25 August.
We had 19 come out on this trip so Nic and Peter kindly offered to take their cars. We left Pukahu as usual at 7 AM, picked Judith and Murry along the way and arrived at the carpark a bit before 9.
The direct track to the old Coppermine Hut site is closed due to a drop-out about a kilometre from the carpark. However, provided the stream is low and you don’t mind getting your feet wet, you can divert down to the stream, walk up stream crossing it a number of times and then climb back up to the track. We did just this and it was obvious that many people had done this previously.
Back on the track we came to a second slip which was quite safe to cross (in dry weather) and then we soon said goodbye to Steve, Sean, Jude, Reiny, Judith, Simon, Lou and Nic who were headed for Wharite Peak. Susan decided to forgo the trip to the mine and waited while the rest of us carried on along the track beside the stream through fantastic bush with lots of kiekie .
When we climbed up to the mine site there were good views out over the valley and the best patch of bush cabbage trees we had ever seen. At the mine site there were lots of interpretive signs, though some not in good condition . We had our lunch at the mine and then returned to the stream and viewed the magazine tunnel before heading back downstream to Susan.
We then started on the Coppermine Loop track initallyu a 300+ metre climb up the ridge, past the remains of the old Coppermine Hut, through lush vegetation and a good stand of podocarps. Near the top we got some good views across to Wharite. At the top of the ridge we choose not to take a detour down to Billy Goat creek but instead turned right to carry on along th Loop Track. After about a kilometre from the Billy Goat Track junction the track hits farm land and it follows the boundary fence down for half a kilometre before you cross a stile and follow a farm track almost to Coppermine Stream. By the stream crossing there is a lovely little picnic area on private land with a sign welcoming people to rest there.
The Coppermine Loop party was back at the vehicles before 3 but we did had a bit of a wait for the last of the Wharite party to return. All in all a great day, we had 3 people, Holly, Anton & Luis, out on their first trip with us and I think they and everyone else enjoyed themselves. Thanks to our 4 drivers Steve & Simon,in the van, plus Nic and Peter.
GH & PB
Party: Susan L, Anton & Luis D, Minh N, Holly K, Steve B, Anne D, Sean C, Jude H, Reiny S, Judith M, Simon W, Selina C, Nic W, Lou C, Robyn W, Murry A, Peter B and Glenda H.