Nov 24 2022

Sullivans Dam, Cloud Forests, Escarpment, Cowan round trip

Published by under Trampers,Year round

Cloud Forest and Escarpment

Map: Sullivans Dam, Cloud Forest, Telegraph (Old Bridal) track to Pigeon Flat, Escarpment Track, Cowan Rd, Short Cut to Fox Rd, down to Sullivans Dam – drawn 2002. (Click to enlarge)


10.  23/11/2022. Trampers. Three Peaks, Escarpment, Cloud Forest Loop. Grade 3.5. 26km. Leaders: Clare Noakes, Jill Reid.

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Sunshine start at Sullivans Dam (photo and caption Pam)

15 trampers set out around the lovely track around Sullivan’s Dam but we soon had to turn right up the hill that stated ‘for experienced trampers only’!

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One of many old signs on our route (photo and caption John)

This track is an overgrown mostly-boardwalk that goes up and up through a patch of majestic Rimu, Totara and Miro to the Pylon Road. On the way we passed a bush telephone and a fairy grotto!

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Boardwalks (photo and caption Pam)

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Telephone box, just in case you need it (photo and caption Marijke)

Morning tea was had under the pylons watching 2 helicopters below us loading up to do some spraying.

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Morning Tea in a clearing (photo and caption John)

After refueling we set off on the escarpment track, firstly through gorse then mud, fallen trees and a rock climb up to the magnificent view from Pigeon Rock.

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Some misjudged their footing! (photo and caption Pam)

Just when we thought the worst was over we came upon 2 huge pine trees crossing the track. However everyone made it safely over, then it was a short scramble up Pigeon Hill to lunch.

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Lunch time hilarity over Neil’s boiled egg (photo and caption John)

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View from Pigeon Hill – I just love those big skies! (photo and caption Marijke)

The challenge after lunch was to follow the blue ribbons to Mt Cargill, this proved little trouble thanks to some tall scouts who could spot them among the growing pines.

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Down hill from here (Cowan Road) (photo and caption Pam)

Once out on the road with the sky growing darker it was a fast trip down the 3 Peaks track back to the cars where the heavens opened! Good timing team! This is a lovely, varied track with lots to keep you interested. All seemed to enjoy it even the harder parts. Thanks for a great day out – Clare.


9. 13/11/19. Trampers. Sullivan’s Dam. Cloud Forest, Transmission Line. Return. M. Leaders: Karen and Gary

On an overcast but mild morning, 21 trampers set out from the picturesque Sullivan’s Dam. Shortly
after, we were joined by our 22 nd tramper. Making our way along and up the track and well constructed boardwalk, we passed through beautiful bush including Alpine Cyprus and masses of low ground ferns.

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Photo and Caption Gordon – “Heading up the bush ridge”

Up through the bush and boggy sections to the transmission line where we stopped for our morning tea.

 

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Photo and Caption Gordon – “Smoko and view at top”

The coolish breeze was offset by the magnificent view over Blueskin Bay , the northern motorway and hills beyond.

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Photo and Caption Helen – ” Great view looking across to Northern Motorway”

With everyone refreshed we carried on up through the bush and muddy sections, over fallen trees
and slippery tree roots to the rocky outcrop.

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Phot and Caption Gordon – “A steep part”

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Photo and Caption John – “Almost at the top”

Spectacular views were to be had while we all waited for our turn to scramble up and around the rocks. The terrain flattened out to a mixture of replanted pines and open low scrub areas.
The lunch break was in an area of replanted pines.

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Photo and Caption Gordon – “Lunch amongst the new planting”

Next was a short walk to Cowan Road which we walked for about a km (one even stopping to pick a spray of native clematis)

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Photo and Caption Helen – “Noi wearing her new headwear courtesy of John”

before dropping down onto the Three Peaks track lined with flowering broom.

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Photo and Caption Gordon – “Not too far now!”

We made our way down to the paddocks and were entertained by a herd of very curious steers, some even coming close enough to be patted and lick the odd hand. From there it was a short walk through more fuchsia and bush to the Leith Valley Road.

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Photo and Caption Gordon – “Happy trampers, another great tramp!”

We stopped at the gardens for refreshments, all of us pleased with having accomplished a tramp
that was challenging in places but rewarding to be part of. – Karen and Gary.


8. 10/10/2018. Hikers. Sullivans Dam. Cloud Forest, Transmission Line. Return. M. Leaders: Pam and Dawn.

Morning tea at Sullivan’s Dam. (Clive pic and caption.)

Up through the trees. (1) (Clive pic and caption.)

Up through the trees. (2) (Clive pic and caption.)

At the top before the rain set in. (Clive pic and caption.)

Lunch sheltering from the rain. (Clive pic and caption.)


7. 20/7/2016. Hikers. Sullivans Dam. Cloud Forest, Transmission Line, Round trip to Lookout and Leith Saddle. Return. M. Leaders: Pam, Ian.
22 Hikers turned up. 14 went to Transmission line, 11 did ‘Leith loop’ (a first for us). – Ian.
View of some of the stepping stone steps.

Some of the multiple ‘stepping stone’ steps – on one of the easier gradients. [Ed: Have seen such nowhere else.]

Lunch at Transmission line.

Lunch at Transmission line at top of Cloud Forest track.

Bluesman Bay view from Transmission Line lunch spot. (Adrienne pic.)

Blueskin Bay view from Transmission Line lunch spot. (Adrienne pic.)

Dunedin view from lookout point. (Adrienne pic.)

Dunedin view from lookout point. (Adrienne pic.)

Dam view from where? - Lookout? (Adrienne pic.)

Sullivan’s Dam view from  Lookout point. (Adrienne pic.)

Ends of track down from Lookout, on Leith Saddle end of Pigeon Flat Road. (Adrienne pic.)

Ends of track down from the Lookout Loop, on Leith Saddle end of Pigeon Flat Road. (Adrienne pic.)


6. 9/3/2011. Trampers. Sullivans Dam, Cloud Forests, Escarpment, Cowan round trip.

Pines up ahead, through which and around we have to go.

At the foot of a rocky bluff we had to climb around.

On the top of the bluff. (Apologies for badly aimed shot.)

It was an great tramp. Some challenges, like having to crawl on knees over the huge rocks, crawling under some gigantic fallen trees, going through bush so dense that we couldn’t see the ground, pushing our way through gorse and holding on to trees to swing through a few muddy patches. A couple of times there was some discussion on which way to go, but with our two awesome experienced leaders, Ian and Doug, we were soon headed in the correct direction.
A small problem for the ladies was some cattle in a paddock we had to go through, first Dawn was too nervous to move when the beasts started coming towards her, but Ian assured her they were only curious.   After waiting for Pam and Jill to appear, Ian decided to investigate, so he climbed back through the fence and went back up the paddock to find two more ladies nervous of the cattle.  He confidently escorted them down the rest of the way.
The tramp took 6 hours but didn’t seem that long with great company and the best escorts, it was a wonderful experience and I look forward to many more. – Dawn.

It was disappointing to find much of the Escarpment Track so overgrown. It had evidently not been tramped very often lately.

But thanks to those who have looked after the short-cut from Cowan Road through the trees down to Fox Road, and further on, to those who had trimmed back the gorse from the track down through the regenerating forestry. – Ian.


(5.) 12/8/2009 Sullivans Dam, Cloud Forests, Escarpment, Cowan round trip. CANCELLED. BAD WEATHER. Leaders: Bill, Doug.

The following photos taken on RECCE!:

Sullivans Dam

Sullivans Dam. (Bill pic)

Blueskin Bay from Telegraph Track

Blueskin Bay from Telegraph Track. (Bill pic)

Track notice

Track notice. (Bill pic)

Boulders

Boulders recently climbed. (Bill pic). Doug.

Vert. Escarpment

Mud on Escarpment. (Bill pic). Doug.


4. 22/7/2009 Sullivans Dam, Cloud Forests of Leith, Lookout, Leith Saddle, Pipe Line back to Dam. Leaders: L Gowans, B Harvey.


3. 18/7/2007 Leaders: Abe, Ian

From Sullivans Dam, we made our way through

Tea Break. Ian, George, Tash, Helen.

Cloud Forest, crossed Pole track, crossed Telegraph/Bridal Track, North face of Mt Cargill, down Cowan Road, Short-cut to cross Bridal Track,

Down Cowan Road. Keith, George, Arthur H, Glenice, Diane (obscured), Helen, Tash, Ian.

through cleared forestry,

Down through cleared forestry. Ian, Helen, Diane, Arthur, Keith, Tash

McCutcheon paddocks, up pipe line back to dam.


2. 30/11/2005. Trampers. Sullivans Dam, Cloud Forest, Escarpment, Cowan Road. Round trip Leaders: Bill & Pat, Bruce
1. 20/7/2005. Sullivans Dam, Cloud Forest, Escarpment, Cowan Road. Round trip. Leaders: Bill & Pat, Bruce.

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