Swanson Pipeline & Waitakere Tramline Loop

On Sunday we are going to eastern Waitakere Ranges for a loop hike including Swanson Pipeline, Peripatus, Waitakere Tramline, and Filter tracks, with optional extra sidetracks. Highlights include Waitakere Falls and Dam, Kelly Stream overflow, tramline, tunnels, some large kauri specimens in variety of native forest, discovering new tracks our group hasn't hiked before, and a genuine NZ winter tramping experience on some steep, rough, and muddy tramping tracks :-)

Important Note: This meetup is intended for experienced hikers who are comfortable hiking up and down steep rough and muddy tramping tracks at a moderate pace with the group the whole way and happy to wait for group at junctions, rain or shine :-)

Duration: 3½-5 hours hike including stops.
Distance: 8-15km (basic loop is about 8km + optional extra sidetracks)
Difficulty: 3½ on our 1-5 scale for day hikes. A bit more difficult than average on a variety of walking surfaces, including some tramping tracks that are likely to be rough and muddy in places at this time of year. Could be more than a bit difficult if raining. Includes some steep up and down hill climbing. Peripatus Track has two quite steep uphill sections gaining more than 200m elevation in total. Filter Track has steep downhill section that may be slippery and quite tricky if wet. East Tunnel Mouth Track (if included) is quite steep down and back up, and can be like a stream if raining. Swanson Stream crossing may require getting feet wet. Western side of loop is relatively easy. Tramline is flat and Waitakere Dam Walk is up sealed road.

Weather Update (Sun 7:30am) ... Metservice forecast for Waitakere (http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/auckland/waitakere) on Sunday is: "Cloudy periods, few showers. Light winds. High 17°C. (sun+cloud symbol)". Metservice rain forecast (http://www.metservice.com/maps-radar/rain-forecast/rain-forecast-3-day) currently shows no rain during hike period, but Metvuw rain forecast (http://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nzni&noofdays=5) is showing some light rainfall. This hike will go ahead regardless of weather.

Preparation:
Each person who attends is encouraged to be well prepared for this trip - well enough to navigate to meeting places and complete hike on your own if you needed to. Before we meet it will help if you:

• Know how to get to Christian Road carpark (study Google map & directions (http://goo.gl/5QstPt), prepare navigation device if you one - even if you won't be driving, you may need to help navigate);
• Have a good understanding of the hike route (http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/6/f/2/highres_266579122.jpeg) (study Maps and Hike Description below);
• Prepare everything you need to bring (see Bring section below);
• Prepare well, both mentally and physically, for rain.

Meeting Places:

• Victoria Park New World is our initial meeting place for carpooling. (If you haven't met us there before, you can read more details here (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/pages/Meeting_at_Victoria_Park_New_World).)
• Christian Road, at start of Opanuku Pipeline Track on left, just before Filter Station, is where we meet for start of hike.
• See Google map directions from New Word to Christian Road (http://goo.gl/5QstPt). Looks like can easily park on side of road at marker B, and this may be near end of publicly accessible road.

Carpooling:

• Carpooling will be arranged for everyone meeting at New World after we arrive there (transport permitting; you can read more details here (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/pages/Transport_and_Carpooling)).
• If you need a ride from New World then no need to arrange this in advance - just answer the RSVP question about this.
• If you can offer rides or want a ride from a different location, you can mention this in Conversation below then contact each other to arrange.
• Best if most drivers meet at New World first. Option to drive straight to start of hike is only offered if New World is significantly out of your way (eg, if driving from west).
• Each carpool passenger from New World is expected to give $10 to driver.

Time Guideline:

• 09:15 - Good time to arrive at New World, meet & greet
• 09:30 - Latest time to arrive at New World, arrange carpooling
• 09:35 - Leave New World
• 10:00 - Arrive at hike start if driving straight there
• 10:15 - All at start of hike by now, introductions
• 10:30 - Start hike
• 15:30 - Approx end hike, optional go to cafe
• 17:00 - Approx return Auckland

Maps:

• Map of hike route (http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/6/f/2/highres_266579122.jpeg) (including stop numbers)
• Online NZ Topo map of hike area (http://www.nztopomaps.com/-36.890948,174.543743,14,Map,100)
• Google map directions from New World to Christian Road (http://goo.gl/5QstPt)

Hike Description & Directions:

• See hike route map (http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/6/f/2/highres_266579122.jpeg) for stop numbers.
• Starting from Christian Road near Filter Station, we loop anticlockwise either side of Scenic Drive, with some optional sidetracks off this loop.
  (P) Walk down Swanson Pipeline Track (on north side of Christian Road), through small tunnel to Peripatus Track junction.(1) Optional: Continue northward on Swanson Pipeline Track beside stream to Tram Valley Road (2) and back.
  (1) Turn left (west) on Peripatus Track, cross Swanson Stream followed by steep ascent, gentle ascent, then very steep ascent up to Scenic Drive.(3) Optional: turn left steeply down East Tunnel Mouth Track to east tunnel mouth (4) then steeply back up to Scenic Drive.
  (3) Cross Scenic Drive (probably after short walk on road northward to right) to southeast fork down Anderson Track.
  (5) Continue straight-left on Anderson Track at fork junction.
  (6) Turn left down short West Tunnel Mouth Track.
  (7) West Tunnel Mouth: turn right along Waitakere Tramline.
  (8) Picnic Flats: Lunch. Continue along Tramline, through tunnel, under Kelly Stream overflow, up steps on left to east side of Waitakere Dam.(9) Optional: walk on top of dam to west side (10) then up and down unnamed track on right, across bridge to base of dam (top of falls), up steps back to east side of dam.
  (9) Turn left up Waitakere Dam Walk (sealed road, can walk short Cascade View Track on left, and look out for sidetrack further up on left to kauri).
  (11) Cross and turn left on Scenic Drive about 400m.
  (12) Turn right down Filter Track.
  (13) Turn right on Christian Road about 300m back to start.(P) Optional: walk gently down Opanuku Pipeline Track to picnic area on other side of bridge across Opanuku Stream (14) and back.

Bring:

• lunch and drink
• clothing suitable for winter
• footwear suitable for rough and muddy tramping tracks
• rain protection
• plastic bags for muddy footwear after hike
• additional footwear and warm clothing to change into after hike
• map of hike area (print or hand draw copy)
• first-aid items
• cash ($10 if carpool passenger + optional extra for refreshments afterwards)

Notes:
(1) We have recently hiked Waitakere Dam Walk to the dam and part of Waitakere Tramline on 7 Jun 2013 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/127317112/). We have previously hiked Waitakere Tramline on 17 May 2009 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/10317278/) and 15 Aug 2010 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/14338028/). This will be the first time we hike east end of Anderson Track and all specified tracks east of Scenic Drive.
(2) 9:30am is the latest time to arrive at New World. We aim to leave New World exactly on time, and are unlikely to wait for late people. Arriving early is good :-)
(3) It is safer and generally more fun to hike together as a group. We aim to do this with stops at all track junctions for group to regather. However there's no guarantee this will happen so prepare for this hike as best you can (study maps, etc) in case you become separated.
(4) We will walk at a moderate pace that is comfortable for average experienced hikers, with stops at places of interest along the way.
(5) We'll probably stop for lunch at Picnic Flats shelter on the Tramline Track.
(6) After the hike we can optionally stop at Swanson Station cafe on way back to city.

RSVP:
If you are interested to attend it will help if you:

• Read the full details of this description carefully;
• RSVP online soon;
• Answer the RSVP questions (below) when you RSVP;
• "Change RSVP" later if you decide not to attend or any of your RSVP answers are no longer accurate;
  Thanks :-)

RSVP Questions:
The following questions appear for you answer after you click "RSVP" button (if you have any problems answering them online (eg, if using phone app) then you can e-mail your answers to Stephen (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/members/7405475/)):
(1) At this stage, how certain/uncertain are you that you will attend? Does this depend on anything (eg, weather)?
(2) Where will you first meet us: (A) Victoria Park New World; (B) Christian Road carpark; (C) prefer B but could meet at New World if needed (what area are you driving from)?
(3) What is your transport situation: (A) have no transport, need a ride; (B) have transport, can offer rides (how many passengers?); (C) have transport but prefer to get ride; (D) other (please specify)?
(4) We are planning to return to city by 5pm but may end up being a bit later. Do you need/prefer to return by a certain time?
(5) Do you have any thoughts or preferences regarding including any of the following optional extras: (A) north Swanson Pipeline return; (B) East Tunnel Mouth return; (C) Waitakere Dam short loop; (D) Opanuku Pipeline return?

Are you interested to attend?