THE CARKEEK PICNIC (1997) by Dan Batten Well, the madness started at 4:00am on Saturday the 22nd of February, when Mike picked me up. It was a beautiful morning, just what the doctor ordered and things looked to be getting off to a great start. Still half asleep we drove to the bottom of Mt Pleasant road where Eric joined us, from here it ...

I must add that 15 hours is a sharp time.

Mike and Johnny hold the record I think - 13 hours.  ''Fit'' Colin did quite a sharp time from Otaki to Holdsworth via Carkeek.  The ''Hard'' Carkeek Picnic

I agree with Richie and Jeremy.  You want everyone to come along to the meeting before a trip to find out what is involved, and so the trip organizer can see if they are up for the trip.

It is an excellent trip tubing down from Mid Waiohine.  Make sure you do every rapid.  Talk to Jeremy H about it, I did a trip with him and Dan Batten there in February 1997.

Smiths is off limits to climbers at the moment.  The new owners were nervous about people climbing there and when a bus load of school children turned up at 8am one morning they decided to ban climbing altogether.  Waipapa is the best crag in the district and not on private land and Froggat is still open!

Tarn Hut (on the Puketeraki Range) over looking the Lees Valley is a fine spot to sample some nice Sauvignon Blancs or a Merlot if that is your persuasion.  What better place to have a nice Wither Hills while looking down on some fine withered hills!

The photo is just over 11 years old!  It was looking very nice that day.