Snoozing Rust (Wellington) Hautere, North Island, New Zealand
By
IBHurls on 09-Mar-11. Waypoint GC2RGD9
Cache Details
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By visiting the external cache listing you are leaving the Geocaching Australia website.
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Please click here to view the caches listing.
If you wish to log this cache, you will need to log it on the external site.
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Logs
Looked at this cache, looked at the last log, decided to come back and try from the YTYY end of the track next year
Well that was an effort and a half! Definitely not for the fainthearted.
I had been talking with the CO, to see if I could help keep this cache active as the maintenance had become too onerous. So I had offered to go out on a maintenance run to check out the current condition, and indeed existence, of the cache.
I knew the weather was supposed to steadily get worse as the day went on, so I set off at 8 this morning in the hope of making it to the cache and back within 3 hours. Ha! well that idea went straight out of the window when I had to create my own way through the bush to get around the huge slip that wiped the path out some time ago. I'd heard of Supplejack before, but now I definitely know a heck of a lot more about it than I really wanted to know.
The biggest problem getting to this cache the direct way is that you have no cellphone coverage, so if you are attempting this solo then it would be wise (very much in hindsight in my case) to make sure people know where you are and what you are doing, or better still take along a buddy or two in case of accidents. Definitely not a cache to bring youngsters along to. Seriously folks, don't be casual about attempting this one unless you are prepared to attempt using the access track available from the FAR end of the YTYY slip bypass track.
But once I had arrived at GZ, it was great to see the old boiler still there, albeit slowly rusting away to oblivion. A thorough search of the area that the CO had indicated to me where the cache was soon came up trumps, although I can see why there have been DNF's recorded.
Suffice to say that I had a selection of tools available to help me free the container, and then do some running maintenance on it.
I signed the log, the first to actually be able to do so in over 4 years, and returned it all better than as found, ready for the next intrepid explorer, before heading back to the car. The whole round trip was about 5 hours! Gets a FP from me simply for the adventure!
I had been talking with the CO, to see if I could help keep this cache active as the maintenance had become too onerous. So I had offered to go out on a maintenance run to check out the current condition, and indeed existence, of the cache.
I knew the weather was supposed to steadily get worse as the day went on, so I set off at 8 this morning in the hope of making it to the cache and back within 3 hours. Ha! well that idea went straight out of the window when I had to create my own way through the bush to get around the huge slip that wiped the path out some time ago. I'd heard of Supplejack before, but now I definitely know a heck of a lot more about it than I really wanted to know.
The biggest problem getting to this cache the direct way is that you have no cellphone coverage, so if you are attempting this solo then it would be wise (very much in hindsight in my case) to make sure people know where you are and what you are doing, or better still take along a buddy or two in case of accidents. Definitely not a cache to bring youngsters along to. Seriously folks, don't be casual about attempting this one unless you are prepared to attempt using the access track available from the FAR end of the YTYY slip bypass track.
But once I had arrived at GZ, it was great to see the old boiler still there, albeit slowly rusting away to oblivion. A thorough search of the area that the CO had indicated to me where the cache was soon came up trumps, although I can see why there have been DNF's recorded.
Suffice to say that I had a selection of tools available to help me free the container, and then do some running maintenance on it.
I signed the log, the first to actually be able to do so in over 4 years, and returned it all better than as found, ready for the next intrepid explorer, before heading back to the car. The whole round trip was about 5 hours! Gets a FP from me simply for the adventure!
A few of us searched high and low but couldn't locate the cache anywhere. After having a look at the photo once I got home, I'm quite sure that the cache is not there anymore
#2204 Being a cache that hadn't been found for just over two years I was pretty keen to get it on the way in to YTYY. It was over 20 years since I was last out this way, however I knew the log hauler well enough having often used it as a natural break for a snack.
My word - the track has changed somewhat. Firstly with the massive slip at Blue Bluff closing the road and adding 5.1 km before even hitting the start of the track there was somewhat of a diversion. I had heard that the target to re-open is later this month. We didn't get a chance to look at the slip on the way in, however had a sneak up the road to view it on the way out the next day. There is a possibility they could open it to pedestrians by the end of the month, however no way for traffic - so much more to move. I doubt it could even be a couple months - however I am no engineer.
Having arrived at the start of the track to YTYY we crossed a couple bridges and passed the first 'wee' slip. Then pressed on to the junction where the new track bypassing the big slip began. I had heard that you don't have to take the bypass as there is a 'mini bypass' over the slip. With that found, we headed up and over.
Alas - it seems the slip has grown and taken a chunk more away from this bypass route. We had to climb even higher once the track was lost to the slip and then over. Eventually we got to a point where it was logical to look for a route down. Spend AGES getting tangled continuously as we head down through thick supplejack. Note to self - always carry secateurs!
Once back on the track it was straightforward to GZ. I spent half an hour finding the cache, however still no log in hand. A very tricky hide indeed. The next person will need to bring pliers, crescent and CRC to open the cache. Photos of cache in hand sent to CO seeking authority to log.
From here it was another couple KM's up Saddle Creek and the other end of the main bypass to YTYY Hut.
Next day there was no way we weren't going to take the new bypass on the way back from YTYY Hut. I don't feel the need to go through that supple jack again! Even the bypass is gnarly, however as you are already on the plateau at that point it just makes sense.
Note - getting to GZ is no longer a trivial matter. Ignoring the main bypass requires some good bush craft and confident experience. If you are a 'townie' trying to prove you can find a cache in the bush, please don't consider this one. Please see my photo showing both ends of the bypass, the big slip and GZ.
This was a challenging cache. With the new barriers as well as the actual cache itself, I'd certainly consider the difficulty now worth an extra half point or so.
Thanks for bringing me back past here CO. It has been a long time
Cache earns a favourite point.
My word - the track has changed somewhat. Firstly with the massive slip at Blue Bluff closing the road and adding 5.1 km before even hitting the start of the track there was somewhat of a diversion. I had heard that the target to re-open is later this month. We didn't get a chance to look at the slip on the way in, however had a sneak up the road to view it on the way out the next day. There is a possibility they could open it to pedestrians by the end of the month, however no way for traffic - so much more to move. I doubt it could even be a couple months - however I am no engineer.
Having arrived at the start of the track to YTYY we crossed a couple bridges and passed the first 'wee' slip. Then pressed on to the junction where the new track bypassing the big slip began. I had heard that you don't have to take the bypass as there is a 'mini bypass' over the slip. With that found, we headed up and over.
Alas - it seems the slip has grown and taken a chunk more away from this bypass route. We had to climb even higher once the track was lost to the slip and then over. Eventually we got to a point where it was logical to look for a route down. Spend AGES getting tangled continuously as we head down through thick supplejack. Note to self - always carry secateurs!
Once back on the track it was straightforward to GZ. I spent half an hour finding the cache, however still no log in hand. A very tricky hide indeed. The next person will need to bring pliers, crescent and CRC to open the cache. Photos of cache in hand sent to CO seeking authority to log.
From here it was another couple KM's up Saddle Creek and the other end of the main bypass to YTYY Hut.
Next day there was no way we weren't going to take the new bypass on the way back from YTYY Hut. I don't feel the need to go through that supple jack again! Even the bypass is gnarly, however as you are already on the plateau at that point it just makes sense.
Note - getting to GZ is no longer a trivial matter. Ignoring the main bypass requires some good bush craft and confident experience. If you are a 'townie' trying to prove you can find a cache in the bush, please don't consider this one. Please see my photo showing both ends of the bypass, the big slip and GZ.
This was a challenging cache. With the new barriers as well as the actual cache itself, I'd certainly consider the difficulty now worth an extra half point or so.
Thanks for bringing me back past here CO. It has been a long time
Cache earns a favourite point.Absolutely loved this place. Hard to find the track there if you don't know where to look. Slip was pretty awesome. You walk out of the Bush and it's right there in front of you. Must have easily spent an hour here just taking photos or trying to find the cache. The skies opened up about 5pm, torrential rain and thunder. Loved it! Got totally saturated heading back to the car but totally worth it. No luck with the cache, but looking forward to going back. Watched the slip getting bigger with the downpour so hopefully not too much of the hill vanishes. Much caution needed walking over the top of the slip and down the far side as no idea how much of the hill is missing underneath it. Have to mark this as a favourite as the location is perfect!! I will be back!
Went for a Saturday walk with Yeetrees to find the three caches along this track. Perfect weather although the track was rather muddy and places and in others there was a river of water running down the track after all the recent rain. There were a couple of major slips along the track, one of them spectacularly large with quite a big diversion to get around it. But all in all a very pleasant walk following the old bush railway. I have been eyeing the caches along here since they were first published and it was good to at last have the opportunity to score them. Having read the logs and noted the number of failures to find the cache, I checked very carefully for clues and put a couple of tools in my pack that might help me. Two sets of eyes helped greatly and after about a 5-minute search the cunningly concealed cache was spotted. I was able to use both the tools I had brought which made accessing the log very easy. Signed log, thanks for a very enjoyable cache and for giving me the excuse to come to this interesting spot. Definitely worth a favourite point!
Wow what a beautiful walk to get to this old piece of machinery.
Searched for maybe 15 mins to no avail.What I thought was hint turned out to not be.Was about to give up when put my hand on cache by mistake,after checking what I thought was hint one last time.Im glad I did as otherwise I would have had to have come back,which in a sense wouldnt be a bad thing.
A couple of big slips along the way and also shared my apple with a Morepork on the way back...Surreal to say the least,then topped it off with a swim in the river to soak my sore body.
Thanks heaps for this wonderful cache.This is why I love caching.
Searched for maybe 15 mins to no avail.What I thought was hint turned out to not be.Was about to give up when put my hand on cache by mistake,after checking what I thought was hint one last time.Im glad I did as otherwise I would have had to have come back,which in a sense wouldnt be a bad thing.
A couple of big slips along the way and also shared my apple with a Morepork on the way back...Surreal to say the least,then topped it off with a swim in the river to soak my sore body.
Thanks heaps for this wonderful cache.This is why I love caching.
Found this acidently while having a rest on the way back to Otaki Forks from YTYY. Very nice hiding spot and nice location.
Found it with Kaikawaka...
Just reviewing my photos on this rainy easter weekend and realised I'd forgotten to log the cache.
Very cunning indeed. Strong fingers were needed, but we replaced it much less vigorously!
Just reviewing my photos on this rainy easter weekend and realised I'd forgotten to log the cache.
Very cunning indeed. Strong fingers were needed, but we replaced it much less vigorously!
Found it with the help of a photo the owner sent me after my DNF in 2011. The cache was hard to budge, which may have contributed to some of the DNFs - even knowing exactly where to look I started doubting that I had the cache in my hand. Was wondering if any of us had a suitable tool, when someone else in our party managed to get it loose. Take care when replacing not to make it difficult for the next searcher to remove.
We were on our way to Waitewaewae and then on up to Anderson Memorial Hut - in fact doing the same trip as on my previous visit, but in the opposite direction. We had good weather as far as Maungahuka, but then poor visibility and intermittent drizzle the next day as we continued south over the Tararua Peaks. Still, it was fun as always going through the steep terrain before and after the ladder!
With regard to the hint photo, personally I'd say that I can just make out part of the cache, rather than clearly see it - and not the most important part, at that. If using this photo, don't read more into it than is claimed: all that's stated is that the cache is visibile in it. Search with that in mind, and good luck!
We were on our way to Waitewaewae and then on up to Anderson Memorial Hut - in fact doing the same trip as on my previous visit, but in the opposite direction. We had good weather as far as Maungahuka, but then poor visibility and intermittent drizzle the next day as we continued south over the Tararua Peaks. Still, it was fun as always going through the steep terrain before and after the ladder!
With regard to the hint photo, personally I'd say that I can just make out part of the cache, rather than clearly see it - and not the most important part, at that. If using this photo, don't read more into it than is claimed: all that's stated is that the cache is visibile in it. Search with that in mind, and good luck!
Searched every nook and cranny along with six others in the party. Found two places it may have been, but the device that might have been used isn't in place. Perhaps we were just not thorough enough though?
On the Waitewaewae track today with a group of 16 Thursday trampers from the Manawatu Tramping and Skiing Club. Several of the group helped me in the hunt and we spent 15 minutes looking together, but without success. Yet another DNF recorded for this one. Otherwise it was a good day out in the bush, although part of the slip diversion track is getting quite dodgy - loose dirt and only grass to hang on to!
No joy today, despite having 11 keen Scouts from Raumati willing to have a look. Walked up here and stopped for lunch before heading back down for a swim (I can confirm the river was cold!) and dinner and camp. I'll be back to find this another time, with some help from the related web page.
We had lunch here when out with the Wednesday group of the Manawatu Tramping and Skiing Club but in spite of several of us looking hard we could not find it. It will have to wait for another trip over that rather steep slip diversion.
On the way to YTYY hut, arrived here at lunchtime. Had a good look for the cache with no luck so decided to refuel with lunch. Then had a bit of a think and tried to apply some logic, then back for a second look and quickly found this cunning little hide. Well done, great spot. TFTC
Thanks for bringing us here, it was great to be informed about the regions past and still be able to see some great relics of the era. The cache was found after quite an extensive search and it may be worth the cache owner providing more information about the hide - we would have been very disappointed to have made all the effort to come and find this one and return with a DNF. TFTC
Certainly a very enjoyable walk up to this cache, but did start to get concerned when we couldn't find it after a bit of a search. However, a sudden brain explosion from Emvy_Us, and some quick fingers from Waiiti20 and we had the cache in hand. Probably would call this a nano, and while the co-ords took us to some other metal the cache was in the logical place. Gets a favourite from us - the walk up here was well worth the effort. TFTC
found on way to Waitewaewae hut. Knocked down the find time to under 5 minutes, though had looked up clue prior to leaving. Loved the hiding place and stopped for lunch at same spot on way back to Otaki forks the next day with very sore legs! TFTC, I really enjoy these sorts of caches
Looked for this on the way out from Waitewaewae Hut, on day three of our Labour weekend trip over the Tararua Peaks. Probably spent 25-30 minutes looking, but no success. I might have looked for longer, but two of our party of four had already gone on ahead, and I didn't want to keep them waiting. May come in for another look someday.
Micro in the woods, unfortunately couldnt find this one. Searched for more than 30 min before i gave up. Really interesting old structure. Will come back. Sherlock Hood.
# 467 T4TC A delightful cache. It took me 18 mins to find it. I enjoy these relics in the bush.
*FTF* very happy to find it - was a tough search and I nearly gave up. Walk in was 1 and a half hours as listed. Very wet, muddy track after all the rain in the last couple of days. WOW huge slip and slippery diversion up the hillside. Good boiler and log hauler. I over thought the hide a bit and really made it a tough find. However after about 40 minutes I finally found it. I think some will find it quickly though as I missed it where I checked shortly after arriving. Nicely hidden. SL TFTC
