York Road Hunters Track, Sunday 3rd July 2022

After a spot of car-juggling, nine of us assembled on Stratford Mountain Road in perfect weather. We pushed north on an old hunting track into attractive mossy bush, crossing the odd small creek along the way; giant rimus stood well clear of the lowish canopy. An hour or so in we came upon the mighty Manganui – luckily in low flow. Few made the far bank without incident. After a break on the sunny river flat, we continued with our hunting track – full of character, but generally good walking – and meandered on until striking the upper York railway. Here we struck left, and steamed up the line, lunching above an impressive hand-dug cutting; the labours of which seemed all the worse given the upper quarry was never used. After, we coasted back down the easy gradient, eventually breaking out into the grassy clearing at the top of the York Road loop. A navigable concrete culvert halfway down the right-hand loop track provided some extra entertainment. Cars placed at the road end allowed us to complete an interesting circuit, all without the forecast showers.

Walkers were: Jim and Keith, Bruce and Liam, Kathryn, Alan, Sharyn, Lisa, and David.

Bruce Finer