Mt Stokes Leader: Roger Bruce (Scribe: Gretchen Williams)

We left Hira in two vehicles at 9am on Saturday morning – it’s surprising the stuff people bring on trips when they don’t have to carry it on their backs!! The closer we got to our destination the worse the weather looked. By the time we arrived at Titirangi Bay there were a few people who were a bit queasy from the winding road in and the vehicles looked like they’d been on safari. We arrived at about noon, pitched the tents in a fine misty rain and blustery winds, had lunch and went for walks along the beach, through a lovely patch of predominantly kohekohe bush and along the farm tracks. The camp area was buzzing with fat weka and pukeko filled with spring fever!
Just before dusk some of the less hardy members of the group decided to spend the night in the Lodge leaving three to fly the flag at the camp. And then the drizzle stopped and by morning it was fine and calm. We headed off up Mt Stokes at 9 am – a relatively steep ascent through lovely bush and were all surprised to pop out of the bush into the open and virtually at the top at 11 am. The views were stunning despite a small amount of cloud – 360 degrees. We could see Mounts Taranaki, Ruapehu, Tapuae-o-ue-nuku, Arthur, Owen, down into Picton with a couple of ferries and lots of different islands and sounds. We had lunch and explored for an hour before a leisurely hour and a half descent to the cars and another long and winding journey home. Thanks to Roger for once again organising a really successful and enjoyable trip.
Group: Ann & Roger McMichael, Ross Price, Grahame Harris, Tony Haddon, Dion Pont, Megg Hewlett, 
Gretchen Williams