“On a Mish” #344 Must Go Camping (Part One). Lake Coleridge / Boundary Hill. Torlesse Conservation Area. 9.8.2022. The want, need, and must have becomes too strong sometimes and some form of camping is needed to prevent the craziness setting in. There is something special about the wilderness and the feeling it gives me cannot be matched. Because of this every now and then I must go camping, and whatever the weather is doing (to an extent) just becomes part of the mish…
It is safe to say July 2022 was a month of weather extremes. Christchurch had storms that produced more than a month’s worth of rain in less than twenty-four hours. And after the month was done and dusted the Garden City had more than 300mm of rain, a step up from the normal 60mm normally seen in July. The city had to deal with ‘Significant Weather Events’ at least once a week during a very damp July. While the rain was falling down low, snow was blanketing not only the mountains of Canterbury, but also every other elevated part of the Southern Alps.
With the borders now open after the inconvenience of Covid, the snowfall was extremely convenient for all involved, especially the ski fields which are rather useless to skiers when snowless. While the wild weather was exciting to witness, it was safest seen from the comfort / safety of a house or crib, and camping was not recommended.
Yet another icy blast had painted the peaks white and following the snowy weather was a brief period of calm. This was my opportunity to head to the hills, and after gathering my winter camping gear I had the car pointed west at the distant peaks. I was soon surrounded by snow as I entered the mountains at a place called Windwhistle.
My plan was to drive to The Wilberforce Canals and have an easy camp not too far from my car. I really needed the distraction as I had been sleeping very little and living with a lot of discomfort in my hip and back. A night in my tent (my second home) wouldn’t fix the problem, but it would take my mind to a much happier place. I was in a white winter paradise and my grin was similar to that of a kid with an ice cream on a hot day.
I carefully made my way past the Mt Olympus Ski Field sign and seeing that the field was open made me excited about getting to the Wilberforce Canals. Excitement turned to confusion as just past the ‘open’ sign was a ‘Road Closed – Residents Only’ sign. I didn’t want to upset the locals, so I needed another place to put my tent.
Not long after pulling over I saw a car bouncing its way along the icy grit of the road to Lake Lyndon. The car was a rental Rav4 with far less 4wd capabilities than me, so I began to crunch my way along the snow-covered Lake Lyndon Road with the idea that I’d either make it or come across a place where winter would stop both of us dead in our tracks…
