I Do Go Tramping (Mt Owen caves)

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I DO Go Tramping Labour Day 1970 saw Van Watson, clearing where we had lunch. Several Millie Hall, Keith Dekkers and myself possible caves were looked at but they heading for Bulmer Creek in the marble all fizzled out, and we carried on upcountry, of Mt. Owen. We set off up wards. Once above the bushline, at the middle branch of the Owen River about 5,000 feet we started crossing the and what delightful travel- we were tussock tops. In the late afternoon sun following an old mining tram track they were a beautiful golden brown, through open beech forest. At times it with the great contorted strata of Mt. was benched into the hillside and one Owen showing at the back. Van pointed could look down onto the Owen River out the saddie where New Zealand's twinkling in the sunlight; occasionally only known ice-cave is situated (apart glimpses of the tops were snatched. from those in snowfields or glaciers). After a while we came across a col- Shortly after we could see Mts. Sodom lection of old iron castings which may and Gomorrah, miles away, rearing poshave been the remains of an old crush- sibly 2,000 feet out of the Tablelands. ing plant. A few minutes later we left the Owen River and turned up the Bul- Just before dusk we entered the bush mer Stream. above Ferris Hut. The descent was completed torchlight, through several The going soon changed. The under- small to make life bruni interesting. growth thickened and the streambed did Eventually we reached the Owen River not provide good travel I but neither and it was then only a matter of splitdid the bush, and it was a case of ting up to find the hut. We arrived at alternating between the two. We climbed 10 p.m., 13 hours after leaving the Bulgradually and at about 4 p.m. came mer, to find it was full. We made it out into the open and could see that fuller. we were in a cirque-like area. Camp The next was set up here, and we followed the day we left the hut at 9 stream up to where it was pouring out a.m. and tramped down the Owen. It of the cliff-face. As there were cavers in was another bright sunny day of pleasant the party we promptly started exploring, travel I mainly through alternating river but the only cave petered out after a flats and open bush. About 2 p.m. we short distance, and the water shot into came to a note from Van and Keith, this cave from a fissure in the cave wall. who were ahead of us, warning us not It was under such pressure that the jet to but continue down river, which is gorged, was hitting the far wall of the cave. We to take the track up into the bush. were, I think, a few thousand years This track led up very high, crossed too soon. several spurs, followed a ridge and eventually dropped sharply down through There were two exit slopes from the burnt-out scrub to farmland, which we cirque, and the following morning we rcached about 5 p.m. moved off up the left-hand slope (look- This was my first trip to the famed ing up-stream). After a good hour of Mt. Owen area, and it has a character steady uphill work we turned some of its own, unlike any other I have bluffs by traversing to the left and seen. It is suitable for all grades of trips, climbing a steep mossy gut. Then the and is very photogenic. The that bush densened" to jungle-like con- we avoided on the way out is worth ditions, which serre continued for 20 minutes investigating, as is another at the head or so until we came to an open hilltop. of the middle branch of the Owen. From here we had an excellent view of Mt. Owen, which is a massive marble Even though we found no caves it mountain and deeply excised by high was an enjoyable tramp. valleys. We could not stop for long as - IAN MCGREGOR there was still some distance to Ferris Hut, in the left branch of the Owen N.B.: Ian will be pleased to give anyriver. From the clearing we dropped one interested information about maps, about 400 feet to another pleasant bush times and routes, etc. opposite: map of Mt. Owen & surroundings (by lan McGregor)

TO KARANE AR. . GONORRRH 552: 5' MT PATRIARCH 5536' WANGAPEKA K. $f t MT OWEIN 612 6' $ a f po : f i -

P RULLED LEGEND. RIVER ROAD - ROUTE SCALE lIN:4MILES 3a + ROTOROA ROTOIT