13/14 July 2013 

Written by Mandy: An American in Waitakeres

As a suitable newcomer to the Waikato Tramping Club, I embarked on a journey one chilly Friday evening to a damp hut in the Waitakere ranges.  My first tramp in New Zealand! was a constant mantra in my mind overnight. Awoken frequently. When stirred, listening to the wind and batting shutters. Rising early enough to down a bowl of oatmeal and raisins while sipping a good dose of green tea conversing with my fellow trampers, first logical question directed my way “What am I doing in New Zealand?” - PhD and tramping on the side. Or vice versa.

As a new student at University of Waikato and more importantly, new to renting a flat in the Hamilton area, I opted for on-campus accommodation.  I’m in my late 20s and my flat mates are in their early 20s.  Although we may match maturity wise, I couldn’t help but feel a bit happy to be the youngest of the trampers.

Anyways, after breakfast we embarked on our muddy trail up to the McKlain lookout tower where I glimpsed black sands for the first time in my life.  We then descended down along the Mangaroa Lookout Track. After hearing a lonely dog bark at one of the beach homes near our roadway walk, we arrived at the black sands itself, Piha Beach.  The mild wind assured our mud soaked bodies that our leisurely pace and picture taking of birds (Lesley only a bit too slow to capture two strong muscled horses running on the sands- ggrrrr) was manageable for our comfort level.  The view from Lion Rock was a panorama of clouds, masked rays of light, dots of surfers, blurs of dogs pulling people, and sounds of trampers munching lunch amplified by waves bringing ancient half shells to pebble white against black.

The remainder of the day encompassed a slick stream crossing, where no one fell, to the Kitekite waterfall. Then pulling our weights up a seldom used steep rocky trail where again no one fell.  Success!  We traced the Winson Track back to the hut.  In haste, we sat and nibbled on treats of nuts, crackers, cheese, and hummus while bringing out the whites and reds to fill our wine glasses or hut glasses.  Over giggles about artistic uncles, tips to fair and cold weather in the backcountry, camera comparisons, and plummeting out of airplanes while being afraid of heights. We made multiple dinners and continued to chatter until the cold really made us chatter and our bottoms were too sore on mat covered wood tops.  Then off to bed carried to Neverland by the lullabies of wind and shutters.

Our Sunday was spent on the Montana Walkway area, Upper Kauri & Long Road Track.  The quiet tweets and twiddles of birds were drowned out by more mud and the thump thump thump of trail runners.  After a few gradual uphills we arrived at the dam (Waitakere Reservoir).  The breeze reflecting off the lake brought a new vitality to my lungs.  No fumes of cars.  No noises except the air on water.  And around me surrounding me the landscape of Auckland far below; sky limitless, and cares only in the step by step on footpath.  How simple living really is and how complicated is simple.  After lunch, yet another stop to clean our shoes so we don’t infect the Kauri trees.  So the trees don’t die.  The streams were a bit cloudy. Maybe new constructions of trails involving wood planks over mixture of leaves and dirt packed earth.  Tramping as a break from our day to days.  Living for the moments of deep breaths in woods.  Knowing those moments only last so long.  Though hopefully not forgetting, when we stop on the way back to Hamilton for ice cream, chips, and coffee, which cares only in the step by step will be the most pleasantly remembered experiences.

Scribe: Mandy Shaver (very small help from Lesley)