Always bring your co-driver, your chainsaw, and a Plan B. Because as Kristen Fellers explains, not all adventures go as they should!

After spending months planning a weekend getaway for the (not so) Official Cashmere 4WD Club and after countless emails of organization and coordination, our best efforts for an August getaway were foiled by snow. Way too much snow! 

Yes, it was winter, so perhaps we could have seen this coming. But it’s New Zealand, so there also could have been any of the other three seasons of weather in August, including the perfect sunny weekend we had all been hoping for. 

So, as most Cantabrians, including some of our 4WD crew (traitors!) gleefully headed west for some skiing, the committed members of the club headed south to Geraldine for the weekend. 

Saturday’s plan was a drive up the Rangitata River and branch off to the Havelock River with the ultimate destination being Growler Hut. Sunday’s plan was a loop around the Te Moana Scenic Reserve just west of Geraldine.

On Saturday a massive convoy of two trucks set off past the Peel Forest towards the Rangitata River. A gloomy and snowy day enveloped us as we entered the Rangitata Valley. The drive begins with 55km of dirt road, which eventually passes a station and then weaves down to the river. The weather closed in enough that we couldn’t see the dramatic mountains around us, or even many of the sheep turning their heads as we drove by. 

Rookie mistake

Far, far down the dirt road, perhaps three km from the river, our radio crackled. “Uh, so my fuel light is on,” mumbled the other driver who shall not be named, this time. 

“Ummm... what?” came the reply from our truck. Ever the joker we thought; surely he didn’t make the rookie mistake of not fueling before going out on a drive of unknown length and distance?

“Yeah mate, out of fuel. Not even sure I have enough to get back.”

One down

And just like that our miniscule convoy of two became one. We chose to persevere, airing down on the banks of the rocky Rangitata. The drive was fairly slow going, the rocks of the braided river crunching under the tyres. On another day I do believe the views would have been amazing, however all I can report is a light grey sky, medium grey river, and dark grey rocks, contrasting blandly against the grey of our dirty white truck.  

Somewhere near the convergence of the Havelock into the Rangitata, we came to a moderately sized braid in the river that had to be crossed. The kind you would barrel across without thinking twice... when there is another vehicle. Or when it’s not -1 degrees C and snowing, and when the recovery truck didn’t forget to get fuel. 

And so, after much rock throwing and deliberation, the decision was made to turn around and save this adventure for a sunnier day with a proper group. Plans had not worked out twice now in such a short period of time. Frustrating!

A better day

On Sunday we woke up in charming Geraldine to crisp blue skies, and snowy hills all around us. After a mandatory fuel stop, we set off for the drive around Te Moana. The trip leader feared the drive might not be overly challenging but promised beautiful views and at the least a new experience for the rest of us. 

The drive started off in a shadowy valley of frozen mud and grass and kicked off with one simple water crossing. (A one-truck crossing this time, but of course now we had two trucks again!) The terrain then turned steep, climbing a logging road through a forest that had been truly ravaged by winter. 

As important as fuel and recovery gear, is one’s tree removal equipment. Saw, axe, chainsaw, whatever is best suited for the terrain ahead... don’t leave home without it! The others in the group marveled at the ease at which our trip leader cleared the fallen trees with a chainsaw. 

I would hate to think of the state of us trying to back our way down those steep tracks had we not been able to proceed! With no end to the wind fallen branches, passengers walked as much as they rode, throwing limbs aside as the trucks slowly idled along.

Winter wonderland

The most amazing drive? Until then, not exactly... but then we crested the ridge, drove through a gate, and into the most scenic winter wonderland. We grinned ear to ear at the snow-covered track, white trees looking like a Christmas card, and epic mountains in the distance. 

And then, everything became so scenic that the scenery was literally hanging on our windshields. Blinding scenery! Literally. The fir tree’s boughs were weighed down so heavily with snow that they hung right at windscreen height, making for some very slow going yet again. 

Left, right, a little more right…

Unfortunately for our truck, the weight of the snow and irregular brushing of pine branches disabled the drivers’ side windshield wiper completely. As the co-pilot, I found myself channeling my inner rally-car co-driver, announcing “left, right, a little more right, slow, slower, STOP” for quite some distance! A 4WD team (and marriage) building activity to be sure.

Then, with a random but final brush of limbs, we burst out into the open, taking in the beautiful views that had been promised. Untouched snowy South Canterbury mountains, with just our two trucks enhancing the scenery. And to the east, an unobstructed view of the plains, all the way to the ocean. Not bad. 

We snapped photos, ate oranges, and then carried on, plunging back into the snowy boughs. At one point, we were creeping along a bit of a ridge, heavy limbs swiping the windscreen like the swirly brush things inside a carwash. I continued my co-driving, with mine being the only eyes on the track at some points! 

Slow and steady

Slow and steady, we made our way down the road until the snow thinned out. And such as it was on the way up, we were back onto the steep roads with obstructing limbs everywhere. More cardio for the passengers… but not long and we were done and dusted. It was an amusing drive to be sure, taking twice as long as expected even with the chainsaw and debris removal teams!

So not all adventures go to plan. A big weekend drive turned quickly into a smaller two-drive weekend, and that into just one successful adventure. We have some tracks to return to, and a friend who will be NAMED AND SHAMED if he ever leaves without fuel again. But all of it easily beat sitting on the couch feeling sorry for ourselves, or heaven forbid even worse... skiing.