Cannibal Gorge Tramp

On the 9th to the 10th of December the year eight girls walked the Cannibal Gorge track. 

We got to school at 8.15 to weigh our packs. My pack weighed 10.1 kgs. Then we got into our car groups. I was in Ms Kemp's car with Hannah, Grace and Jennae. The rest of the girls went in Cathy's car.

We left school at 8.30 in the morning to travel to Refton to buy our hut ticket at the I-site.  After everyone had bought our hut tickets we drove to the St James walkway.  When we got there we filled out the intentions book and started our hike.  It took us about four hours to walk from the carpark to the Cannibal Gorge hut. 

When we got there we had lunch and most of us walked to the Ada hut. At the Ada hut we filled in the intentions book and walked back. It took us about 50 minutes to walk back from the Ada hut. 

When we got back everyone split into their groups to cook tea. I was with Dakota. For tea we had freeze dries meals with a milo and for dessert Dakota and I made Campfire cones. Campfire are waffle cones filled with chocolate and marshmallows that have been wrapped in tinfoil and melted over a pan. They were very yum. 

After everyone had cleaned up we took turns playing with slingshot. We collected small stones and tried to hit a paper plate that was in a bush. When it started to get dark everyone went inside and we played a game called flash. When it was dark we sat on the middle bunk to share stories. After about and hour of telling stories we hopped into our sleeping bags and went to sleep. 

After about half an hour of trying to sleep we herd a russling and squeaking sound. It turned out that there were mice running around out packs. So we quickly had to pick them up off the ground so the mice wouldn't get into them. 

The next morning we got up to cook breakfast. We got into our cooking groups again and started. Dakota and I made pancakes. They were really yum. At about 8.30 we started our walk back. It took us about three hours to get back to the carpark. 

Once everyone was back to the carpark we sat down for about five minutes then drove home. I thought that it was an amazing tramp and will definitely try and do the tramp with my family. 

Cycle Trail Artwork

Last week Rooms One and Eight biked the West Coast Wilderness Trail. We started at Kapatea Reservoir and biked back to school.  To show that we did the bike ride we got into pairs to do some artwork. We had to choose a spot on the track to inspire you for your art.  I worked with Dakota. We chose the bush and the track for inspiration.  Here is our art.

Callaghan's Ridge

On the 11th of April 2019 Rooms 1 and 8, Mrs Truman, Ms Kemp and 9 other adults walked Callaghan's Ridge. It took us four and a half hours. On the track we budded up and did a scavenger hunt. I did the scavenger hunt with Dakota and Rebekah. We found everything in the end. We also found a kea but it wasn't on the list. Some of the things we found were: A sand fly, a blue mushroom, a cute tomtit and bracket fungi. 
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When we started the track it rained for a few minutes then started to rain lightly for a bit. When we got to the lunch spot we got into our afternoon groups (I was with Lily and Eamon) and built a bivouac to eat our lunch under. To make our bivouac we hung the tarp of a leaning  tree then tied our rope to four small flaking trees. When everyone had finished lunch we packed up our bivouacs and kept walking. The track was muddy in most places and where it was muddy it was really slippery. We had to watch our step otherwise we would trip over.Quite a few people fell over.  

 One thing I liked about walking Callaghan's Ridge was that we got a day off school doing something I enjoy. i also liked that it didn't rain the whole time. Next time we could try build our shelter with what was around us. I thought Callaghan Ridge was fun and I can't wait to do our next activity. 

Beach Cookout

Today Room One and Eight went to Karoro Beach by the Tasman sea to do a beach
cookout. Some parents, Mrs Mclean and our teachers. In my group was Lily, Eamon,
My Dad (who was our supervisor) and me. We went on the third of April 2019 in Autumn.
We left school around 11am and got back about 1pm.

We had to build a pyramid shaped fire like shown on the New Zealand mountain website.  
To start of we cleared a space and put rocks in a circle around it. After we had done that we
collected collected lots man's beard, gorse, kindling and lots of bits of dry wood and sticks.  
To make our pyramid shaped fire we put the man's beard on the space where we had cleared
then put kindling on top. After we had done that we put some bigger bits of wood on.

Who needs a barbecue 

We had to come up with a two course meal (main and dessert).
My group made cheese and beef burgers and for dessert we made smores.
We had to keep to a budget to five dollars per person. My group only had $15 to spend.
Each person brought utensils, equipment and food from home.

To start the fire we set the man's beard alight.  After it was set alight we prepared out food.
When the fire had turned to embers and there were a few small flames we put on the hot plate
that I had bought from home.

Best Burgers 

First we put oil on our patties and cooked them. When they were almost cooked Lily char
grilled our burger buns. When the buns had finished we made an assembly line to build
our burgers. The burgers had cheese, two patties and beetroot. I think they tasted the best.

After everyone had finished their burgers we took the hot plate off and roasted our
marshmallows on the embers. This worked well because they didn't catch on fire and didn't
burn. When we thought our marshmallows were cooked we put it in between two chocolate
biscuits. These were yum but I liked the burgers better.

                                                                                                     

After we had packed up we put out the fire by putting on lots of water from Watson creek

then covering it with sand. When everyone's fire was out we gathered for a photo of
everyone. This was a very fun day.