7 July 2007

Ridge Rd Track

page 6

The vegetation is getting taller again along here with some quite respectable trees off to the left.

We pass the Simla Track junction. I have done several of these "experienced trampers only" tracks and I reckon if I give myself plenty of time, most of them should be doable. I spent some time working up to the first one, the Lower Kauri Track, and finished it tired but exhilarated, with several new muscles to get to know over the next day or two. I was hooked.

Just up ahead the track is suddenly filled with tree roots. Not something I've seen anywhere along here. These are pine roots, and I recall something about huge pine trees being all that's left of the small farm that once was Simla.

Sure enough, the litter now consists of a fair quantity of pine needles.

There aren't, so far, any obvious pine trees, and then I look up. Towering over everything else is a huge old tree, and I follow it back to a vast trunk a little further up the track. It has the sun behind it. which makes for an interesting picture, but it's the size that impresses me. That's nearly 1.5m across.

Also a little disconcerting given the conservation status of the area along here are what look like pig roots. All the way along here young saplings have been uprooted and the ground disturbed. Truffles? Hmmmm....

A large punga spreads an arch over the track.

A few more boggy patches to negotiate and here we are.

There's a Montana Heritage Trail panel, looking a touch faded, and a small clearing, with signposts to everywhere. I'm looking for the one that points to lunch, so we turn ourselves around and head back.

We spread out on the deck of the hut. A dry spot to park my butt for a change. I have a widemouthed thermos flask I picked up at a garage sale a few years back, and today it is filled with hot steak and kidney casserole. I fill my tin plate and pour out a small portion for Alice in hers. Another thermos contains coffee. Wonderful, just wonderful .....

Onwards.

I'm not stopping nearly so often for photos on the way back. I still need to take care but uphill is less tricky than down when it's slippery. Even so I surprise myself when the turnoff appears just in front of us.

Turn left, turn right and down the hill, and there we are.

back where we started from.