Wikiloc | Skippers Canyon - Skippers Township [05/04/2017] Trail

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Distance: 2.96 mi
Elevation gain: 597 ft
Technical difficulty: Easy
Elevation loss: 597 ft
Max elevation: 1,975 ft
TrailRank: 60
Min elevation: 1,440 ft
Trail type: Loop

Time: one hour 38 minutes
Coordinates: 450
Uploaded: April 12, 2017
Recorded: April 2017

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near Skippers, Otago (New Zealand)

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Ruta des de l'Skippers Bridge fins a l'Skippers Canyon, passant per les Bridal Veil Falls, i reculant altre cop fins l'Skippers Bridge per arribar a l'Skippers Township, entrant a la Mount Aurum Recreation Reserve, i tornant després pel mateix camí.
La ruta comença en una barraca (probablement del DOC, Department of Conservation) situada just després de l'Skippers Bridge. El pont, que permet el pas d'un sol vehicle a la vegada, creua d'una banda a l'altra l'Skippers Canyon, i és espectacular. Des del mateix pont s'observa el congost i el Shotover River i, a la llunyania, el Mount Selwyn que sobresurt entre la resta de muntanyes. Molt poc després, seguint la pista per vehicles, s'observa un salt d'aigua a l'esquerra; es tracta de les Bridal Veil Falls, tal com indica un rètol mig esborrat. Seguint el camí, cal estar atents al desviament que es troba a la dreta, també pista, i que baixa cap al riu. Prenent aquest desviament de seguida es troba una barraca per guardar-hi llanxes o motos d'aigua, i que es troba just al costat del Shotover River, riu on es practica precisament aquest tipus d'esport d'aventura. En aquest punt, des de baix, també s'obté una perspectiva totalment diferent de l'Skippers Canyon. Seguint un tram més per la riba del riu, i lluitant ferotgement contra les "sandflies" (un tipus de mosquit terriblement empipador que viu a diverses zones de Nova Zelanda), s'arriba a un indret conegut per aparèixer a la pel·lícula del Senyor dels Anells; concretament es tracta del Gual de Bruinen (Ford of Bruinen), lloc on en Frodo aconsegueix desfer-se dels Espectres de l'Anell cavalcant en el cavall de l'Arwen. Després d'observar com l'aigua es filtra des de la paret fins al riu, i de tapar-se qualsevol racó de pell per intentar evitar que les "sandflies" gaudeixin pessigant, es fa mitja volta per recular i desfer el mateix camí fins al punt de sortida.
Ara, des de l'Skippers Bridge, s'emprèn la direcció contrària cap a l'Skippers Township. El primer que es veu és un cartell que indica l'entrada a la Mount Aurum Recreation Reserve, fent referència al Mount Aurum, que es troba al nord-oest. Encara abans d'enfilar el camí de pujada, i des de darrere de la barraca, s'observa el paisatge muntanyós seguint el curs del Shotover River. Una mica més amunt, la fotografia és encara més bonica, copsant a la vegada l'Skippers Canyon, l'Skippers Bridge i el Mount Selwyn. Sortint del bosc, es troba un punt d'informació cobert, amb diversos cartells informatius sobre rutes, història i geologia, així com una àncora que va formar part de la primera draga (eina per excavar terrenys subaquàtics) que funcionava elèctricament, i que s'utilitzava en el procés d'obtenir or de la grava. Continuant pel camí, i seguint les indicacions en direcció a l'antiga escola, s'arriba al punt més alt de la ruta, des d'on es pot arribar a observar el Bowen Peak de fons. Just després, ja es pot albirar l'Skippers Township, encerclat amb una tanca blanca. En arribar, un cartell indica que s'ha arribat a l'Àrea recreativa de l'Skippers Township, i mostra un conjunt de símbols que representen tots els serveis de què es disposa (lavabos, aparcament, acampada, etc.). Entrant a dins, es pot fer un cop d'ull a l'antiga escola (Skippers School), que està molt ben restaurada, tant per fora com per dins. L'interior es troba perfectament ambientat a l'època, amb pupitres, quadres i instruments típics d'aquell temps. També es pot visitar la Mount Aurum Station Homestead, que també està molt ben restaurada i que havia servit de casa als antics miners. Finalment, després de gaudir de les vistes de muntanyes, valls i boscos que s'obtenen des del punt elevat on es troba l'Skippers Township, i lluitant encara contra alguna "sandfly" que s'ha atrevit a pujar fins al poble, es desfà el camí per tornar de nou al punt de sortida.
Es tracta d'una ruta senzilla, que segueix en tot moment pista per vehicles (a excepció del tram que ressegueix la riba del Shotover River), i que no té cap mena de pèrdua. Els cartells informatius expliquen sobradament la història humana, natural i geològica de la zona, i compta amb edificis històrics molt ben restaurats. Només hi ha dos perills a tenir en compte, i que no són menors. En primer lloc, la carretera per arribar a l'Skippers Point és considerada com a molt perillosa (discorre al costat de profunds precipicis), i algunes companyies de cotxes de lloguer prohibeixen conduir fins aquí per aquesta perillositat. La carretera és molt llarga, de grava, i molt estreta, de manera que hi ha pocs punts on puguin passar dos cotxes, i trobar-se'n un de cara pot ser complicat (un dels dos haurà de recular fins a un d'aquests punts on es permeti el pas dels dos vehicles). A part d'això, l'estat de la carretera no és el millor, i cal un vehicle prou alt i adaptat per poder-hi arribar (algunes companyies ofereixen viatges fins aquest punt). En aquest cas, es va trobar un tot terreny de cara en un d'aquests punts conflictius que va haver d'enfilar-se literalment a la paret per tal de poder continuar. El segon perill, tal com ja s'ha comentat, són les "sandflies". Depenent de l'època de l'any, poden arribar a ser realment empipadores, i les pessigades duren setmanes. De totes maneres, si es té l'oportunitat d'arribar en aquest punt, el que gairebé s'assegura és la tranquil·litat, envoltada sempre d'un paisatge esplèndid.

Route from Skippers Bridge to Skippers Canyon, through Bridal Veil Falls, and then back down to Skippers Bridge to reach the Skippers Township, entering the Mount Aurum Recreation Reserve, and then return to the same way
The route starts at a hut (probably from the DOC, Department of Conservation) located just after the Skippers Bridge. The bridge, which allows the passage of one vehicle at a time, crosses the Skippers Canyon from one side to the other, and it is spectacular. From the bridge you can see the gorge and the Shotover River and, in the distance, Mount Selwyn that stands out from the rest of the mountains. Very shortly after, following the track for vehicles, you can see a waterfall on the left; These are the Bridal Veil Falls, as indicated by an erased label. Following the path, we must pay attention to the detour which is to the right, also track, and that goes down to the river. Taking this detour immediately there is a hut to keep boats or water scooters, and it is located just next to the Shotover River, where this type of adventure sports is practiced. At this point, from below, you also get a totally different perspective from the Skippers Canyon. Following a further stretch along the banks of the river, and fiercely fighting against the "sandflies" (a terribly annoying type of mosquito that lives in several areas of New Zealand), we get to a place known to appear in the movie of the Lord of the Rings; Specifically, it is the Bruin Gual (Ford of Bruinen), a place where Frodo manages to get rid of the Ring Spectrum riding on the Arwen horse. After observing how the water filters from the wall to the river, and to cover any corner of the skin to try to prevent sandflies from enjoying them, it is done half way up and down the same path until to the starting point.
Now, from Skippers Bridge, the opposite direction is reached towards the Skippers Township. The first thing you see is a sign that indicates the entrance to the Mount Aurum Recreation Reserve, referring to Mount Aurum, which is to the northwest. Even before climbing up the path, and from behind the hut, you can see the mountainous landscape following the course of the Shotover River. A little higher, the photography is even more beautiful, overlooking Skippers Canyon, Skippers Bridge and Mount Selwyn. Leaving the forest, there is an information point covered, with various information on routes, history and geology, as well as an anchor that was part of the first dredge (a tool to excavate underwater lands) that worked electrically, and that is 'used in the process of obtaining gold from the gravel. Continuing along the way, following the indications in the direction of the old school, you reach the highest point of the route, from which you can see the Bowen Peak background. Just then, you can already see the Skippers Township, encircled by a white fence. Upon arrival, a sign indicates that it has reached the Skippers Township Recreational Area, and shows a set of symbols that represent all the services available (toilets, parking, camping, etc.). Entering inside, you can take a look at the old school (Skippers School), which is very well restored, both on and off. The interior is perfectly acclimated at the time, with desks, paintings and typical instruments of that time. You can also visit the Mount Aurum Station Homestead, which is also very well restored and had served as home to the ancient miners. Finally, after enjoying the views of mountains, valleys and forests that are obtained from the high point where the Skippers Township is located, and still fighting against some "sandfly" that has dared to climb to the village, is undo the way to return to the starting point again.
It is a simple route, which is always tracked by vehicles (with the exception of the section that runs along the banks of the Shotover River), which has no loss whatsoever. The information boards largely explain the human, natural and geological history of the area, and has very well restored historical buildings. There are only two dangers to take into account, and that they are not minors. First of all, the road to reach Skippers Point is considered to be very dangerous (it runs alongside deep precipices), and some rental car companies forbade driving here by this danger. The road is very long, gravel, and very narrow, so there are few points where two cars can pass, and finding one's face can be complicated (one of the two will have to go back to one of them) These points allow the passage of the two vehicles). Apart from that, the state of the road is not the best, and a vehicle is sufficiently high and adapted to be able to reach it (some companies offer trips to this point). In this case, there was an all-terrain facing in one of those conflicting points that had to literally climb to the wall in order to continue. The second danger, as already mentioned, is the "sandflies". Depending on the time of the year, they can become really annoying, and the pains last for weeks. Anyway, if you have the opportunity to arrive at this point, what almost assures is the tranquility, always surrounded by a splendid landscape.