WEEK FOUR

2^nd November

Lake Taylor to Deep Creek Hut (15.8km)

Natalie and her horse Breeze have joined us for a week and we all headed off up the track over to Eskhead Sation. There was a locked gate part way up the hill and we had to go up though some matagouri bushes to get round this.  Chief was packhorse today and a bit taller and had to push his way thought the bushes.  

We went up and over this saddle and down towards the South branch of the Hurunui River and then crossed this and headed out the other side to pick up the track to Deep Creek hut.  This is a great hut with lots of character. We got up early the next morning prepared to head out, but the weather was changing quickly and we could see some dark clouds coming in to the South so we stayed the day and were really pleased we did and it was really wet and windy and no visibility for climbing hills.

3^rd November

Day off due to bad weather

4^rd November

Deep Creek Hut to Mt White (25.3km

We had looked for the track the day before and thought we had found it and headed off but it was the wrong track so we talked to a farm worker who told us the right track. The weather was clearing and we set off down into Deep creek and up the other side and then into a steep climb up Riding Spur and then on up and over the Dampier Range.  

This was very narrow with steep drop offs on both sides and we then sidled round the side of the mountain and eventually came out on the tops where there was fresh snow as it was still snowing a little. We dropped down after a small tarn and followed Anderson Spur to the bottom and then continued on a while until we camped for the night close to a creek.  It was a cold and windy day and we were very happy for the shelter provided from the Matagouri bushes. 

5^th November

Mt White (31.5km)

We rode along a 4wd track, it was a relief to be on a track after the previous day.  Following the Esk River we rode passed Surveyors Knob, and rode through Nigger Stream, before arriving at Nigger Huts where we had a lovely relaxing lunch break. 

This was a day of constantly changing scenery and huge mountains to watch as we rode through.  There were pockets of beech bush along the track, and we rode above the first of the Sugar Loaf’s, where we camped for the night amongst matagouri bushes.

At Mt White we were intrigued at the signs, ie “New Seal”, and “Railway Crossing”, and “Car Parking”, way out in the back country.

6^th November

Mt White to Flock Hill Station (29.7km)

We rode into the station and they were shearing After a quick chat we carried on the down through the flats towards the Esk River and the Waimakariri  River, this first of our big river crossings.  

We looked at this very carefully before deciding where to cross and we picked out our lines on the braids and then I went first with Chief and Maddy and when I was across Delwyne and Natalie crossed in the same place.  This all went well and we were very relieved.    Then we were on Flock Hill and on a steep track which took us up and onto the flats.  We passed Blackwater Lake which was really pretty and on towards the Trans Alpine Railway line crossing and then on to Flock Hill were we stayed in the back packers.  The chef there was delightful and cooked us a lovely meal for just the three of us, it was so nice to have real food again and a real coffee.  A great way to finished for Natalie as she was leaving the next day.

7^th November

Flock Hill Station to Castle Hill Village (13.3km)

This was a day for the roads again and I was up early to set off as it was very busy as this was a Saturday.  As I was riding along a bus (West Coast Shuttle) stopped and the driver offered me a cup of coffee,

 I was so surprised and delighted and he made me a coffee and we all had a chat and some photos and then carried on.  I arrived at Castle hill Village and Delwyne who had floated Cracka this section (with Natalie as she was leaving) had found us a lovely house to stay in for a few days and we were able to keep our horses on the roughs in the Golf Course!!! 

 This was a delightful place to stop and rest and we stayed four nights and the horses had a great rest.