Home > Field Trips > Kettle Lakes July 2009

CSP Field Trip to 'Kettle Lakes' held on July 12th 2009

A lovely warm morning, a whole one degree Celsius! However, the wind chill made it feel quite a bit cooler, so cool, in fact, that the wet parts of the road were freezing over quite quickly. Of course, the snow and hail showers that were moving over us with considerable frequency did little to improve the situation. Cold, dark, snowing and early in the morning, what a wonderful start for a field trip!

Five stalwart persons motored up from Christchurch, one person arrived from Pudding Hill an hour early, and one hardy soul arrived from beside Lake Roundabout. At 7:20 am, five minutes late, we set off for Maori Lakes where we met the other hardy souls who had wintered over, as it were, at Castle Ridge Station. At the lakes we waited for the sun to rise, and it must have because the dark went away. Then we were joined by two other intrepid photographers, who had an amazing story of blizzard conditions, ice-covered roads and their vehicle travelling sideways. Why they wanted to travel like that is beyond me, but to each their own, I suppose.

At about 9:00 am we set off to Lake Heron and drove to the end of the road. By now I was pleased to see the sun making an occasional appearance and the frequency of the snow/hail showers was diminishing. After a cup of tea and a million re-arranged pixels later, we drove round to the big hay shed where a stream with good icicles flowed, the sun lit up the Taylor Range across the lake and more pixels flowed-and some old-fashioned film was exposed.

It was time for lunch and the quiz, so we headed back to our quarters at Castle Ridge and had a delightfully warm and wind-free time. After all that excitement we set off for the big icicle stream just past Mt Potts Station. Here some people perspired up the hill to the main icicle area and the rest of us took in the expansive views that can be afforded from this vantage point, particularly the site of the Lord of the Rings castle of Edoras and across the River, the portal for Helms Deep. Also views across the river to the wide sweep of the legendary Mesopotamia Station of Samuel Butler fame.

To those of you who braved both the clement and inclement weather, who braved ice and snow, who braved muddy shingle roads and who endured my everlasting lectures on the glaciated landscape, my warmest thanks to you all.

ULYSSES

Photos from this field trip by Tony Harrison

For more information including start times and meeting places please contact Chris Newman on 388 7147 or email judyreij@gmail.com

Chris's place

Emma's hut

Road to nowhere

Rock on Heron