5 May 2007

Maungaroa Ridge Track

page 4

This track does boast one big kauri

Here's a tree down over the track. Been here a while, as there's a detour track beaten around it.

There's a certain sameness about the track along here. We've been uphill and down several times, but the open kauri/punga/kanuka/tanekaha mix is now fairly consistent.

but there's still room for the occasional surprise in a small kowhai sprining out of the leaf litter.

The tall grasses along here arealso characteristic.

Now here's something unusual, a twin kauri. Usually these have a single trunk only.

Here's another small whipcord like fern. At least I think it's a fer. It doesn't really look like a young podocarp of any kind that I know.

Onwards

My cellphone rings. I hadn't realised I had cover, but I in fact continue to have cover all the way down to Glen Esk Rd as a series of calls re-organises my day tomorrow.

And here we are at the end of the track. The half hour suggested time to Glen Esk Rd is deceptive. I take a little over an hour, and there are a couple of areas where I have slide down a drop of around a metre on my bottom.