Periodically my name comes up to lend a hand and it's nice to get out and do some 'tramping with a purpose' (other than the perfectly acceptable purpose of having fun and getting covered in scratches). This weekend however, one of the hands in question is a bit dodgy on account of having been smashed against a tree sometime in the previous weekend.
Handling the traps requires a little bit of brute force and dexterity so I'm a bit worried that I'll be a liability, but decide that with only three on the trip I can't leave the team in the lurch.
What: WTMC trapping trip
Where: Upper Makororo - Northern Ruahines
When: 6-7 October 2018
Who: Matt, Katy, me
Map:
Matt and I get away early (4pm) for the five hour drive. We manage the complicated navigation instructions and arrive in the dark about 9pm. Sentry Box Hut is empty and we quickly settle in to be briefly woken when Katy (team leader) arrives from Taupo about an hour later.
It's a relaxed start in the morning; emerging from pits at 7.30 - an unheard of lie-in. But Katy is in charge and we figure she knows what she's doing. Once up and fed we divvy up the group kit and set out on the first order of business - a bracing 700m climb to the ridge line. It's calm but starts raining lightly on the way up - and that pretty much sums up the weather for the day.
Given my hand and Katy and I both wanting to do the A24 line for the first time, we split at the ridge. Matt heads left for Parks Peak then down to Upper Makororo Hut for a there-and-back trip up the Totara Spur trap line. Katy and I turn right and start checking and rebaiting the DOC 200 traps along the ridge (these are the wooden boxes with a steel crush trap inside).
The baits are shredded rabbit and look a little like squares of fudge - if the fudge had hair, bone and teeth in it.
I quickly discover that despite having to do the fiddly and brute force bits with my left hand, I am more than quick enough and can hold up my end of the work. Katy is aiming to climb Aoraki in December so is fit and we whistle along at a good rate. We find two varmints - either wee stoats or big weasels.
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| The best sort of mustelid |
We stop at Aranga hut (derelict and a bit manky) around midday for a bite. At this point we click that Katy's watch is still on pre-daylight saving time. Hence the leisurely start and, from now, the need to watch we don't run out of daylight.
On the tops we find the odd wee bit of snow sheltering in the lee of scrub and, although claggy, visibility is about 100m. We follow the map and instructions to trap 97 where we have to veer off the track and onto a spur. Fears that the intersection will be tricky are unfounded as we quickly find a trail of pink ribbons that lead off the flat top, and around onto the spur. We start descending through high grass between low density beech trees.
The first A24 is on the bushline and we check it together to compare notes. It's pretty straight forward: open the top and check the bait (clean and clear as needed), trigger the trap, replace and date the cylinder if needed, reassemble, and record any gas replacement before heading for the next trap. Any carcasses are scavenged so there are no kills to record although there is sometimes some remains that indicate the traps are doing something.
The vegetation on the spur is interesting - there are large areas of rigger growth with dense saplings of similar age - possibly indicating a historic storm or fire or ... The spur top is often broad without an obvious crest but the trap line is well ribboned so we don't miss any traps.
A pause for a bite in beautiful totara forest and we are joined by whiteheads, a bush robin and a warbler. This is what it's all about!
The bottom of the spur dumps us rapidly down to the stream - I manage not to go A over K despite dodgy wrist and boots.
The traps continue down stream at 100m intervals. I'm quicker over the boulders so check most of the traps while Katy catches up. It's a pretty valley with a few deepish pools that would be nice on a hot day. We don't see any whio though.
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| Katy shows how it's done |
It's late afternoon by the time we get to the hut - somewhat soggy but happy to have knocked off 55 A24s and 35 DOC 200s. Matt turns up a little later much to my relief as I wasn't really wanting to head off up the spur to look for him.
A green curry from the WTMC recipe book serves well for dinner (nicer than dehy), and we turn in as dark falls. Another good nights sleep as there are no snorers in our party.
The morning starts with a climb again. I take the baits and keep ahead of the other two; checking and baiting up to the ridgeline and Parks Peak Hut. My light weight pack is certainly paying off.
We regroup once on the way up and again at the hut. The trip along the ridgeline is quick and we just manage to husband our baits to complete the line.
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| Arriving Parks Hut |
We take the descent at a careful pace and there are even views for a change.
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| Matt provides foreground interest at Rocky Knoll Wakarara Range in the distance |
At Sentry Box Hut we sort gear into the appropriate places and head for the cars - clean clothes and time to say good-bye to Katy. Getting away before 1pm means it's an easy trip home arriving in daylight.
Despite my initial concerns my wrist stood up to the abuse and my boots didn't let me down in front of others.
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