1 February 2007

Marguerite Track

page 3

I could be wildly out with the next one. It resembles the photograph of Lindsaea trichomanoides in Brownsey and Smith Dodsworth, but they describe it as a terrestrial fern.

The only other pic that I can see in the ballpark is bladder fern, Cystopteris, but that too is described as terrestrial. Anyone out there with knowledge I don't have? Stupid question.

there are some lush mosses about as well.

Onward.

We seem to be passing through a stretch of track which is especially rich in mosses

In the dampness of the creekbed below is a carpet of parataniwha

I'm not sure what I'm looking at but there's quite a spectacular display hanging off this tree.

As the track descends a little towards the creek, the upper bank of the track becomes covered in parataniwha.

We keep moving. We've been on this track for nearly two hours.

Here's a small patch of juvenile Schefflera seedlings beside the track.

Not all Schefflera pass through this juvenile stage. Here's one about a metre away that didn't:

As it passes around an outcrop, the track for a period becomes more open

then once more heading back into heavier cover.

Here and there where the land falls away quite sharply, we get a look out down the valley

We come to another spot where I can use a bit of a hand. I am thinking in terms of perhaps a solid knife that I can use as necessary to deepen or level out the steps worn in the sandy rock. As it is, they've got too much of a slope on for me to rest my weight plus pack on without fearing a slip.

Here's another tricky spot, a bit narrow, with quite a drop into the gully to the right. But this time I make it by myself.

Around about here, the track starts to gentle a little, wider and flatter and generally kinder.

and here we are at the junction of Marguerite Track and Lucy Cranwell Track. The Marguerite Track continues on until it meets the Kauri Grove Track, but we are turning off here and down towards Glen Esk Rd. I take out my phone to check the time and find I've got cellphone coverage, so I ring Miranda to tell her we'll be in a little later than we had anticipated.