PLEASE READ OWNER MAINTENANCE NOTE 18 April 2022
Some 30 years ago I was told about an old track up to Lake Rochfort, a landslide formed lake (approximately 320 000m ³).Curiosity got the better of me and I just had to go up and have a look. It used to be the source for hydro electricity generation that supplied Westport and its surrounding area independent from the national grid.
It was until it was forced to shut down and the Coast's electricity supply was integrated into the national grid. When much later voices went up to re-establish the scheme conservationists vandalised the remaining infra structure by opening the valves at the lake, then closing them rapidly. It caused the pipe lines to implode.
Memories from times gone by
Perseverence paid off though and the scheme is back operating and supplying power. It's using mainly water from Xmas Creek and its tributaries using the lake as reservoir before a managed flow down to the turbines and then being fed back into the original stream bed.
The track has been opened up again with only small parts showing how it once was corduroyed. People employed by the power company at the time were allowed 3/4 hour to walk from the powerhouse to the lake. Now parts are not much more than a stoney creek bed, yet other parts can be very muddy or a trail over exposed tree roots.
Exposed roots show the way
You'll find the cache as per the cache name. GPS readings can be flakey due to the terrain so use the hint.
Be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions and take appropriate clothing, water and sustenance.