Seven riders and 2 helpers headed off to Winterslow Station last weekend - and all returned! We were Caroline and Anna, Liz L, Liz B, Hannah, Jen, Julie, Ros and Mike.
We had great weather for most of the time - with a little thick fog rolling in on Sunday morning just to make it interesting.
Winterslow is a High Country station found inland from Alford Forest - past the Mt Hutt turnoff heading south. David Wightman has been kind enough to allow us on his land twice now- for which we riders are extremely grateful!
We arrived at the road end at lunchtime on Friday 28th October. All gear is driven into the station by 4 wheel drive and trailer - we are beholden to Ros and Mike for their time and vehicles provided for this.
The ride in to the Cookhouse is about 1hr 30mins -a fairly big climb too!. We arrived at the base, sorted the horses into their paddocks and made for the bunkhouses. The afternoon saw us riding out (up) to the blank panther cage - some of you may remember the TV articles a few years back about the large cat seen in that area? Winterslow was also featured on Country Calender 2 years ago.
The Cookhouse is like a step back in time - its a bunkhouse and kitchen all in one. The old coal range is fabulous and I'm told - cooks great pastry! ( there's a story in that you might want to ask Marsley about). Around the walls are relics and pieces of history - like a museum of Winterslows past. Old pack saddles, huge cooking pots,photo's of old time shepherds. The old "long-drops" are a like step back in time too. Insect repellent is a must!
Saturday morning was beautifully fine. We headed off up a track to see the first hut ever built on the station. It was amazing - isolated and way up in a pass. Riders of old wouldn't have had the luxury of the vehicle tracks we used - the old pack trails wind up and down the mountainsides- in quite precarious places some times. We lunched on a plateau - enjoying a snooze in the sun- the horse dozed as well- too tired to do much more.
"Cowgirls and Indians" was the evening theme - Julie won the dress-up with her rendition of Winterslow Sherriff (an outfit she denies was stolen from her 3 yr old child!).
Sunday started fine- but quickly changed to foggy and cold - we set out for the panther cage area again and by the time we arrived - couldn't see more than 20 to 30 feet in front. Some of the riders followed David off onto an old pack-horse track again - only to disappear from view to those of us up the hill.
The ride out was in clear air again and I admit to being tired by the time we arrived back at the floats.
It was a great weekend- in good company - on magnificent high country land.
Many thanks David for your excellent hospitality - again.
Caroline
See the photo gallery for pictures.
