After morning tea at Gilmore Reserve 19 trampers set off from this starting point to walk around Black Hill.  The track followed the edge of the Ohinemuri River where a number of our group broke off to climb Black Hill while the remaining members completed the full circuit of the hill.  We all met back at Gilmore Reserve where we enjoyed lunch in the hot sun.

After lunch we walked to Morgan Park through the bamboo grove to the waiting vans which took us to the Union Battery and cyanide tanks.

From this reserve we crossed the road and completed a circuit of the crater of the Martha Mine.  Here the weather changed remarkedly to a vicious cold squall with freezing rain and high winds.

We stopped along the rim of the crater to view the enormous slip which had forced the closure of the pit for mining.  We all made our way down to the vans (except for one member who got lost) which were waiting for us at the designated place below the Cornish Pump House.  After an enjoyable day we stopped in Paeroa on the way home for ice creams and arrived back in Hamilton at 3.50pm. Special thanks to our drivers Keith and Dianne, Ron and Alison.

                                                                                                                                                     Roger