Cu on the Saddle (Nelson/Marlborough) Bishopdale, South Island, New Zealand
By navfam and Burlis on 28-Dec-09. Waypoint GC22E4V

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Please see below logs.
Cheers
NZH

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Was meant to put this forward last Easter for achiving.
Same as last time, I whip round here a bit on the mountain bike and this is definitely not in the slot under the ledge at the top (see my last log). Replace it Nav Fam or free up the realestate. I’ve got a good idea for one up here…

Would love to say I found it...but I didn't. It was blowing a squillion miles an hour but it worked in my favour as it kept me prostrate on the top of the rock looking into every nook and cranny. There is one really good crack / ledge on the top perfect for a cache and I can't help wondering if when it got blowen out and found (see previous log) that it was put else where...I had two thorough searches at the top. A thorough search on the side you climb, then even popped round the other side...no dice. I did find 3 pieces of glass (what was the cache container?) And that was all. When you spend some time there, there's not actually heaps of places to hide something so I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it's gone-burger...would love to be proved wrong. But its definately not as per the hint. Anyway, nice ride, met some nice fella on a cool e-bike with 4.5" tyres(!) called Alistar in the dark at the start of the Dun this morning then again up here.
No e-bike for me but melted off some more lard so all good.
Check out the photos for a good look at the rock.

After a long uphill cycle we arrived at the saddle and even it was windy it wasn’t as chilly as expected. Went to get the cache which was a tricky, challenging task in those chunky stiff bike shoes but managed to find it. Took photo log hence I had no pencil on me
Thanks for the cache

I always enjoy the moon scape in this mineral belt, and I enjoy the ride up through the beech forest.

I haven't managed to get up here for several years, and today's ride was a real treat.
I found 11 caches on the way up, with only 1 DNF. All were a good excuse to get off the bike for a rest.

Then I failed with this one. Climbed the rock, found nothing, climbeddown to re-read the description and a few logs, climbed the rock again, still no luck.

A good reason to come back soon. Got a great photo though.

No luck

A few days in the hills. The plan was to start at Brook St and head into Rocks Hut via Coppermine & Dun Saddles. Spend the night at Rocks Hut and out via Totara Saddle, Browning Hut to the Hackett carpark - caching enroute.

The weather was great with frost in the shaded area's staying all day.

This was No:5 for today. Climbed the rock, looked about, found cache and signed log. All good here apart from the cold wind.

TFTC navfam and Burlis

Out on MTB ride round the Coppermine with Lustylass and picking up a few caches on the way. No sign of this one where it should have been but LL found it on the ground so it probably blew off in the fierce winds this place gets. Replaced it under a secure ledge.

Riding the Coppermine circuit on a lovely Nelson summer day with Bovverboy and decided to check out a few caches on the way. Couldn't find this one originally but chanced upon it on the ground so signed log and replaced up high.

Hired an off toad bike from Nelson. Stated the trail at 1000, up to top by noon. Brilliant sunny day. Easy find st GZ. Thankfullly!!

I got here as the cloud was coming in quickly, found the cache quickly, had a quick drink and snack before carrying on. Very aware of the deteriorating conditions and the distance i still had to go to Rocks Hut.TFTC navfam and Burlis

#7089

2748 Rest stop on a walk out after spending a night at the Rocks Hut. It was a bit windy at GZ so did not dally too long. Cache all good. It was found and signed quickly. Thank you for the placement.

Sunday dawned fine, so a plan was hatched with Jojo to go for a mountain bike ride in Nelson. So we threw our bikes on, not really sure what was going to await us over there, both being a little unfamiliar with where we were going. What transpired was a bit of a mixed day, but one that has left us feeling a sense of accomplishment. No success on the first three attempted finds. Then a gradual climb for the next few hours up to the top of the Dun Mountain walkway, caching all the way and getting all but a couple. At the top we realised the day was getting away from us a bit, so it was downhill the stepper, harder way - back to Maitai Dam, and then after reaching that at about 6 pm it was a ride back to the car on Brook St (which seemed to take an eternity) and a well earned beer before heading home. All up a great day - some cool caches, wonderful views and the weather was fine, if not a little windy, and we slept well that night. Thanks to all the COs for the caches.

Great spot this one. Was not expecting the clamber up, but in between gusts it was safe enough. And the hidey hole was perfect for the cache (although it's not really a hole....) . TFTC and a fave point for a cool spot.

Well, what a marvellous place to be! Have been to Fiery Col down in Otago - now have been to the ultramafic belt up in Nelson too. Mr D did the scrambling honours and passed the logbook down to be signed.

Unfortunately this was where we stopped because the Matai valley was closed - apparently the earthquake and rain brought down a slip over the pipeline track and a tree on the bridge, so the Dun Mountain track was no exit at the time we visited Nelson. A cunning ploy by Tourism Nelson, because that downhill is so tempting.. we will be back to do it! Plus, the 2002 Dammit cache at Matai Dam we wanted to get also unreachable - dammit!

Now for the fun part, back down the track running under gravity like the ore carts back in the 1860s!

Well that was some bike ride up - now 4 the down till TFTC

Only just remembered to log this one. tricky spot to get to,care required

Mountain bikes up today. Havnt been caching since GPS broke. So stoked to get reception and used phone to grab the cache. Many thanks

Out enjoying a walk to Dun Mountain with Marchwood today. This one has been here for ages so it was about time I got up to find it. We had been hoping to bike but instead settled for a walk starting from Maitai. Great place for a cache.
Thanks navfam and Burlis for the cache.

#9746

Wicked cache. Now for the downhill

after coming up from the Dam to Dew lakes and across the top ridges what was one more wee rock to climb, I wish I had a bike for the downhill to the Brook as it was quite a long walk, great cache though worth a favorite

Nice easy find in a superb spot. Love the copper mine ride.

Great views from the cache site. Now onto the easier track as we head for the Brook. TFTC

This entry was edited by trampingkiwi on Monday, 27 October 2014 at 18:54:27 UTC.

After numerous trips up to Third house it was time to complete the trail and bag a few caches on the way.

I enjoyed the scramble, but we were really here to excite ourselves on the great downhill into the Maitai.

TFTC

Very nice place to put a cache. thanks for making me climb this large rock! TFTC

Quick find on MTB ride along with Q,Moto, while completing Copper Mine Trial. TFTC

TFTC

A superb ride up the hill and now for an even better descent. Don't know if it is by chance or design, but we really appreciated having lots of caches on the uphill leg and none on the descent till right down in the valley.

Very cool find been passed here a few times but never had a gps. Down hill from here

As far as we got today (had entertained wild thoughts of looking at Mt Dun!). Great walk, fascinating rocks and a neat hide too. Thanks.

Great cache, such amazing views. Thanks.
Dropped of the Polar bear trackable here.

Can't quite believe it but I went back to this cache to retrieve Weka kid Trackable cos I thought it would never move on , and then I discover someone was up the day after I removed it, and dropped another one off!!!! Anyway, had another great trip up here but a real scorcher of a day.. Will drop the trackable off somewhere more accessable....tftc!

Found on an amazing heli-bike on sunday. Dropped the weka-kid in what I now realise is probably the MOST inaccessible place I can think of. Oh well. Some awesome MTBer will find it one day... TFTC

Finally made it to the top. All downhill from here. Fab view. Nice hide on a perfect day.
TFTC

Excellent location, and much appreciated break while cycling the crossing. Tftc

great spot, were due a breather when we got there.[^]

Found after a long walk pushing the bike from the dam

My first visit to Coppermine Saddle, MTB up via Third House with epicdom. We left the MTBs at Coads Creek for the ascent on Wooded Peak, and by the time I got to Coppermine I was about beat. Took a few minutes of regathering mental strength before committing to the ride down to the Maitai, but totally worth it in the end. Dragging myself back to Atawhai at the end of the day was the most tired I have been in a long time! Great day out, TFTCs for navfam and bumandworker. Also thanks to epicdom for helping me on this trip

Awesome spot for a cache! Great day out with integersmirk who made me ride up there the second time within in a week
Well worth the effort!
TFTC

Took about 2.5 hours to get here from the Maitai dam. There's certainly been a lot of work done on the track up to here since I last was on it a couple of years ago. Seems much more civilised now. Cache in great condition. Awesome views but a bit windy up here today. TFTC, Biggles.

Its all downhill now.

Quick find, TNLN. Loved this spot. Walking a 24km circuit via Matai Cave track and Third House, now for the easy bit down the walkway.

Awesome Day Out

Found on our way to Rocks Hut for the night, awesome weather!! TFTC

This turned out to be one of the neatest places I have eaten a Corned-Beef Sandwich for quite a while. Well worth it. TFTC.

quick find on a cold frosty morning. tftc

A bike 'n push excursion up from the Maitai Dam end for me. An excellant cache placement! Well done! Went back the same way-enjoyed the ride back down too!

A great day up here, sunny with no wind, thanks for the motivation to do the ride

Flora found this one on a tramp with Jackie from jackieandgrant, very windy and were nearly blown off the saddle.

Found with Flora of "nickgastrell". Part of an overnight from Maitai/Rocks Hut/Brook. Howling wind on top today.
TFTC,
Jackie.

what a grate ride i had up there today, and i found the cach as well.

I am very glad it wasn't blowing a gale up here today. Funnily enough I have an exact same cache container fitted out and ready to go (great product) but lately there have been so many comments about ordinary placements that it has put me off putting any more out. I need to clarify that mine are the ordinary not this one or any other of your clever ideas. tFTC #1237

Unfortunatly I somehow managed to screw this one up. Firstly I didn't read the cache pages very well, secondly I somehow managed not to upload the waypoint into my GPS and thirdly I couldn't remember what the clue was when I did read it.

Not to be deterred I arrived at the Saddle and searched all obvious features in a 30m radius of the sign - there are a lot of rocks that have been 'placed' which made me get excited thinking I'd found it only to be dissappointed again and again. Surely it couldn't be..... no way..... worth a look, whaddaya know. Soon the cache was in hand. I was surprised to find it up there - most geocachers would have just tossed it under a rock next to the track but this had an element of extra challenge - I like that and will be looking out for more of your caches.

Cheers!

great spot for a cache . thanks

Bike ride up from the brook and down to Maitai - training for the race over here on the 20 Feb. Great spot. Took a coin from the cache. Thanks

went for a cruise on what is now a highway. used to be an enjoyable technical ride up from 3rd house, but now it is easy riding, which means any one can enjoy this cache. A favorite training area for other indevours. But what a wally, get there to fing GPS flat and no usual spare batteries. So sat down to refuel, promising oneself to take spares and some idea of the cache page on the further out ones in future! Pondered away,"I wonder" and ureka! Whew! Now, what is the date, I get home to check, the log is for 20th in the book....oh well, close ! Great cache thanks.

Took 69 year old Mum up to Dun saddle from dam.
Too misty to bother with the top of Dun mountain.
Back via windy point down/third house/brook st.
Cool spot for this cache! Thanks very much.

Yeah cache number 200!!!! I wanted it to be a special one and it was. Great ride up to the cache with good friends. Nice weather and great views. Bumped into BuzzTasman on the saddle so we did it together. Total time start to finish 3 hours 45 mins. Thanks Lyndon & family for a great cache.

[This entry was edited by rarangi on Saturday, January 09, 2010 at 5:33:58 PM.]

First ever visit up here. Chilly wind but stunning spot. Met Rarangi and we approached GZ together. Great place for a cache. And the bike ride down the Dun mountain track is such a buzz!

Yahoo! Our first FTF and what a great spot. Thanks Navfam for placing the cache in such an amazing place. Shared our FTF with GMAC01.

Published

FTF with Kjokers. Great cache! Fantastic view and site. Neat idea.

[This entry was edited by GMac01 on Saturday, January 02, 2010 at 12:45:57 PM.]