Leader: Mary Honey

As we started from the carpark, the voluntary conservator of  Marsden Valley asked that we watch out for Kokako as there have been a couple of soundings in the area.  No luck although a couple of members remembered to look and listen as we tramped along. The steep Scout Track moderated our pace as we ascended to about 700m altitude.

After about an hour we emerged from the bush at the point where the Involution and Widdershin bike tracks meet the 4WD road that follows the ridge. We stopped for morning tea at a sunny, elevated spot on the road with views of the Richmond Ranges and the Waimea Plains. We couldn’t miss the just-completed Brook Sanctuary pest-proof fence at the junction of the tracks to Third House and Jenkins Hill. We followed this as far as the Jenkins Hill trig. From there, we descended down a fire break and then on a trap-line through the native bush where we paused to listen to brilliant bird song. A chorus worth recording and a tribute to the volunteers who have trapped  the area over the last few years.

After a while, we met the Involution bike track and zig zagged down to the carpark.

The morning tramp provided opportunity for a short walk with ample time left to do other things.

Happy trampers were: Kath Ballantine, Dan McGuire, Graeme Ferrier, Karen M (visitor), Kate Krawczyk, Tony Morgan (visitor) and Mary Honey (scribe).