MID WINTER FIELD TRIP AND CELEBRATION

• Where: Cass. Just east of Arthurs Pass, staying at University of Canterbury Field Station
• What to take: It will be very cold outside the lodge. Detailed list will be sent by email.
• Please bring a present for Santa to distribute (he expects a suitable reward of course !!! )
• Why do we go: Arthurs pass for ice falls, icicles, coffee, keas. Frozen creeks, lakes (Pearson, Sarah) for sunrises and sunsets. Railway viaducts. Night photography. Great company - great place to stay.

Trip Report

REPORT ON CASS FIELD TRIP - John Stone (One of our new members)

The mid Winter Cass Field trip was held over the weekend of July 9-11. Nineteen NPS members checked in to the University of Canterbury Cass Research Station with high expectations of great Winter photography opportunities and the fun of Christmas in July - They were not disappointed.

While the weather over the weekend was probably a little too “perfect” with clear, sunny, cloudless days, the cold nights (down to minus 8 or 9) set up some interesting scenes for Winter shooting.

Saturday morning was spent train spotting as we headed off road in search of railway tunnels and viaducts. Passengers on the TranzAlpine were undoubtedly more than a little surprised to see our band, with frost-bitten shutter fingers, clustered around the railway crossing as they sped by.

Our endeavours to go further and see more were thwarted by deep mud on the track which turned the trip into something that resembled a stage of the World Rally Championship. Even the Nissan X-Trails eventually turned back and we headed to the relative ease of a drive up to the rocky outcrops on Flock Hill Station where scenes from the movie “Narnia” were filmed.

Saturday night was Christmas in July, complete with Christmas Dinner, a decorated tree and the dubious delights of perching on Santa’s knee. Sunday saw the convoy head off into Mount White Station where we found some much anticipated frozen creeks, spectacular icicles and views of the braided Waimak River.

Some of the group persevered through the mud and frozen fords to Lake Leticia and were rewarded with amazing mountain reflections in the glassy water. Having to wash the car was the only downside to a weekend that was relaxing, exciting and well organised. Many thanks to our trip leader, Pete Tyree, for putting it all together for us. Brilliant!