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Swanson Pipeline & Waitakere Dam Loop

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Stephen
Swanson Pipeline & Waitakere Dam Loop

Details

(Read full description carefully and prepare you answers to RSVP Questions (see below) before you RSVP, thanks :-)) ...

On Saturday we are going to Swanson in east Waitakere Ranges for a loop hike via Filter Track, Waitakere Dam and Tramline, Peripatus Track, and Swanson Pipeline. Highlights include concrete dam built in 1910 which may be overflowing after recent rain, scenic reservoir, 95m high Waitakere Falls, Kelly Stream overhang, a tramline, pipeline tunnels, 2 giant kauri trees, a variety of native forest, and some rugged tramping tracks.

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Duration: about 4½ hours hike (including stops)

Distance: about 10-12km

Speed: medium pace

Difficulty: 3 on our 1-5 scale (average)

  • Includes some rough tramping tracks that are likely to be muddy in places, especially lower end of Peripatus Track. Some clay sections of Swanson Pipeline Track can be slippery if wet.
  • Includes a fair amount of up and down hill climbing with steep sections, especially up Filter Track. Elevation range is about 270m.
  • There are a few shallow stream crossings that normally don't require getting feet wet, but stream levels may be higher than usual.

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Important Notes:

  • This meetup is for fit experienced hikers with suitable footwear for rough and uneven tramping tracks.
  • Hiking boots are recommended (sport shoes may not be good enough).
  • You need to be sure you are fit and experienced enough, and your footwear is suitable enough, to complete whole hike up and down tramping tracks with group at medium pace okay.
  • You are responsible for your own safety & preparation, and keeping up with medium pace of middle of group.

Requirements to attend this meetup:

  • To help simplify things, to attend this meetup you need to:
    -- Be a member of Auckland Hiking Group; do not bring guests.
    -- RSVP Yes on time;
    -- Answer the RSVP questions (see below) when you RSVP, and answer correct code word to RSVP Question 1.
    -- Complete whole hike with group okay at medium pace okay.

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Meeting Places:
(Click bold links to see exact location and satellite view of each meeting place, and italics links for street views.)

Driving Directions:

Transport, Carpooling and Car Shuttle:

  • Carpooling will be arranged for everyone meeting at New World after arriving there (transport permitting; you can read more details here (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/pages/Transport_and_Carpooling)).
  • If you want a ride from New World there's no need to arrange this in advance: just answer the RSVP questions.
  • Christian Road car park is quite small so direct drivers need to carpool from Swanson Train Station.
  • Option to go direct to Christian Road is only offered if your car is already full of passengers (4 or more in car).
  • 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 your own carpooling.
  • Each carpool passenger from New World gives $10 to driver.

Time Guideline: If meeting at New World:

  • 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 WorldIf going direct to Swanson Train Station:
  • 09:35 - Good time to arrive at Swanson Station
  • 09:50 - Latest time to arrive at Swanson Station, start carpool
  • 09:55 - Leave Swanson Station by nowEveryone:
  • 10:05 - All at Christian Road car park, introductions
  • 10:20 - Start hike
  • 15:00 - Approx end hike, can go to Swanson Station Cafe
  • 16:30 - Approx return to New World

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Maps:

Hike Details:

  • Basically, we loop clockwise on red trail via East Tunnel Mouth Track (road section), Filter Track, Scenic Drive, Waitakere Dam Walk, Waitakere Tramline, West Tunnel Mouth Track, Anderson Track, Peripatus Track, and Swanson Pipeline Track. We may also include some yellow trail sidetracks on parts of Opanuku Pipeline Track, Fence Line Track, and East Tunnel Mouth Track (tramping track section). See hike route map (http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/5/0/6/highres_454817670.jpeg) for junction numbers in following details ...
  • (P) Starting from car park at public end of Christian Road, continue beyond gate down road.
  • (1) Continue straight down road past Swanson Pipeline Track on right for short distance, then optionally left short distance on Opanuku Pipeline Track to pipeline tunnel and back, then continue down road.
  • (2) Left up Filter Track.
  • (3) Left on Scenic Drive.
  • (4) Right down Waitakere Dam Walk with short sidetrack on left to large kauri, and short detour on Cascade View Track on right/
  • (5) East side of Waitakere Dam: walk across top of dam.
  • (6) West side of dam: optionally left on Fence Line tRack short distance to earth dam and back, then rough down to base of dam and back up steps.
  • (5) Back at east side of dam: left down steps to Waitakere Tramline Track, past Kelly Stream overhang, through tunnel, past Picnic Flat shelter.
  • (7) Left up West Tunnel Mouth Track.
  • (8) Right on Anderson Track.
  • (9) Right on southeast branch of Anderson Track (Hillary Trail)
  • (10) Scenic Drive: Can go right about 200m to view point on other side of road and back, then down start of Peripatus Track short distance to junction. There may be option to go right down Easter Tunnel Mouth Track and back up. Left to stay on Peripatus Track, mainly downhill, cross Swanson Stream, and up a little.
  • (11) Right on Swanson Pipeline Track, through tunnel and mainly uphill.
  • (1) Back at Christian Road: cross road onto track to large kauri and continue up track beside road back to car park (P).

More Information & Links:

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Bring:

  • lunch and drink + additional snack food
  • footwear suitable for tramping tracks
  • clothing suitable for spring
  • rain protection
  • sun protection
  • copy of hike route map (on paper or mobile device)
  • GPS device (if you have one)
  • plastic bags for wet and dirty footwear & clothing
  • additional clean clothing & footwear to change into after hike
  • first-aid items (at least for cuts and scratches)
  • cash ($10 if carpool passenger + optional extra for refreshments)

Additional Notes:

  • 9:30am is the latest time to arrive at New World and 9:50am is latest time for direct drivers to arrive at Swanson Train Station. We aim to leave New World and start hike exactly on time. We are unlikely to wait for late people. Arriving early is good :-)
  • It is safer and generally more fun to hike together as a group. We aim to do this with stops at track junctions and other points for group to regather. However, there's no guarantee this will happen so prepare well for this hike in case you become separated from group.
  • There are toilets at Swanson Train Station, On Christian Road (between junctions 1 & 2) and Waitakere Dam.
  • We have previously hiked this loop in anticlockwise direction on 4 Aug 2013 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/131867862/). This time we will probably hike clockwise direction.

RSVP Questions:

  • You need to answer the following 3 questions when you RSVP (including correct code word for question 1) to stay on Going list.
    (1) What is the code word to acknowledge that: you have read the full description carefully; you accept you are responsible for your own safety and preparation, and keeping up with medium pace of group; and you are sure you are fit and experienced enough to complete whole hike up and down rough tramping tracks with group at medium pace okay? (Code word is: 'tunnel')
    (2) Where will you first meet us?
    -- (A) Victoria Park New World;
    -- (B) Swanson Train Station;
    -- (C) Christian Road car park (only if your car is full of passengers)?
    (3) What is your transport and carpool status:
    -- (A) driver, will bring transport, can offer rides;
    -- (B) backup driver, will bring car, can drive if needed but prefer to get ride;
    -- (C) passenger, need a ride;
    -- (D) other (please explain)?
  • Notes:
  • You will normally be prompted to enter your answers to these 3 questions when you RSVP Yes.
  • There will just be one box for you to enter all 3 answers. Simply enter code word for question 1 followed by single letter for question 2 and single letter for question 3, separating each answer with a space. After this you can spell out your answers in more detail if you like.
  • If you aren't prompted to answer (there are some cases where this might not happen) then:
    -- change/update your RSVP to get prompt for questions.
    -- if not working for you on app, try to change your RSVP on website.
    -- if still not working, message your answers to Stephen (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/members/7405475/).
    -- email support@meetup.com to report problem that question did not appear for you (include as many details about how you RSVped as you can)
  • If you don't answer the questions as required, your RSVP will probably be changed to No. If this happens to you, you can change your RSVP back to Yes if you answer the questions as required :-)

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Preparation:
It is important to be well prepared. Before we meet:

  • Know how to get to all meeting places (even if you won't be driving, you may need to help navigate) and set up GPS if you have one.
  • Study hike details & maps well enough so you are sure you can complete hike or return on your own if you need to (in case you become separated from group).
  • Prepare everything you need to bring (if you need anything from supermarket then arrive early).
  • If you might be driving, have car fuelled and ready to go.

Weather Forecast Links:

Clean Footwear:
Everyone is asked to bring footwear that this clean of dirt before we meet for at least 2 reasons:

  • To help prevent spread of kauri dieback disease (we will also use any footwear cleaning stations provided);
  • To avoid dirtying someone else's car (take care to put dirty footwear in plastic bags after hike too).

RSVP / Are you Going?
If you are interested to attend:

  • Read the full details of this description carefully first;

  • RSVP Yes online soon; by 7:15pm Friday;

  • Answer the RSVP questions as required when you RSVP;

  • If you decide later not to attend, change your RSVP to No;
    Thanks :-)

  • Stephen (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/members/7405475/)

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