Latest News
Friday, 29 February 2008
Predetor Control Haast Pass
DOC checked the Haast Highway stoat line yesterday and caught 5 stoats and 1 hedgehog. No traps were missing.
Monday, 25 February 2008
Michael Peak and Danseys Pass
Combined Upper Clutha - Dunedin Branch Week End trip to
Michael Peak and Danseys Pass 25th- 27th January 2008.
After spending a pleasant Friday night at the Naseby Holiday park, 23 members headed off towards Mt St Bathans early Saturday morning and turned right up the Hawkdun Runs Road to reach the track up the spur just north of Rocks Creek, on what was Michael Peak Station, the property purchased by the Crown last year. After a slow climb up the ridge stopping at several points to enjoy the ever widening views, which took in the head of the Manuherikia valley and Hawkdun Range, we reached a point some 300 ms short of the main Mt St Bathans Range. From here members set out to explore and study the botany of the cirque below Michael Peak and Mt St Bathans. During lunch Alan Mark lead a discussion on the botany of the area, others joined in expressing satisfaction at the Crown’s decision to add the Michael Pk block to the proposed Oteake Conservation Park. We then returned down the ridge turning north about halfway down into the west branch of the Manueherikia river to explore the rock and bluff plant refuges on either side of the river. After which it was back to Naseby and a barbeque on a fine summer evening to finish the day.
Sunday saw us again away early heading towards the Kyeburn Diggings and up the road to Danseys Pass, where we stopped to view North Otago. This road passes through some of the last remaining relatively unmodified snow tussock left in New Zealand that can be viewed from a motor vehicle; every endeavour must be made to protect it. We headed back down and turned left up a track leading to Mt Alexander, stopping a little short of the summit. From there we continued on foot up the road, some turning left down to the saddle between MtAlexander and Mt Nobbler where there is a RAP intended to protect tussock and other high altitude shrubs. There was again much talk during the lunch break about tussock and the high country. With regret we headed back down to the Danseys Pass hotel where we dispersed, after a cool drink, and went our various ways. Our President Dr Peter Maddison joined us for the week end. It was pleasure to show him and discuss with him matters concerning Otago High Country in such favourable summer weather.
John Turnbull.
Michael Peak and Danseys Pass 25th- 27th January 2008.
After spending a pleasant Friday night at the Naseby Holiday park, 23 members headed off towards Mt St Bathans early Saturday morning and turned right up the Hawkdun Runs Road to reach the track up the spur just north of Rocks Creek, on what was Michael Peak Station, the property purchased by the Crown last year. After a slow climb up the ridge stopping at several points to enjoy the ever widening views, which took in the head of the Manuherikia valley and Hawkdun Range, we reached a point some 300 ms short of the main Mt St Bathans Range. From here members set out to explore and study the botany of the cirque below Michael Peak and Mt St Bathans. During lunch Alan Mark lead a discussion on the botany of the area, others joined in expressing satisfaction at the Crown’s decision to add the Michael Pk block to the proposed Oteake Conservation Park. We then returned down the ridge turning north about halfway down into the west branch of the Manueherikia river to explore the rock and bluff plant refuges on either side of the river. After which it was back to Naseby and a barbeque on a fine summer evening to finish the day.
Sunday saw us again away early heading towards the Kyeburn Diggings and up the road to Danseys Pass, where we stopped to view North Otago. This road passes through some of the last remaining relatively unmodified snow tussock left in New Zealand that can be viewed from a motor vehicle; every endeavour must be made to protect it. We headed back down and turned left up a track leading to Mt Alexander, stopping a little short of the summit. From there we continued on foot up the road, some turning left down to the saddle between MtAlexander and Mt Nobbler where there is a RAP intended to protect tussock and other high altitude shrubs. There was again much talk during the lunch break about tussock and the high country. With regret we headed back down to the Danseys Pass hotel where we dispersed, after a cool drink, and went our various ways. Our President Dr Peter Maddison joined us for the week end. It was pleasure to show him and discuss with him matters concerning Otago High Country in such favourable summer weather.
John Turnbull.
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