the area, a letter to the stream from the head of the reservoir. ranger would be necessary when plan- This camp was to be our home for three ning a trip. Part of it is declared a pronights. hibited area during the latter half of the summer due to the risk of fire. The The next day we did nothing except ranger can also help with up-to-date ineat and sleep. in the sun, and have occa- formation on the huts and tracks and sional dips in the river to cool off. Swat- wildlife to be found there. ting sandflies was quite a full-time occupation also. -"JERSEY" FAYLE.