July
2nd July 2005
I'm sure I've already mentioned what a poor year it has been for snow in Canterbury this year. How delightful, therefore, to find fresh snow on one of our favourite walks, the Lyndon Saddle walk at Craigieburn.
I particularly enjoy this walk because, from the summit you can see nothing but mountains in any direction. I was doubly delighted as I was walking with a group of friends who have not previously done this walk. I was happy to be able to show off this area while it looked like a scene from Narnia.
The walk is supposed to be easy, though steep and narrow in places, but the snow and ice made it a little more taxing than usual. Still we had two children with us and they managed well enough, spurred on by the fellow in the photograph who appears to have a cat on his head.
This walk is a feast for the eyes. The walk starts with a crossing over a small footbridge. From there you enter a beech forest. This is the peaceful part of the walk, quiet but for the sound of a bellbird and the cascading water of a mountain stream. Almost everyone who sees this area makes a remark about Narnia and indeed some of the filming of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, was done just down the road from here at Flock Hill.
The trail soon begins to rise and the trees are hung with air fern and occasionally flocked with snow. Through the trees are magnificent views of snow capped mountain tops and pine trees on the other side of the valley.
We stopped halfway for a cup of coffee or chocolate and marshmallows. The bellbird stayed with us though we were making such a racket that he could scarcely be heard.
After the break we continued on. There is one bit of this walk that is particularly worrying when there is ice. It is a narrow part of the walk where the trees fall away and there is a scree slope below the path. We took it particularly easy here but we were fully prepared to turn around if the path was too slippery.
After about ninety minutes we made it to the saddle. It would normally take just over an hour but, as I said, the path was a little more slippery and taxing.
We stopped and had lunch, with more hot drinks and marshmallows. While we sat we were joined briefly by a black labrador who was taking his owner for a bike ride. It wasn't long before his owner arrived, pedaling up the path we had just walked.
He gave us hints for some further walks in this area. I think we may, in the near future, take a cabin at Castle Hill for a weekend and explore more of this area.
The picture to the left was taken on the slope just above the saddle. As you can see, the snow is pretty thin on the mountain opposite.
After lunch we headed back down the mountain to our waiting cars. Although it was quicker on the way down it was also a good deal more slippery and I suffered a fall that left me with bruised ribs after landing on my camera.
We arrived home around six in the evening, pleasantly tired and suitably exhilarated.
--Brook
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