Shanks's pony has rewards

Members of a walking trail erect a flag on Mt Moko at the 2012 Otago Goldfields Cavalcade. Photo from ODT files.
Members of a walking trail erect a flag on Mt Moko at the 2012 Otago Goldfields Cavalcade. Photo from ODT files.
While the Otago Goldfields Cavalcade may conjure images of horses and wagons, those who journey on foot are often out of the limelight.

The 25th annual event will end with a parade at the Omakau Racecourse on March 4.

The nine trails will start anywhere from a week beforehand, on foot, in wagons and on horses.

Chatto Creek man Matt Sole has walked 10 cavalcades and has been a trail boss for three.

This year his 17-person trail will begin at the Canterbury end of the Lindis Pass.

Walking could lead you to some beautiful places, he said.

''We've seen such a variety of landscapes over the years.''

Through his previous employment at the Department of Conservation and current job as an archaeologist, he knew of some special remote areas.

The more memorable moments were often during adverse weather, he said.

''One year we were at the Serpentine Hut on the West Coast, which history says used to be a chapel. We like to put in a lot of local history, and we were trying to re-create a historical scene, but a blizzard was just howling outside.''

It was also tradition to raise New Zealand flags after summiting high points.

The walks could be long, but as the fitness of participants varied, they tried to not do anything too difficult.

However, some tracks could take their toll on a walker's feet.

''One of the worst years was when we were walking along the Clutha Gold Trail, and it was extremely hot. The track was hard and we'd walked about 30km. They were some of the worst blisters I'd ever seen.''

Cavalcade co-ordinator Terry Davis said about 500 people would be involved this year.

The horses and wagons received a lot of attention, but the walkers deserved their own recognition, he said.

There would be special presentations for the 25th anniversary.

''There's a lot of excitement brewing. A quarter of a century is a long time for an event to maintain its momentum.''

There were spaces left in walking groups, but it was ''very limited'' for horse and wagon groups.

jono.edwards@odt.co.nz

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