October is our turn on the roster to clear the Upper Turere Stream - UTS - trapline in the Orongorongo valley. We had made grand plans for the weekend, booking a hut in the valley with some friends and maybe introducing some of the more hardy experienced ones to what the traplining experience was like. But one by one people got sick or found other plans, so the plan changed to a regular day in the bush with me (Angela) and my partner Mike, who was recovering from flu and still a bit rough. We figured we could take it slow and steady and he'd be okay.
We got up early, and stopped in at McDonalds in Petone to fuel up with some brekkie. My iced latte wasn't too bad - after I removed all the sugar products from their standard recipe.
 |
| Sustained by Maccas |
We dropped in at our Team Lead Sean's place on our way to Sunny Grove. He had an A24 GoodNature trap that needed replacing along our trapline. I told him we'd be there, wearing our All Blacks shirts since it was the NZ SA World Cup Final this weekend. He opened his front door wearing his South African jersey and I did enjoy seeing that. We got the instructions for replacing all the A24 bits and took the bag from him.
We started from Sunny Grove at 9am on a glorious day. In contrast, the last time I did this was with Iona and Andrew on a very wet day. It made the going much easier.
We have quite a distance to walk up and along the Whakanui Track just to reach our trapline. It usually takes 15 mins to the first junction and then one hour from the car to the top junction. Mike found the uphill a bit hard on his post-sickness lung power. He'd be okay if he kept slogging up but as soon as he stopped, it started his coughing off.
 |
| First viewpoint |
 |
| Another view |
I was quite surprised when we were only 10 mins behind our fastest times when we got to the junction at the top of the hill. The easier gradient beyond there to the top of the Upper Turere Stream - "UTS" - trapline was good for Mike. His coughing dropped off. We had only seen one person at this point - a young man passed us, going quick with a daypack, as we neared the gorgeous goblin forest at the highest point of the track.
We got to the spot where we leave the track, and headed down a spur to the start of our trapline. It always takes longer than I think to get down. Probably 500m or so through fairly clear paths with bits of pink ribbon and tape. 2 hours and 35 minutes after leaving the car, we were sitting at UTS11, our first trap to check.
We had a wee bite to eat before rebaiting UTS11. The A24 Goodnature trap here had a fresh rat under it. Then down to the rope into the stream. UTS10 is just above the rope - there has been a bit of washout on the hillside here. Ignore the yellow tape telling you to go the wrong way before UTS10. Pink is where it is at. This trap had its back netting coming loose. The A24 here had a very not-fresh rat under it.
 |
| Negotiating the stream |
Once in the stream, it was pretty plain sailing. UTS6 had a rat in it. The front netting had come completely off, so we left it unset - but baited.
 |
| Rope down into Turere stream |
 |
| Slightly manic selfie |
 |
| Rat |
 |
| Trap issues |
 |
| Revamped A24 at UTS2 |
 |
| Waffle rat |
 |
| Rat discus |
UTS3 had a rat in it. And this trap was broken. Mike tried several times to reset it, but the trap would not go over the trigger.
At UTS2 we also sorted out the A24. Sean had left the bracket on the tree. So we fitted the gas and the lure and tested it and clipped it back into place.
UTS1 had a rat in it. So all up, 3 rats in the UTS line. A few rats under the A24s.
From UTS1 you are probably only 50m or so from the McKerrow ridge track and super close to the junction with the Whakanui. We were making great time back (it says 1.5 hours to Sunny Grove - but it is more like 40 mins) when Mike discovered the satisfaction of clearing out the wooden water gutters across the track. When I was here last in the rain they were overflowing and causing track damage. The last 6 or 7 gutters on the Whakanui are now very clear.
Back at our car just after 3pm. 6 hours 30 mins or so. I thought it would be much slower. So yay for Mike being amazing with a cough. He was mighty.
I loved doing the trapline. It was such lovely weather. The birds were all out and happy. The stream was clear and looked very inviting. Makes you happy to be out there. And we accounted for some rats.
No comments:
Post a Comment