tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90704364752614975712024-02-21T13:24:10.455+13:00Tramping the TararuasA fat guy's tales of tramping in the Tararuas... and beyondBradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-39100217430396442592023-08-31T23:57:00.008+12:002023-09-01T18:56:56.861+12:00Tramping in a Winter Wonderland<p style="text-align: right;"><i> Ice, ice, baby<br />-Vanilla Ice</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><b>Overview: </b>a last-minute tramp up to Powell Hut finds an unanticipated winter wonderland on Mount Holdsworth.</i><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GhQW-pcjMGVtU2hol9xLAmo4RK79RpuIKtbBqU43ZQ2_n5GjjeBQZ7yV60fzJfmQvmrGPTlxVNDJVJa594FO25_tez6jmCRF8tr8AaO1sVkMxMcdhapl8mRH5yBvBI0bxnvhiyHzKm-J0Y-sXZE04E6IheseRvar98LkIQyl-uRefxGqHz9RIr4Yo2iA/s4032/20230828_094055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GhQW-pcjMGVtU2hol9xLAmo4RK79RpuIKtbBqU43ZQ2_n5GjjeBQZ7yV60fzJfmQvmrGPTlxVNDJVJa594FO25_tez6jmCRF8tr8AaO1sVkMxMcdhapl8mRH5yBvBI0bxnvhiyHzKm-J0Y-sXZE04E6IheseRvar98LkIQyl-uRefxGqHz9RIr4Yo2iA/w640-h480/20230828_094055.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>I recall in the lead up to my first overnight tramp - Sunrise Hut, aged 10-ish, with the Pahiatua Scout Group - the comment by one of the leaders that it was entirely possible we'd wake up to snow around the hut. We did not, but ever since then a part of me has always wanted that to happen on any winter excursion into the back country. Well, some 18 years later it finally happened.</p><p>Mid-week I'd decided get a tramp in before the end of August. Not wanting to drive too far, but also wanting some altitude in the hopes of finding snow, I settled on Powell Hut Mk. IV.<br />It was a somewhat damp walk up the hill, with a light misty rain hanging heavy in the air. Passing Holdsworth Lodge and crossing the footbridge over the Atiwhakatu Stream, the track to Powell Hut begins with an easy stroll toward Donnelly Flat. After a couple of well sign posted junctions the Gentle Annie track begins meandering it's way uphill. <br />An hour after starting I'd reached Rocky Lookout, though their wasn't much to see this time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7WvbuI5-vDNi8vFF8OByLzEWOH2ubkJemfBm02Tjqed-ngcdmaVb5rNLkG3P926yuYm8t55ysKbu6AsQNaEp5TI_np1Cx5ELeA6qGt0c5HxikwU4_Ktn4pMF-9FIdNWJS_Zkji6HTqaURsqW4IoZyftPf1Cii6L9N0r_t00hoyX4KdE9SKAKa7HRNO3a/s4032/20230827_123357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7WvbuI5-vDNi8vFF8OByLzEWOH2ubkJemfBm02Tjqed-ngcdmaVb5rNLkG3P926yuYm8t55ysKbu6AsQNaEp5TI_np1Cx5ELeA6qGt0c5HxikwU4_Ktn4pMF-9FIdNWJS_Zkji6HTqaURsqW4IoZyftPf1Cii6L9N0r_t00hoyX4KdE9SKAKa7HRNO3a/w640-h480/20230827_123357.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWImG0Pp4fycL-bIulokA-VGG1fKq9ZJsFwu7Wj8Z1pQB_jMvV8FutuQ1V3VJZAB6Xkq96xtz1Wfi9yenVuW2PW5HVzLB1iT2s7tqSaEJ6fLIsTCl5NoPdoyCeMj-JOS7J7FYU4kDGO72lfQw138-sVTku5ulrfqzTmgcyX7z-6jhie8ZZoCAodohYRTP/s4608/20230827_124626.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWImG0Pp4fycL-bIulokA-VGG1fKq9ZJsFwu7Wj8Z1pQB_jMvV8FutuQ1V3VJZAB6Xkq96xtz1Wfi9yenVuW2PW5HVzLB1iT2s7tqSaEJ6fLIsTCl5NoPdoyCeMj-JOS7J7FYU4kDGO72lfQw138-sVTku5ulrfqzTmgcyX7z-6jhie8ZZoCAodohYRTP/w640-h480/20230827_124626.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>A further 50 minutes later, I'd reached Mountain House which provided welcome shelter for a quick break before the final slog up the steepest section of the track to the hut.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLLY86CEj0vjCa6c6z5qsWQhbjDsyyWOlH6wTtCE4IUt9GMJDBIoVgmNMaWazJFAKbGS-uhvJZXHA_3zsr8B78UJx_RCZgCRJFfzn0WKYzrym3m-G9Y8CWjmKwIAcYWHJXsbPHKM8E3NRYDRFqYJ3hkwkNtkui5lEIO5y8CTDyavFK0fNJa-5Syd86G0h/s4032/20230827_133452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLLY86CEj0vjCa6c6z5qsWQhbjDsyyWOlH6wTtCE4IUt9GMJDBIoVgmNMaWazJFAKbGS-uhvJZXHA_3zsr8B78UJx_RCZgCRJFfzn0WKYzrym3m-G9Y8CWjmKwIAcYWHJXsbPHKM8E3NRYDRFqYJ3hkwkNtkui5lEIO5y8CTDyavFK0fNJa-5Syd86G0h/w480-h640/20230827_133452.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjuXg8jb2CfKI9wd8vHjt_-NmOeOxcrzwhPg-slopc9mw7wWo22GmlmhLJyGXzs1yzqBn4pmBVkRL49NtDJkkKXNtjyV9KCkmb68JLZpJr3BZsT8e76OmzacelY7u9v6ne-HP4wyylXX3JuMu-mcHCCq9aypbbIhH78TPu0ugru9iVHSmuFC8beTnwmKi/s4032/20230827_134135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjuXg8jb2CfKI9wd8vHjt_-NmOeOxcrzwhPg-slopc9mw7wWo22GmlmhLJyGXzs1yzqBn4pmBVkRL49NtDJkkKXNtjyV9KCkmb68JLZpJr3BZsT8e76OmzacelY7u9v6ne-HP4wyylXX3JuMu-mcHCCq9aypbbIhH78TPu0ugru9iVHSmuFC8beTnwmKi/w640-h480/20230827_134135.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqsPIpHyED6lurfixW4PbNMD-pzb9EFtuJ3I8aOqJmZlzDHNppO0PpOei8aZDp9S9Fn95YDgwIt4YPYmT65yxyiB2bdL1Or71ngjWj2VLBo9YFtNbJB_xAJXdSyCe4GgymFk4m5hp5xzmIV--gEX4BBRYZoaARprEqFh1YpMK1DONh1JjummGWd9T06b_/s4032/20230827_142410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqsPIpHyED6lurfixW4PbNMD-pzb9EFtuJ3I8aOqJmZlzDHNppO0PpOei8aZDp9S9Fn95YDgwIt4YPYmT65yxyiB2bdL1Or71ngjWj2VLBo9YFtNbJB_xAJXdSyCe4GgymFk4m5hp5xzmIV--gEX4BBRYZoaARprEqFh1YpMK1DONh1JjummGWd9T06b_/w640-h480/20230827_142410.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCk3WqM0wbo4GVRJsMawDSz-1Rct4ppc3PMUDgFanGbLF1IcDgx2l0FwBgATKEVVqJwq3CjF1RGOS7IvlQVnBIjg6FrQckrz_2UVtjpQEvWfQbFd37D3n0GfvXeY-lylZ4w72aBq-XxL7lqImQMK3RUIyoXMBlV53pRigAz4EPSXhtkzD4O6Z8ccCYSwn/s4032/20230827_142944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCk3WqM0wbo4GVRJsMawDSz-1Rct4ppc3PMUDgFanGbLF1IcDgx2l0FwBgATKEVVqJwq3CjF1RGOS7IvlQVnBIjg6FrQckrz_2UVtjpQEvWfQbFd37D3n0GfvXeY-lylZ4w72aBq-XxL7lqImQMK3RUIyoXMBlV53pRigAz4EPSXhtkzD4O6Z8ccCYSwn/w640-h480/20230827_142944.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The thick cloud continued to hide any views above the bushline and an icy breeze whipped through the air. It was a good thing then that I soon arrived at the hut to find the fire already being lit by a trio that had arrived shortly before I did.</p><p>Later that evening, the mist began to turn in to sporadic flurries of snow, becoming more persistent as night set in. Inside, the fire was keeping everyone toasty as we watched the snow coming down through the windows.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDouGtR5mnfEaOJ4OZIwvSjYNaMcHXn-fmpI0apP9onuYt2SRWPzZp2x9CPWv6hb1coCK-h6OUrOUc8evu8sf4CYqen7rB3rbnfRdp2Dhk06F27gsbEn79H4o6rL4oJDIcftz-k8BGa91vXMIGlNXHvjSfsroM3J8ODZivYGl5_WmJS7uVjD-vK89LZIh/s4032/20230827_163114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDouGtR5mnfEaOJ4OZIwvSjYNaMcHXn-fmpI0apP9onuYt2SRWPzZp2x9CPWv6hb1coCK-h6OUrOUc8evu8sf4CYqen7rB3rbnfRdp2Dhk06F27gsbEn79H4o6rL4oJDIcftz-k8BGa91vXMIGlNXHvjSfsroM3J8ODZivYGl5_WmJS7uVjD-vK89LZIh/w640-h480/20230827_163114.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHUP6OHDaWkA_p-9gwNbkiRQIJJKUwXAr9l3ov4iUDsbiTApePAEMVeJ3Jj5oCwwlmikr2k2DlP9Zds0IonkktcUTwnXSYtdbrika4D7Zj377I20mVRU8IHRBtjNvBbwmt9Sc1GYwO4Be0AWJXOQPG_TJpgG8rpvUxLYMwKz9XO8AWlN8ocbfmcl0HnFU/s4608/20230827_174832.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHUP6OHDaWkA_p-9gwNbkiRQIJJKUwXAr9l3ov4iUDsbiTApePAEMVeJ3Jj5oCwwlmikr2k2DlP9Zds0IonkktcUTwnXSYtdbrika4D7Zj377I20mVRU8IHRBtjNvBbwmt9Sc1GYwO4Be0AWJXOQPG_TJpgG8rpvUxLYMwKz9XO8AWlN8ocbfmcl0HnFU/w640-h480/20230827_174832.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFT3CCz2z8Sf1RdVmuwFjpbjIviWRfJ1qnoepkC6Zgd9o1_gcXYoJODZM95OZ_tcApbKwcbgZcu5DRxr5koUqTj5TgLQJavgioq6VhOa6XhcfFoNzaKT4mY0uDkDqV_lh13rJKtDYdcMe4g5ome6eUS_LuBxTd8xKYAa6MqrLCZt4n8VszIUgoRU9Ghui/s4032/20230827_203052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFT3CCz2z8Sf1RdVmuwFjpbjIviWRfJ1qnoepkC6Zgd9o1_gcXYoJODZM95OZ_tcApbKwcbgZcu5DRxr5koUqTj5TgLQJavgioq6VhOa6XhcfFoNzaKT4mY0uDkDqV_lh13rJKtDYdcMe4g5ome6eUS_LuBxTd8xKYAa6MqrLCZt4n8VszIUgoRU9Ghui/w480-h640/20230827_203052.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The next morning, a thick dusting of snow covered the hut and its surrounds. <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPBby-YlEoYulDAQxGu-my-NSvXsjOkM3lbcTtME3RmMISkkyvhsA_tt6fGZYFeZD4jKDre695cti-N6bSNXYGhy2nzNVSoBlCp7h6L5oWpH5cM-cOWiiztGFW6EjneVr2J-xoGV2BrCj1S0jpR_gUhNFGjZn95mVGGpCy04j085oVtRH4RpazYHzsHoZ/s4032/20230828_074026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPBby-YlEoYulDAQxGu-my-NSvXsjOkM3lbcTtME3RmMISkkyvhsA_tt6fGZYFeZD4jKDre695cti-N6bSNXYGhy2nzNVSoBlCp7h6L5oWpH5cM-cOWiiztGFW6EjneVr2J-xoGV2BrCj1S0jpR_gUhNFGjZn95mVGGpCy04j085oVtRH4RpazYHzsHoZ/w640-h480/20230828_074026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzCZhypYDUzq5FI3d5zA_vTGHjB4gpuUgV_Rf5Rkn2luPf29oC4MuKiW7YyzofjA2SHXEZU1f421dUK6eoIoj8HeiSkbR2e6Fk4krhVgVly3I_LjxU6Wgl7p2rS3pjvruepUYPtIOVgboG3G4uYqfW2SfSMnjSxm8Q9FXmmjAlprPNvpp7snkjFhZp_8h/s4608/20230828_074407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzCZhypYDUzq5FI3d5zA_vTGHjB4gpuUgV_Rf5Rkn2luPf29oC4MuKiW7YyzofjA2SHXEZU1f421dUK6eoIoj8HeiSkbR2e6Fk4krhVgVly3I_LjxU6Wgl7p2rS3pjvruepUYPtIOVgboG3G4uYqfW2SfSMnjSxm8Q9FXmmjAlprPNvpp7snkjFhZp_8h/w640-h480/20230828_074407.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>A hot coffee particularly hits the spot on a morning such as this, especially to bring feeling back to your fingers after chopping firewood. <br />Opting to make the most of the fortuitous snowfall, I head out in the direction of Holdsworth peak rather than heading straight back down the hill. The fresh snow was soft, but deep in places. And despite the sky being a dull, uniform grey, the snow was bright and glarey.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroNlACWGkEHJqx-DCIOzloBxCRHCQQEjsAgDWsrm_A8XraWRzFqJF99KZTqY4q1g37ZyN_mZWNYlcHoip56frGfnmSrM_Dfqx93xkVXLr13CTeEjfsXbncKbuE1DGo5WDp9NziowGn-MlNNZPqafqiY8YGbb51V04ubIUfW6kFWqyr9SW6C8C7VdIIoA4/s4032/20230828_094451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroNlACWGkEHJqx-DCIOzloBxCRHCQQEjsAgDWsrm_A8XraWRzFqJF99KZTqY4q1g37ZyN_mZWNYlcHoip56frGfnmSrM_Dfqx93xkVXLr13CTeEjfsXbncKbuE1DGo5WDp9NziowGn-MlNNZPqafqiY8YGbb51V04ubIUfW6kFWqyr9SW6C8C7VdIIoA4/w480-h640/20230828_094451.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nr-UGEEJKMbAjgysLgB8ntzXxbrvGvN1lEWdSkzWkbHulCKsl8gFcKsMsd-z7uOX66bm18AzhWk06EPHf7Xd_Mf1rQo4xhq_2MyKqxc4rf_0qdYuYHkvqSHun-rG7Xz41_6U57uq9TfP00mwoFzdh59QjiMsKyDkP9nVbV1h2NlDqUnE0nSnkuIdQUKK/s4032/20230828_094532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nr-UGEEJKMbAjgysLgB8ntzXxbrvGvN1lEWdSkzWkbHulCKsl8gFcKsMsd-z7uOX66bm18AzhWk06EPHf7Xd_Mf1rQo4xhq_2MyKqxc4rf_0qdYuYHkvqSHun-rG7Xz41_6U57uq9TfP00mwoFzdh59QjiMsKyDkP9nVbV1h2NlDqUnE0nSnkuIdQUKK/w640-h480/20230828_094532.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJX9GRg5I7mOj8Aa46MtLbEwf6d2oJomS4fGh-OA4NSO6qTBAScvVWBG95ou2yLngY-GLH_njCn_KJnfzsJbsSXXX4dIL_B9CHXcjaed-yArB24WpaHLZbdXbb77ph32eTuIVs15U1pPgoZsxS4_X4CiZLbz6mbfODHKcEcheNSiSrqTZjA-YpbGo5hwmh/s4032/20230828_094939.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJX9GRg5I7mOj8Aa46MtLbEwf6d2oJomS4fGh-OA4NSO6qTBAScvVWBG95ou2yLngY-GLH_njCn_KJnfzsJbsSXXX4dIL_B9CHXcjaed-yArB24WpaHLZbdXbb77ph32eTuIVs15U1pPgoZsxS4_X4CiZLbz6mbfODHKcEcheNSiSrqTZjA-YpbGo5hwmh/w480-h640/20230828_094939.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The weather was highly changeable, at times gusty winds and persistent snow, other times eerily still. The track here is not especially challenging, though the snow makes it harder to follow at times. It's about 1.6 km from Powell Hut to the peak of Mt Holdsworth, taking me about an hour in the wintry conditions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0i7b43Q5H0C6JUydPdLNbee5NvL934lH_7r7Q7DGg18UZIoXH_45IzEBwh-qTfQ2lytafD7hBPCBJgvj8eGuxkV31oEBN_ImDe6BSNyk3fswap-Dvybu7GaYsrqGRj_xvInnN52s6FPyXqsE768CffTd7zgUcFrLo7RlBtAk2Eg5eVxi_BTAQ7eo4CgQ/s4032/20230828_095514.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0i7b43Q5H0C6JUydPdLNbee5NvL934lH_7r7Q7DGg18UZIoXH_45IzEBwh-qTfQ2lytafD7hBPCBJgvj8eGuxkV31oEBN_ImDe6BSNyk3fswap-Dvybu7GaYsrqGRj_xvInnN52s6FPyXqsE768CffTd7zgUcFrLo7RlBtAk2Eg5eVxi_BTAQ7eo4CgQ/w640-h480/20230828_095514.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN_HFgzDh6N0yriPk0mxoI4Ed69T4mc8X3zdPupYQg9VmT-TV_tcptgrycS8Nj7j-3JRs-G4FQK5ofT3pDWEAMWx-QCMXvpX7b4AiHzUBHduePJu29BL6WhZSAaXjW2rdv6EKfqhuAgZHiBaGhGjLAgKwYOOwozk5qKnE6ngkS7u19wGAg_72Jsq39-1c/s4032/20230828_095522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN_HFgzDh6N0yriPk0mxoI4Ed69T4mc8X3zdPupYQg9VmT-TV_tcptgrycS8Nj7j-3JRs-G4FQK5ofT3pDWEAMWx-QCMXvpX7b4AiHzUBHduePJu29BL6WhZSAaXjW2rdv6EKfqhuAgZHiBaGhGjLAgKwYOOwozk5qKnE6ngkS7u19wGAg_72Jsq39-1c/w640-h480/20230828_095522.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjixA5v6uNuhV5C1d0H3U0AdyB0dCDlvMou3X99qqCv8oyf0Tr8lK5-85PUu45Sdgnms672vhNWgUdRSQHCqseECyvHNXtYxhBsTNn-8aMRGVu7nwYGkoM30fg7qPjuGUfsgHXVtbqun8XnQr-Nj5kGOXLDoVij1LrYEyr7xETPiN0emS91Z6TQGeeAVWW/s4032/20230828_095622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjixA5v6uNuhV5C1d0H3U0AdyB0dCDlvMou3X99qqCv8oyf0Tr8lK5-85PUu45Sdgnms672vhNWgUdRSQHCqseECyvHNXtYxhBsTNn-8aMRGVu7nwYGkoM30fg7qPjuGUfsgHXVtbqun8XnQr-Nj5kGOXLDoVij1LrYEyr7xETPiN0emS91Z6TQGeeAVWW/w640-h480/20230828_095622.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZT_8kkpJAEhMegPX4m_8DOCAM5gYEhSj3Pc1FL95zC6N02_we8QLLejvuM_TaWNuj3QCGVv_4TZyHv1YpUji1qxOWyV3E2u-_xmQzugrXCliNH06MVik2whGMH16ocBDeMXtppoNZy7omMGUvZ-mkPQ1Z0l8YgUKd0VFggHhgbBkjtEbWEPOa5E82rGkZ/s4032/20230828_100101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZT_8kkpJAEhMegPX4m_8DOCAM5gYEhSj3Pc1FL95zC6N02_we8QLLejvuM_TaWNuj3QCGVv_4TZyHv1YpUji1qxOWyV3E2u-_xmQzugrXCliNH06MVik2whGMH16ocBDeMXtppoNZy7omMGUvZ-mkPQ1Z0l8YgUKd0VFggHhgbBkjtEbWEPOa5E82rGkZ/w640-h480/20230828_100101.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtTJo0brcsQiHAIm_ArPrvSk2tOzuaU4Txh6ioPg-lRuTwb_vvXabaP7Zuh8Z0tRGEC4oQbZw5Veb7Ek4fFg8j6OBJ2EZHPf0byRPkepy8gVSBvJZmuYfrW7H6xsEsAb6q2R8nQcxy5Mo7ZbbDHaAJPaXIsVlnFPyiP008RSPVtp7M99ll5X1pgMdJfYv/s4032/20230828_100556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtTJo0brcsQiHAIm_ArPrvSk2tOzuaU4Txh6ioPg-lRuTwb_vvXabaP7Zuh8Z0tRGEC4oQbZw5Veb7Ek4fFg8j6OBJ2EZHPf0byRPkepy8gVSBvJZmuYfrW7H6xsEsAb6q2R8nQcxy5Mo7ZbbDHaAJPaXIsVlnFPyiP008RSPVtp7M99ll5X1pgMdJfYv/w640-h480/20230828_100556.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjZz9FYLy9WhPljhV0EM8P0vzgXPRM1sR71ZiYqOzrgyTfeRpAqwKBYLagG-epSjNS7J_Hcv5wfSqfvoaMH7fPnhvyTW_bmvCAt_3QmpDjeuYM317Txaa18s6J4xaNarjk4KIDzVLmV6_vSBHFAGoqBn5FyrjrD4mEFUrr5ADB06wowPQRnfdd64kIjXf/s4032/20230828_103749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjZz9FYLy9WhPljhV0EM8P0vzgXPRM1sR71ZiYqOzrgyTfeRpAqwKBYLagG-epSjNS7J_Hcv5wfSqfvoaMH7fPnhvyTW_bmvCAt_3QmpDjeuYM317Txaa18s6J4xaNarjk4KIDzVLmV6_vSBHFAGoqBn5FyrjrD4mEFUrr5ADB06wowPQRnfdd64kIjXf/w640-h480/20230828_103749.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSfOBFeCu-8jpIL9YZhpevXTMpRkrIlWSMuW-M0tcQkeuwn8-S34wMSmAbPwMg4Bzc9qbCyJiCwZcVHmRBi8sz-RGhT2v6Uj-pIKD-bD9jyGN14viEB4Ut0vEFVI5rtln8tBtk_JiTMSmeVjkQ_bAjGEb5MIvrTtxf4Hy3cq5VF9eDIN9LSk5BxbkBAM-/s4032/20230828_104041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSfOBFeCu-8jpIL9YZhpevXTMpRkrIlWSMuW-M0tcQkeuwn8-S34wMSmAbPwMg4Bzc9qbCyJiCwZcVHmRBi8sz-RGhT2v6Uj-pIKD-bD9jyGN14viEB4Ut0vEFVI5rtln8tBtk_JiTMSmeVjkQ_bAjGEb5MIvrTtxf4Hy3cq5VF9eDIN9LSk5BxbkBAM-/w480-h640/20230828_104041.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>After stopping in very briefly at the trig, it was time to head off in the direction of Jumbo. From the signpost just below the peak, the track drops steeply. The icy slope was a tad more treacherous than it would otherwise be, and part way down I had the thought that it probably would've been quicker (and safer) to just scoot down on my rump. The track continues along the ridge, shortly reaching a signposted junction for the the East Holdsworth Spur.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgi2FB0B70WTradO9mQJICKuASm3ACR3AlfMs2C5ms4BDDeAj5J2WVDzXN1Mi23YztoBwn7mUTca_k221zKCL523ATFYGeVFV_wh7ZVmPMDIE7cOycZxm_CMxwkU2Wx9oGOwfRwodrKurQm581ufgvZsDG0k_hgPb65r-IFvO5OIYqUYe6PVONbcmEFVx/s4032/20230828_104407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgi2FB0B70WTradO9mQJICKuASm3ACR3AlfMs2C5ms4BDDeAj5J2WVDzXN1Mi23YztoBwn7mUTca_k221zKCL523ATFYGeVFV_wh7ZVmPMDIE7cOycZxm_CMxwkU2Wx9oGOwfRwodrKurQm581ufgvZsDG0k_hgPb65r-IFvO5OIYqUYe6PVONbcmEFVx/w480-h640/20230828_104407.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSwb1gpPbHukgdC0z6SC9ZmUlMccg4b1juECoawQ8Xi2ta1YJp5_F5NrMwj6w_Rtmwi3alRW5-FLlCfEXg5aBoypP51f7osnis3PBuI7tT2RJ2BvzkSt8YehVst-wHNGnf0hUJXJM03TLuzQvxGGcMGmxiT3lLRNym6qIM83S4hYjf3dgPfQ1nvtHCl1y/s4032/20230828_105202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSwb1gpPbHukgdC0z6SC9ZmUlMccg4b1juECoawQ8Xi2ta1YJp5_F5NrMwj6w_Rtmwi3alRW5-FLlCfEXg5aBoypP51f7osnis3PBuI7tT2RJ2BvzkSt8YehVst-wHNGnf0hUJXJM03TLuzQvxGGcMGmxiT3lLRNym6qIM83S4hYjf3dgPfQ1nvtHCl1y/w640-h480/20230828_105202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ovTr0ZpZOqAwHLspVNiRmfvFo4tkvg4yCAIMoQAfqiVC4DKEARpm_4Li7CFjq4XLrVqkNpPxLLNK-QMyprJxtbN-aqLlk15ZDiC6XzW5ZCpMuWCXd9Px-wAmUDXNmujpF2vit2UqxG1tdGnylE0edIW7xPmV0YNgFl4BGtvM7bBXl0qjFy7xj1kZ3Jpx/s4608/20230828_105507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ovTr0ZpZOqAwHLspVNiRmfvFo4tkvg4yCAIMoQAfqiVC4DKEARpm_4Li7CFjq4XLrVqkNpPxLLNK-QMyprJxtbN-aqLlk15ZDiC6XzW5ZCpMuWCXd9Px-wAmUDXNmujpF2vit2UqxG1tdGnylE0edIW7xPmV0YNgFl4BGtvM7bBXl0qjFy7xj1kZ3Jpx/w640-h480/20230828_105507.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Following the right-branching track leads out across a thin ridgeline, eventually descending toward the tree line. I frequently had no idea whether where I was walking was actually where the track was meant to be but never the less I ended up in the right place.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESrJLD5YvPFhDTZXo2EiUaCk232NpnpQkPWHnH7gTNMxHT_IGP8a3PW_hobf2VrbdnUbrrwzNU7LEhBh-yMDs9Z9SdKDzpRmC5ZBgJTkNNoqyZXHwxd91RzX3ZVvgsJZNuzni2VHcJoDDbe1_KFejySGijeZMY3osbLV78Af2VSpXeLRnX-XtJMWXP_mI/s4032/20230828_112908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESrJLD5YvPFhDTZXo2EiUaCk232NpnpQkPWHnH7gTNMxHT_IGP8a3PW_hobf2VrbdnUbrrwzNU7LEhBh-yMDs9Z9SdKDzpRmC5ZBgJTkNNoqyZXHwxd91RzX3ZVvgsJZNuzni2VHcJoDDbe1_KFejySGijeZMY3osbLV78Af2VSpXeLRnX-XtJMWXP_mI/w400-h300/20230828_112908.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHi9f8tIqmh2vYsuYec3U9BTBLJXR0Grxw_ycgp7gsZ3hTYuFgGjLGjmT_jraBmexGgc6mfO_pVL2vUREj1Dp3x2UcE6leTTTn0jeQ_5EyDclL6yRiNtITW_DTD-Q734sNAktR2n4ugJRQ9B3V_CyJ9i9PDLz00P85yAbMQQHT-xs6BBd0ss-0GpQo8Fj/s4032/20230828_113507_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHi9f8tIqmh2vYsuYec3U9BTBLJXR0Grxw_ycgp7gsZ3hTYuFgGjLGjmT_jraBmexGgc6mfO_pVL2vUREj1Dp3x2UcE6leTTTn0jeQ_5EyDclL6yRiNtITW_DTD-Q734sNAktR2n4ugJRQ9B3V_CyJ9i9PDLz00P85yAbMQQHT-xs6BBd0ss-0GpQo8Fj/w400-h300/20230828_113507_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVvGuJEcCxPjfRa_K5acOKOE1cWdVC6ZX3abJdyX742uv6zjRoAAxY53xvle9vImFwPv6osa4ahvN0YumchMTG7_7iHAYXyCUMSI7I9spM0zwGjapWgjvXF87pP6aoUskhHywpLdyBFS2po9FRwZhPtPtV0CUr9Q8xuv8WDRaUaBBDAcW_oXW_N7WxAfk/s4032/20230828_113551.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVvGuJEcCxPjfRa_K5acOKOE1cWdVC6ZX3abJdyX742uv6zjRoAAxY53xvle9vImFwPv6osa4ahvN0YumchMTG7_7iHAYXyCUMSI7I9spM0zwGjapWgjvXF87pP6aoUskhHywpLdyBFS2po9FRwZhPtPtV0CUr9Q8xuv8WDRaUaBBDAcW_oXW_N7WxAfk/w480-h640/20230828_113551.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn1AzzA0dw8pZ2Y3vvW9QiuewnoPrx_UxFWnVRidm2F6co75FFffCk5qIf9oC7VMEh5c7TG2RXFtACc41gOJO9nZ1X_x2_2On6u6frjwdJFEamT5e-nENla2yI1kYkyWz47gZ1cAMtqv_Q4qnpH0RI3a9lVxTGW9RHS-FYe4TZTIn4NmjNXaMAf7LZDV3/s4032/20230828_113905_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn1AzzA0dw8pZ2Y3vvW9QiuewnoPrx_UxFWnVRidm2F6co75FFffCk5qIf9oC7VMEh5c7TG2RXFtACc41gOJO9nZ1X_x2_2On6u6frjwdJFEamT5e-nENla2yI1kYkyWz47gZ1cAMtqv_Q4qnpH0RI3a9lVxTGW9RHS-FYe4TZTIn4NmjNXaMAf7LZDV3/w640-h480/20230828_113905_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> The east Holdsworth track is fairly steep, a typical Tararua root-scrambly, knee-jarring descent - a lot of altitude is shed quite quickly. Snow persisted throughout the gnarled beech forest down to around 800m. It's slow going, with a particularly steep section mid way down.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WtzwbYgzTWW6pnMdS-3yiWobZiYUm--Di1SShT6lmi1Lksa9E8sYLdnhl1ug-KxrNX8lg0ZZDC1VR_FaaamlmkhaTv-0TAhMhOLKe1-i2Dg6yLV1XXhYcbI8HijqKuZVGSdXo3uJcdo41Fb-aI-A7Zvh7EemYExhx4o2Kx1tyR9zA-uI-vOX_IkYE95v/s4032/20230828_122836.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WtzwbYgzTWW6pnMdS-3yiWobZiYUm--Di1SShT6lmi1Lksa9E8sYLdnhl1ug-KxrNX8lg0ZZDC1VR_FaaamlmkhaTv-0TAhMhOLKe1-i2Dg6yLV1XXhYcbI8HijqKuZVGSdXo3uJcdo41Fb-aI-A7Zvh7EemYExhx4o2Kx1tyR9zA-uI-vOX_IkYE95v/w480-h640/20230828_122836.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqbAcnca62i2AP47va18e5r63eX8Rf54HEMQVQ6MZ2sfE6k5F76VjsEUg0NbFLYZagsToRNiNcdBWR-_4FuoCv94CVu9GJOFn51S9DsIn1jLSABNP7nAY34CRuQ3FSoitbMK7gP8MIrTUJM0hPAveLGXwRch66GP73v5xg8dsnfMMO7sAKDh8Gzn7pshy/s4032/20230828_133346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqbAcnca62i2AP47va18e5r63eX8Rf54HEMQVQ6MZ2sfE6k5F76VjsEUg0NbFLYZagsToRNiNcdBWR-_4FuoCv94CVu9GJOFn51S9DsIn1jLSABNP7nAY34CRuQ3FSoitbMK7gP8MIrTUJM0hPAveLGXwRch66GP73v5xg8dsnfMMO7sAKDh8Gzn7pshy/w300-h400/20230828_133346.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbB84E2owCbGfXiRolqZjoEK0dRN3bgEWWCc9IxUbgt7TBTAMk9_UUs0u6K-XPx1V9yUKAmrfVaJdD9pVjBvKiH9Qz3w5jdX7J6uLHXw0nbFyhV2o3nSGnQTwcQ5xkb4KEO171LE3DPkUt1ZGdoSK-CcTUjWHJVa8pqqogcN9RnyTF5HvpSzrkFOnTqDJQ/s4032/20230828_135052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbB84E2owCbGfXiRolqZjoEK0dRN3bgEWWCc9IxUbgt7TBTAMk9_UUs0u6K-XPx1V9yUKAmrfVaJdD9pVjBvKiH9Qz3w5jdX7J6uLHXw0nbFyhV2o3nSGnQTwcQ5xkb4KEO171LE3DPkUt1ZGdoSK-CcTUjWHJVa8pqqogcN9RnyTF5HvpSzrkFOnTqDJQ/w300-h400/20230828_135052.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>It's always nice to see a new patch of the back country, and the East Holdsworth was no exception. Eventually, the gradient levels out somewhat, and the Holdsworth Creek comes into view down a steep bank from the track. The path of the creek is followed until the Atiwhakatu Track is reached.</p><p>It's another 4 km or so back to the carpark, but the Atiwhakatu Track is well graded and easy going - a welcome relief from the steep descent that preceded it. About an hour later I was back at the carpark, ready to put on some gloriously dry clothes for the drive home.</p><p>A thoroughly delightful tramp, and a winter wonderland I'd been hoping for for as long as I've gone tramping in winter.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Times and Distances:<br /></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Inbound:<br /></b>Holdsworth carpark to Rock Lookout: 3.24 km, 63 min<br />Rocky Lookout to Mountain House Shelter: 2.95 km, 50 min</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mountain House to Powell Hut: 1.90 km, 1hr20min</div><div style="text-align: left;">Total: 8.13 km, 3 hours 20 min</div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Outbound:<br /></b>Powell Hut to Holdsworth Peak: 1.65 km, 59 min<br />Peak to East Holdsworth turn-off: 0.59 km, 24 min<br />Turn-off to Atiwhakatu Track: 4.20 km, 2hr50min<br />Atiwhakatu Track to Carpark: 4.08 km, 1hr06min<br />Total: 10.52 km, 5 hours 19 min<br /></p></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Map:<br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhougM5n5inXATBOz8eYfN6KErtfeHDXeNZjoWtzkxrZ5W03m_XAn4ZDv3o7YGcG38n1OPal_lHSvH93EEkSgfv3dorVIOPxrzbDs9qvjHEZnZKzjDrv6DGAnMEILeB6_MulqZjrTcFOaHqmJ82ou0oSsuq_kjY8C4emmly-CHdQe6cddK4zN5pXDgk3bLA/s1008/map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1008" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhougM5n5inXATBOz8eYfN6KErtfeHDXeNZjoWtzkxrZ5W03m_XAn4ZDv3o7YGcG38n1OPal_lHSvH93EEkSgfv3dorVIOPxrzbDs9qvjHEZnZKzjDrv6DGAnMEILeB6_MulqZjrTcFOaHqmJ82ou0oSsuq_kjY8C4emmly-CHdQe6cddK4zN5pXDgk3bLA/w640-h493/map.png" width="640" /> </a></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Altitude Profile:<br /></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx4_1nzv1iHbs7o-X5MZsZkEWX5Pr2WHe-eRAdtGG30pR9EOiC-qjItaROB4uxTPIH4XMaxNMh674G8nLpictoxgkFJLFYlBQ52jAnta2mZX2vtelsC324cZwiSqzNmPxn5_0nSQxtRWIirrbVAg2NI56EtcS_oVk4kdUzfBtladMwegn_cciuSFarmWG/s785/alt%20profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="785" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx4_1nzv1iHbs7o-X5MZsZkEWX5Pr2WHe-eRAdtGG30pR9EOiC-qjItaROB4uxTPIH4XMaxNMh674G8nLpictoxgkFJLFYlBQ52jAnta2mZX2vtelsC324cZwiSqzNmPxn5_0nSQxtRWIirrbVAg2NI56EtcS_oVk4kdUzfBtladMwegn_cciuSFarmWG/w640-h354/alt%20profile.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-74547499469601477042023-05-19T13:29:00.000+12:002023-05-19T13:29:50.831+12:00Rakiura Track<p> <i>A flying visit to Rakiura/Stewart Island to complete the Rakiura Track Great Walk.</i></p><p>After landing at Oban around 1:30pm, the first thing on my mind was gas. Huts on the Rakiura track don't have cooking facilities, and gas canisters can't be carried on commercial flights. So off I trotted to the DOC visitor centre to get the lay of the land, and there I found excellent advice and updates on current track conditions; a locker for my post-tramp supplies, and gas canisters for purchase.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiEj0oHK2BD7k5McviNqom2LJ1veaTv2rvmM5HugDs_gPWVT0_Dm4UvYXvO9jTnx0HKKEWhocew69j97GlcUbL7poC73lMLnLIsuPvRyBqDVvzxPJFjd-bFYnhN0v8yug3pnMRoQxpp9wEKrLwqcY1aQUzm1kmkwPqTbTruKV1GaT6aKTW7oSS3G_BA/s5472/IMG_5983.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiEj0oHK2BD7k5McviNqom2LJ1veaTv2rvmM5HugDs_gPWVT0_Dm4UvYXvO9jTnx0HKKEWhocew69j97GlcUbL7poC73lMLnLIsuPvRyBqDVvzxPJFjd-bFYnhN0v8yug3pnMRoQxpp9wEKrLwqcY1aQUzm1kmkwPqTbTruKV1GaT6aKTW7oSS3G_BA/w400-h266/IMG_5983.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p> Now ready to hit the trail, it was time for a taxi to the start of the track at Lee Bay.<br>The track begins right on the coast, passing through a chain link sculpture and meandering along the coastline in the edges of the forest.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3uGyZJ8jRZvToQvbvHyosOFEqFbrefnBE5xG6rB2e1SQH6lgFX4-GtgmKpm8Gy2xaJJdk4RloGrtJIjnOjssulhz0hCxbYM7giVe3FhmJC_-_0xzhGCb_XL3zRNPWVoEQbTd5gWZGT7jHLVxdOSpBDaZXC20NhtwYlAsTl2dJPeYfql4BWh_Wfs50w/s4032/20230502_142420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3uGyZJ8jRZvToQvbvHyosOFEqFbrefnBE5xG6rB2e1SQH6lgFX4-GtgmKpm8Gy2xaJJdk4RloGrtJIjnOjssulhz0hCxbYM7giVe3FhmJC_-_0xzhGCb_XL3zRNPWVoEQbTd5gWZGT7jHLVxdOSpBDaZXC20NhtwYlAsTl2dJPeYfql4BWh_Wfs50w/w640-h480/20230502_142420.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvzRs6jGb8UXmD2C-uJ8hjlj7CLI07cpHpxSTYLaMwUgBTksHIH71mqP27FRrosJr0r_JmxZTJk_fJCsJMaWf_D8p1xehgBRocRHPgzxHqhX49b54z6ImHWaMlLMDPOBNLNAxS716LJeh5l8QCMpZqVVVbWr0FA8T4DCthJZ1P55Ba6NKMcJO1eMlvg/s4608/20230502_142611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvzRs6jGb8UXmD2C-uJ8hjlj7CLI07cpHpxSTYLaMwUgBTksHIH71mqP27FRrosJr0r_JmxZTJk_fJCsJMaWf_D8p1xehgBRocRHPgzxHqhX49b54z6ImHWaMlLMDPOBNLNAxS716LJeh5l8QCMpZqVVVbWr0FA8T4DCthJZ1P55Ba6NKMcJO1eMlvg/w640-h480/20230502_142611.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzWaJrEps_87AVdRJJIaJ0LamuY_ftvlqqsWij6FYAuTwgtdsHnuR2fj_YZ9TqnxgcMXxpqSRYpUFxATzOI6uBAZLykD1Bty75ozc6yVB6i_3CdP_EJUlLOz5HVmP-ZezkktwmgU2ZoNXeEx6_EHPT2PnvrfW--2bPlgCiJOnad31-GZxezGoYOuOBQ/s5472/IMG_5623.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzWaJrEps_87AVdRJJIaJ0LamuY_ftvlqqsWij6FYAuTwgtdsHnuR2fj_YZ9TqnxgcMXxpqSRYpUFxATzOI6uBAZLykD1Bty75ozc6yVB6i_3CdP_EJUlLOz5HVmP-ZezkktwmgU2ZoNXeEx6_EHPT2PnvrfW--2bPlgCiJOnad31-GZxezGoYOuOBQ/w640-h426/IMG_5623.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_fC7KPduylQRtCGcRyEmATTUTZ4_8AOHbeezatOxYu1ik8pdsxcgj1zwYf8e8KBZJ8x1arBQGXDI10UG98jHSx3emZWPKO7dwDOUYgqym7HjmhRO-wJQQuY4qnJdoOAOPjD5YPzuHXvVsnxTrQFy4EJyTyjf81Z5-EJHbOkIijsJ8s2v-D-aA9husA/s5472/IMG_5620.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_fC7KPduylQRtCGcRyEmATTUTZ4_8AOHbeezatOxYu1ik8pdsxcgj1zwYf8e8KBZJ8x1arBQGXDI10UG98jHSx3emZWPKO7dwDOUYgqym7HjmhRO-wJQQuY4qnJdoOAOPjD5YPzuHXvVsnxTrQFy4EJyTyjf81Z5-EJHbOkIijsJ8s2v-D-aA9husA/w426-h640/IMG_5620.JPG" width="426"></a></div><p>The weather was mild and mid afternoon sun filtered through the canopy and gilded distant clouds in warm yellow hues.<br>Almost one kilometre from the start, the track bends sharpy to the south and begins to drop towards a small sandy beach glimpsed through the trees. Once at sea level, a footbridge crosses a small stream. At this point, the track splits in two: a high tide route heads into the trees, the other option heads across the unexpectedly golden sand. Taking advantage of the tide, I opt for the beach route.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuEbZxNtHGaO3gcEwSFEY8nyJxLWk9tSGZoelQNsL81ALSepBUaD2JdPV-Xi8dpChT4Ba5NjicE9-AVGdTEfxwwoL3rtFlK4tbR22mmg5bqsnvkiGJx3Y1JG7VD-sW7Y4Jd5O-cvQxx8XMB2_7jp259pY8PXStcN9m6H7V0CzGW4d1PgtSMHDjGj7Cg/s5472/IMG_5624.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuEbZxNtHGaO3gcEwSFEY8nyJxLWk9tSGZoelQNsL81ALSepBUaD2JdPV-Xi8dpChT4Ba5NjicE9-AVGdTEfxwwoL3rtFlK4tbR22mmg5bqsnvkiGJx3Y1JG7VD-sW7Y4Jd5O-cvQxx8XMB2_7jp259pY8PXStcN9m6H7V0CzGW4d1PgtSMHDjGj7Cg/w266-h400/IMG_5624.JPG" width="266"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivh6tkZtdnrG41oNgwNyY6z4bAKU9c-Eyl0EbCsO0LdcQi5C2YSUmSJT1IebwBGIp4Kt2xkdZK5jJAXViePayRPrMtMk4IlVzTAM-XcTXDutlBIy7nEmyD_xPSHvNN47Luht9DGYk-XRyKq16pcuw7R_fim1u4-kr6UZxutXUEbQ_aRGkxYJXUZTZg1w/s5472/IMG_5631.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="5472" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivh6tkZtdnrG41oNgwNyY6z4bAKU9c-Eyl0EbCsO0LdcQi5C2YSUmSJT1IebwBGIp4Kt2xkdZK5jJAXViePayRPrMtMk4IlVzTAM-XcTXDutlBIy7nEmyD_xPSHvNN47Luht9DGYk-XRyKq16pcuw7R_fim1u4-kr6UZxutXUEbQ_aRGkxYJXUZTZg1w/w400-h225/IMG_5631.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvOCyc8dnim92y0Kmid0jPQo7o4T7Q-JOyUQkSBWw866qtEeaCaRBSDXKAUxnQaxxqxH6w1lQHYxordkoPj31ya29-rrISkL5q_0OdIIATiMxC578QdZYEd9VnLtOhlWQW-PmnBR71eSuPz_6tSMBwL4Lnc5ORL6PBpfUw1VE1bdm-sLWWyKI75zdFg/s5472/IMG_5633.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvOCyc8dnim92y0Kmid0jPQo7o4T7Q-JOyUQkSBWw866qtEeaCaRBSDXKAUxnQaxxqxH6w1lQHYxordkoPj31ya29-rrISkL5q_0OdIIATiMxC578QdZYEd9VnLtOhlWQW-PmnBR71eSuPz_6tSMBwL4Lnc5ORL6PBpfUw1VE1bdm-sLWWyKI75zdFg/w640-h426/IMG_5633.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z9AGBz1OJM2GMHydRAYjjm5k1xq8vO8I7C_tmkZ_KSIxSpKnbE9Q9IO1wqHTuN5CxQGDQBzL1gZGL58p2yZdlKm6kKWK-idHTs5ZfGDAyqdg44-GI8xoov_1PovjC1Xi1ZJOXMmzRj-K3MjZMxJV-GpjAhJcUSaRaU-l2AeM9yJVDVNyNtmGqyR2RA/s5472/IMG_5638.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z9AGBz1OJM2GMHydRAYjjm5k1xq8vO8I7C_tmkZ_KSIxSpKnbE9Q9IO1wqHTuN5CxQGDQBzL1gZGL58p2yZdlKm6kKWK-idHTs5ZfGDAyqdg44-GI8xoov_1PovjC1Xi1ZJOXMmzRj-K3MjZMxJV-GpjAhJcUSaRaU-l2AeM9yJVDVNyNtmGqyR2RA/w640-h426/IMG_5638.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74NIqF2kM_v6NWYVkfmnVoubrGzf4BHp8g9PkCulKBLVziqVWJl2uUA3qiR3Q9dFcg4dHy5M3f2e56AI8Xdmfg9uLqmO9jYbPFn198_iBYvj44T663eAm-oCxKDVWCRal8bqnSluGzlw4GVOyHhZTNsxsNZ0hdnnNy8NlQzojwbUYlReQvLGIIdO1dQ/s5472/IMG_5650.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74NIqF2kM_v6NWYVkfmnVoubrGzf4BHp8g9PkCulKBLVziqVWJl2uUA3qiR3Q9dFcg4dHy5M3f2e56AI8Xdmfg9uLqmO9jYbPFn198_iBYvj44T663eAm-oCxKDVWCRal8bqnSluGzlw4GVOyHhZTNsxsNZ0hdnnNy8NlQzojwbUYlReQvLGIIdO1dQ/w640-h426/IMG_5650.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrW6afvLTecd62qSrSYoZpxw9zjcAn9ZiT2fvA6HwG3K-J1eBUBLXgWJc9oZoaPQSH4jkUVmbltXA0fqJzD-cdlzMlieo1QKaCm_9MrKOyfpf8IXUW9bTCTLj8SOWw9WdvcIGv4Bgn5jdmgFVys15PNT_EaNqGKwSzwWF9z_XfUEpQjB1NlzhFeQB1zg/s5472/IMG_5656.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrW6afvLTecd62qSrSYoZpxw9zjcAn9ZiT2fvA6HwG3K-J1eBUBLXgWJc9oZoaPQSH4jkUVmbltXA0fqJzD-cdlzMlieo1QKaCm_9MrKOyfpf8IXUW9bTCTLj8SOWw9WdvcIGv4Bgn5jdmgFVys15PNT_EaNqGKwSzwWF9z_XfUEpQjB1NlzhFeQB1zg/w640-h426/IMG_5656.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br> At the end of the beach, the track climbs steeply into the bush where the high tide track is met. From here, the track meanders along high above the sea. The forest here is full of bird life, and the song of tui and fantails is constant.<br>It's easy going for the most part, the track is well formed and maintained and any steep sections are brief. Eventually the track rounds a sort of headland and begins to wind it's way down to a large beach called Maori Beach. <br><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg114kKtcvp2URj_dRNZafiRJDg8_VVZ9seUEWGKdl60_0gETjwSMqlKj1tAMju2RKxPSvpPlkXUHXB5YEdFTGYfslBmYxIxzklfIqKKTcEHyFQXiAY4PgE6jSH18Ej0N5vCrQU3BqMaHPdR8DGZp6EFbaETuJTg-Qc8Ww8OCnvWaWKJt_Ud5m0mLTkLg/s5472/IMG_5662.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg114kKtcvp2URj_dRNZafiRJDg8_VVZ9seUEWGKdl60_0gETjwSMqlKj1tAMju2RKxPSvpPlkXUHXB5YEdFTGYfslBmYxIxzklfIqKKTcEHyFQXiAY4PgE6jSH18Ej0N5vCrQU3BqMaHPdR8DGZp6EFbaETuJTg-Qc8Ww8OCnvWaWKJt_Ud5m0mLTkLg/w640-h426/IMG_5662.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOTaeTl2rrcLXj9xdERu_kCu-4eCgfEcJ9U3vmMtkTIZlOeB4O5xQdZe2Eo9ZT1YaQi8El2Azn3cp76q3pqw71S7qPX7LlZV96g9A1nebyoXAzcfq5FxEuEf2UfsRTM4YgiOz-S-rD0nMWQHMFG56uuDXjZsU_BcUg3LOyQy8RASR1AhThYiNOXG4gg/s5472/IMG_5663.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOTaeTl2rrcLXj9xdERu_kCu-4eCgfEcJ9U3vmMtkTIZlOeB4O5xQdZe2Eo9ZT1YaQi8El2Azn3cp76q3pqw71S7qPX7LlZV96g9A1nebyoXAzcfq5FxEuEf2UfsRTM4YgiOz-S-rD0nMWQHMFG56uuDXjZsU_BcUg3LOyQy8RASR1AhThYiNOXG4gg/w640-h426/IMG_5663.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBcHPTDtBFsBVQTrUlJNelhVWuGJLPGrYiKGF0EFUuvxtRaTxsx0sl7keRUVlgjYCuFm-i6XXqov9Fhb34A7Le73ovkvawg-QQnIODzQhztI7zOtyMG6SzNXtLy7ShnRog9nto-ltgGs_-bfK2tw6U92cCv3ZfSNnwGPsCVObpHDMJUGh_AX9y8f-bA/s5472/IMG_5665.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBcHPTDtBFsBVQTrUlJNelhVWuGJLPGrYiKGF0EFUuvxtRaTxsx0sl7keRUVlgjYCuFm-i6XXqov9Fhb34A7Le73ovkvawg-QQnIODzQhztI7zOtyMG6SzNXtLy7ShnRog9nto-ltgGs_-bfK2tw6U92cCv3ZfSNnwGPsCVObpHDMJUGh_AX9y8f-bA/w640-h426/IMG_5665.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcU7dCohK-duhd9DgdhuPz_G-b17fDNqcP-y6V8oEvdQU7xOiPtu4IP64kb5fdzsMyu22mTOXbptX65xoGoGnuMf6fEwBcpvxWo7CzjH78mX_EpD_MCxKtm7U65C-BJ5aBlH2ylUifPbFEAxM9Wg8lKmydTkoNtyDktfuAvHyZ6ihc6WB3b9Fisk7Lg/s5472/IMG_5668.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcU7dCohK-duhd9DgdhuPz_G-b17fDNqcP-y6V8oEvdQU7xOiPtu4IP64kb5fdzsMyu22mTOXbptX65xoGoGnuMf6fEwBcpvxWo7CzjH78mX_EpD_MCxKtm7U65C-BJ5aBlH2ylUifPbFEAxM9Wg8lKmydTkoNtyDktfuAvHyZ6ihc6WB3b9Fisk7Lg/w640-h426/IMG_5668.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>Just before the beach I am again presented two options: cross a small creek and head straight on to the beach, or stay in the bush. The creek barely covered the soles of my boot so once again I opted for the beach option. At this end of the long beach is a DOC campsite with shelter, water supply and toilet - a good place to stop for a break. The campsite is 4.1 km from the start of the track.<br>Heading inland from the campsite, a small bridge crosses the creek from earlier - this is where the alternate track option enters the campsite from. In the area are also some old saw mill relics from a time when Maori Beach was home to a forestry milling operation.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_O4B-1QGiU4yVTh_1FbqrQVe52Yh98cHAa7zPwbG8w84sHmqZBz0k6U0SlE5yoEgl9F0yPDel8BXj3-A6NyhRhM5BBnT87WmWxB2gfyOBjFlmZ3CfuK7B9KFP-JUa5rfJegOEG5ziMf-q4X2wYaazM7Fio6QDqTqtYKYSKOIAL8isE3Z9ybWewjGDww/s5472/IMG_5669.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_O4B-1QGiU4yVTh_1FbqrQVe52Yh98cHAa7zPwbG8w84sHmqZBz0k6U0SlE5yoEgl9F0yPDel8BXj3-A6NyhRhM5BBnT87WmWxB2gfyOBjFlmZ3CfuK7B9KFP-JUa5rfJegOEG5ziMf-q4X2wYaazM7Fio6QDqTqtYKYSKOIAL8isE3Z9ybWewjGDww/w640-h426/IMG_5669.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maori Beach<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SkpIraUJawfTxCDOuWuBejqN7dI_aDbVvSpfyBWNGI6V76G0y_bWOcKGV1Z7UbYYYgUmkxtJ-_iFm_NlFvrU9qeq5IFAeR9EAuY8W1fs7dATx9-c41nhyP-nW6k0CjYZC0y1_BaCrn0R7Y9iHEsyiTVD6fubDLxrmxCr7_S8h1TNxiB0yR4UXZYSww/s5472/IMG_5670.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SkpIraUJawfTxCDOuWuBejqN7dI_aDbVvSpfyBWNGI6V76G0y_bWOcKGV1Z7UbYYYgUmkxtJ-_iFm_NlFvrU9qeq5IFAeR9EAuY8W1fs7dATx9-c41nhyP-nW6k0CjYZC0y1_BaCrn0R7Y9iHEsyiTVD6fubDLxrmxCr7_S8h1TNxiB0yR4UXZYSww/w640-h426/IMG_5670.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>The beach is a beautiful spot and I would quite happily have spent much more time there, but given I hadn't started today's walk until almost 2:30pm, I was conscious of the limited daylight hours available to me and headed off down the long expanse of sand.<br>At the end of the beach, a large suspension bridge crosses a tidal stream. From there, the track climbs somewhat steeply up a small hill.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw4VaV7jnNY9BslleGsZ-x1gKgUlv_TGJFrPgZQEtv3z8asL3aqjj3HLXfZrFw4F8PbhvRJqye5LXAxME8__swqmAooVQvk96AVCVZorN_Sby_122YNTBqzIRHJnXHyj5EcwouwbVZveek_KCa20AmvjC0UBVMuDzqPUkqJ8K3mXQG3ts_PTaDI6JwA/s4032/20230502_153852.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw4VaV7jnNY9BslleGsZ-x1gKgUlv_TGJFrPgZQEtv3z8asL3aqjj3HLXfZrFw4F8PbhvRJqye5LXAxME8__swqmAooVQvk96AVCVZorN_Sby_122YNTBqzIRHJnXHyj5EcwouwbVZveek_KCa20AmvjC0UBVMuDzqPUkqJ8K3mXQG3ts_PTaDI6JwA/w640-h480/20230502_153852.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNuLCqYODdqhNRVETMjyW-2Ftk2uY3OburMX-QzDw8lBnpVc9Xgg-YFuDlAQ0eQk2D7kvi2QijOaSlq_TYA0E-PTFiDVXik1GL5NzyafYX7rq4312GocZnM-BdLKD-ATFRScfWQnw1r9Q2P77gdrT_jA4RjmEocm1Z__Qi07qJHIpbJ3Hrg8zyZ3A7A/s4032/20230502_155953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNuLCqYODdqhNRVETMjyW-2Ftk2uY3OburMX-QzDw8lBnpVc9Xgg-YFuDlAQ0eQk2D7kvi2QijOaSlq_TYA0E-PTFiDVXik1GL5NzyafYX7rq4312GocZnM-BdLKD-ATFRScfWQnw1r9Q2P77gdrT_jA4RjmEocm1Z__Qi07qJHIpbJ3Hrg8zyZ3A7A/w640-h480/20230502_155953.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNa9iLNGJzrcjhYX7dgag-Rtdeo708Ftw3fTtl0Xc0qSrM-LlNVwfVAn2hUUrQ17SxOu12o_0gOrJaR9siR4cGXdujH8HWU727Wzdza65QKQIwGHkUVCQcu3tz8ucZt3fDxcBlBeonpZiyW6cgc-cvTPz1_UVu5Y0FzcCxNpq0Y2gmqTDPRUGm8bCUQ/s5472/IMG_5677.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNa9iLNGJzrcjhYX7dgag-Rtdeo708Ftw3fTtl0Xc0qSrM-LlNVwfVAn2hUUrQ17SxOu12o_0gOrJaR9siR4cGXdujH8HWU727Wzdza65QKQIwGHkUVCQcu3tz8ucZt3fDxcBlBeonpZiyW6cgc-cvTPz1_UVu5Y0FzcCxNpq0Y2gmqTDPRUGm8bCUQ/w426-h640/IMG_5677.JPG" width="426"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maori Beach suspension bridge<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1hU2G-Ru5P9AG0d-I3yl-ant51uJXbRbxW5B6IJVL1mAqeGAA07Lt9y_0LEUxvSZ9vMq9BelQuCmXurWVZOPpyxOJRdF3p_syat6RlKaG_KJrbL5Bvz0up00Od7r1SmdA9leJ5oI_Ib1VGHDzCZwlTrU2VQ_z2945yf21NwOMFZdCB5jWN1Z3NN6CA/s4032/20230502_161408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1hU2G-Ru5P9AG0d-I3yl-ant51uJXbRbxW5B6IJVL1mAqeGAA07Lt9y_0LEUxvSZ9vMq9BelQuCmXurWVZOPpyxOJRdF3p_syat6RlKaG_KJrbL5Bvz0up00Od7r1SmdA9leJ5oI_Ib1VGHDzCZwlTrU2VQ_z2945yf21NwOMFZdCB5jWN1Z3NN6CA/w400-h300/20230502_161408.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGe7b5ZfuAOwj2ulwFcHTMMta6m4bTnEQlZSloisXeFjQLxUq3QBhdi-n_2RO3feQO5gP3FrSN0M1RqNU7c6kaerpCQ4tand9SjnKgthqSGgLAtOcm44io2R-fsuIJ5rTAuo8s9kafu9kllAcQxF13grxjvhcckfJQ4IbFNn-piDUU9UDvikG_SrIhA/s4608/20230502_163339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGe7b5ZfuAOwj2ulwFcHTMMta6m4bTnEQlZSloisXeFjQLxUq3QBhdi-n_2RO3feQO5gP3FrSN0M1RqNU7c6kaerpCQ4tand9SjnKgthqSGgLAtOcm44io2R-fsuIJ5rTAuo8s9kafu9kllAcQxF13grxjvhcckfJQ4IbFNn-piDUU9UDvikG_SrIhA/w300-h400/20230502_163339.jpg" width="300"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEhPDSZ_iSo6o24m-HXh4Z6GoBktTuCW_uVFupVL2tjhumxARNuD3_yKlP0YTgNkMcHYwbhIiGhi3TrZ9QeJTZ3ZYEOfpjqub6Iat4qUpvVDKXYSL_fJyPdU1xnKndEuG3P9JW9b8Qy8jh560HwLa6j5qeicE5xp8GpCqF3Ae2E0_PG-6ZXAR9fX1RA/s5472/IMG_5686.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEhPDSZ_iSo6o24m-HXh4Z6GoBktTuCW_uVFupVL2tjhumxARNuD3_yKlP0YTgNkMcHYwbhIiGhi3TrZ9QeJTZ3ZYEOfpjqub6Iat4qUpvVDKXYSL_fJyPdU1xnKndEuG3P9JW9b8Qy8jh560HwLa6j5qeicE5xp8GpCqF3Ae2E0_PG-6ZXAR9fX1RA/w400-h266/IMG_5686.JPG" width="400"> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_coHJOxFAT0pn2a4PASbX9QmATK2YhOr0uf7tbw-1tgCHH73j7ArQIOWpckaYxc4BiFlINBSmC9GrVZD4v8hcaczBLKHP7_d-aB63-TuHVyx4S-zYC4lYllW7X7Lgg_t2yFUQ_W-bhgGUYLq5jC_12Dgl0SIVn87iJxjwrevEheKuZkdZJP3IOOZnDA/s5472/IMG_5690.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_coHJOxFAT0pn2a4PASbX9QmATK2YhOr0uf7tbw-1tgCHH73j7ArQIOWpckaYxc4BiFlINBSmC9GrVZD4v8hcaczBLKHP7_d-aB63-TuHVyx4S-zYC4lYllW7X7Lgg_t2yFUQ_W-bhgGUYLq5jC_12Dgl0SIVn87iJxjwrevEheKuZkdZJP3IOOZnDA/w400-h266/IMG_5690.JPG" width="400"></a></div></div><p>About 1.2 km from the bridge, a junction with the track to North Arm Hut is reached. It's a further 1.9 km to my stop for the night, Port William Hut.<br>The track to Port William ambles down hill toward Magnetic Beach.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8j9P7XXupHO7RDYJGa7aDKle5Pcnb9QnjePD70AT_DWOkhqiTAXnUdpK3Y23OG1wxCYJwaAfvPXSYWVW3WK_rgbIsop7HUEhykOeJgKmFO5pqhdIuN1-t0C4yZGBEZXG_bbSrkeFDrTuhE_izFbLlIbK8pWDqNNGCawa_84fUL_wxbwA2WM7Y1hAVg/s5472/IMG_5692.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8j9P7XXupHO7RDYJGa7aDKle5Pcnb9QnjePD70AT_DWOkhqiTAXnUdpK3Y23OG1wxCYJwaAfvPXSYWVW3WK_rgbIsop7HUEhykOeJgKmFO5pqhdIuN1-t0C4yZGBEZXG_bbSrkeFDrTuhE_izFbLlIbK8pWDqNNGCawa_84fUL_wxbwA2WM7Y1hAVg/w640-h426/IMG_5692.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiz3ZJaiWl_pD8USmbYrz49VGblr5faXjk_wn8setJXkM3ZxJsbl_O_XfIwSbkTI9xy3L0weJkBOIFJZ7BmhGIoGbbb7PXmatQ75yASGJpV3bslslMfYFbSoxcwVs2mE_6d17NaVKhqiku6jAC03ScX9Kj8dTEQvJdr39_qhLBTP_NaXhmiUXf0Dyjw/s5472/IMG_5693.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiz3ZJaiWl_pD8USmbYrz49VGblr5faXjk_wn8setJXkM3ZxJsbl_O_XfIwSbkTI9xy3L0weJkBOIFJZ7BmhGIoGbbb7PXmatQ75yASGJpV3bslslMfYFbSoxcwVs2mE_6d17NaVKhqiku6jAC03ScX9Kj8dTEQvJdr39_qhLBTP_NaXhmiUXf0Dyjw/w640-h426/IMG_5693.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHBAffdsXQgn8c6MLPQBMfvKpBLIC5-6OICOk99Sc5HrsQ78GTR1NQP8y3TQvlXBmMKktl_v3W0oHsBg6RyFlH61bXyKByD8E7rn5H8GYingZV3HGmpylGGmiLxqPF2TE2Mf8dpFi6pVtXqXSfKORej8vfwRvvAVbHNyEpXMy7hhEq1COHQ-WNA3Dog/s5472/IMG_5694.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHBAffdsXQgn8c6MLPQBMfvKpBLIC5-6OICOk99Sc5HrsQ78GTR1NQP8y3TQvlXBmMKktl_v3W0oHsBg6RyFlH61bXyKByD8E7rn5H8GYingZV3HGmpylGGmiLxqPF2TE2Mf8dpFi6pVtXqXSfKORej8vfwRvvAVbHNyEpXMy7hhEq1COHQ-WNA3Dog/w640-h426/IMG_5694.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKXGAbS-SF-UJHb6-ANM-O_Z7hpJBfS2RHaX4vtHgb6KagHKyq5PKqbo9tze2ZpBMV59hU_w2uEEFZxd-i9kWyvK3NNNfxyaHunaAhW-ASup3gci4HZB82LmRU7CRrwuJJtYb0FtKUpohV12gaL4J6b0klX-JLG_DEMvpZtUO8rbXPfp8XynFeMRPpA/s5472/IMG_5698.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKXGAbS-SF-UJHb6-ANM-O_Z7hpJBfS2RHaX4vtHgb6KagHKyq5PKqbo9tze2ZpBMV59hU_w2uEEFZxd-i9kWyvK3NNNfxyaHunaAhW-ASup3gci4HZB82LmRU7CRrwuJJtYb0FtKUpohV12gaL4J6b0klX-JLG_DEMvpZtUO8rbXPfp8XynFeMRPpA/w640-h426/IMG_5698.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhQuzAhG_RsbP437IBpwikI4_Ogm4XqRNHKnlcO-mqRwBiWM5b4aV3FGiMUvfsbL97AeI9n6Ney9zllerGCMypJGj5NavXoexZd3Vtq2U3iXgPXtF_izh7-S0sBgc7Yatske0OH433un61ccfudRaKulQR5pZXQNgLDCz4-ARSR2L8WwkBS3mliKeiw/s5472/IMG_5700.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhQuzAhG_RsbP437IBpwikI4_Ogm4XqRNHKnlcO-mqRwBiWM5b4aV3FGiMUvfsbL97AeI9n6Ney9zllerGCMypJGj5NavXoexZd3Vtq2U3iXgPXtF_izh7-S0sBgc7Yatske0OH433un61ccfudRaKulQR5pZXQNgLDCz4-ARSR2L8WwkBS3mliKeiw/w640-h426/IMG_5700.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>The Port William camp site is passed first, before heading back in to the bush briefly, where there is a track leading to a wharf. A few minutes later, I arrived at the hut, which sits in a large clearing just back from the beach. As it transpired, I needn't have worried quite so much about reaching the hut before dark - I arrived right on 5 pm with about half an hour of daylight to spare, covering the 8.3 km to the hut in 2 hours 35 minutes.<br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQB9sfg0jf3GR6JyCzzSReBcewQXeF6pqNQiePa2cOr1UtL02qAkS5BKvLmQ9E41ANF6pttNFoNQhPCbcjfERosVOe9lacPUpaZvw2S2c1YYhWvsFwY6dVGaGr2f2_YJFmS-xR5M-3OD_jZbh8oiMOkK85HhCM5gFHNDCoQ0Pcc7aER9gFQtoxbQ8ww/s5472/IMG_5707.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQB9sfg0jf3GR6JyCzzSReBcewQXeF6pqNQiePa2cOr1UtL02qAkS5BKvLmQ9E41ANF6pttNFoNQhPCbcjfERosVOe9lacPUpaZvw2S2c1YYhWvsFwY6dVGaGr2f2_YJFmS-xR5M-3OD_jZbh8oiMOkK85HhCM5gFHNDCoQ0Pcc7aER9gFQtoxbQ8ww/w640-h426/IMG_5707.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvxA6JfSAv69r6spv7iX01ACelQfdVERgr_vPleXqQCgrqOcVdjdE7qJ9vE7_oHUlVb0qne_wYlqqVrH-qeBLZhbDDfNGpeIF_jb3yWkj-9wH4fUrwtmkHSAbaQWP4rcrdbpuE8AtdXuK4RyyRnKcEco0pYxXw7sOeqxYcrkMp-l_MBdeS5LqAupEzQ/s5472/IMG_5709.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvxA6JfSAv69r6spv7iX01ACelQfdVERgr_vPleXqQCgrqOcVdjdE7qJ9vE7_oHUlVb0qne_wYlqqVrH-qeBLZhbDDfNGpeIF_jb3yWkj-9wH4fUrwtmkHSAbaQWP4rcrdbpuE8AtdXuK4RyyRnKcEco0pYxXw7sOeqxYcrkMp-l_MBdeS5LqAupEzQ/w640-h426/IMG_5709.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVqjmZl4RrE9H_PakxidAHETYFaoqddYq4RJ5YsTOIDaVyvG6nzymQ4NJFTHz2vxaxZEodpSzSIXTv6D_woPIvoc2hflJkl-Pkwhb0lN6C9somUyPvKZ31O7C5MCbkMm2dHrR39iNMBpTf1jRohJLZwpAupf4OBYstOX1GmVNvoxXOq139UtOvyYSeQ/s5472/IMG_5730.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVqjmZl4RrE9H_PakxidAHETYFaoqddYq4RJ5YsTOIDaVyvG6nzymQ4NJFTHz2vxaxZEodpSzSIXTv6D_woPIvoc2hflJkl-Pkwhb0lN6C9somUyPvKZ31O7C5MCbkMm2dHrR39iNMBpTf1jRohJLZwpAupf4OBYstOX1GmVNvoxXOq139UtOvyYSeQ/w640-h426/IMG_5730.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port William Hut<br></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The hut has a spacious communal area with plenty of bench and a couple of sinks, though space was not really an issue with a half full hut.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheEzCoExGdq4p-uuyfCfeO-0zwLqO_4VvjBGKw4Ki_0Jej_Mnn7TIU-Zew2xADG6qWxbl1WCefBio8w-6TKEBWi5zQ6DPkmAVTkpMzRBr5SrIZ-l4IpYN_LENk_4uKU9CNqNC3F056MKqeDQkfGk0KF0vzeipAhVSdelUXIQ7qnC8pEKHGFoVIB1eUQ/s5472/IMG_5721.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheEzCoExGdq4p-uuyfCfeO-0zwLqO_4VvjBGKw4Ki_0Jej_Mnn7TIU-Zew2xADG6qWxbl1WCefBio8w-6TKEBWi5zQ6DPkmAVTkpMzRBr5SrIZ-l4IpYN_LENk_4uKU9CNqNC3F056MKqeDQkfGk0KF0vzeipAhVSdelUXIQ7qnC8pEKHGFoVIB1eUQ/w640-h426/IMG_5721.JPG" width="640"></a></div> I began day 2 with a coffee at a picnic table over-looking the beach. It was a sunny morning and I ambled about taking some photos drinking more coffee.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjCyjN4JFxXeKThJN5NW0LDtWoHFx6M4stuFYHCz_UT4O3_Yu6CCOjQPJRv5U-H31f-o_xXEHckEa4lR4GfY2Me0JofTQ_DJH9DzylUSQHXfIlQu6YzNBOG7xfv0adq_fyub3AN2nli0dgMa8R64fx4TNlea8tEj4Dq1KWT3MDCpTUDqlZJuuaAY9Kg/s4032/20230503_073330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjCyjN4JFxXeKThJN5NW0LDtWoHFx6M4stuFYHCz_UT4O3_Yu6CCOjQPJRv5U-H31f-o_xXEHckEa4lR4GfY2Me0JofTQ_DJH9DzylUSQHXfIlQu6YzNBOG7xfv0adq_fyub3AN2nli0dgMa8R64fx4TNlea8tEj4Dq1KWT3MDCpTUDqlZJuuaAY9Kg/w480-h640/20230503_073330.jpg" width="480"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAsy8w_zn6IdeBNmhgXlMeX3UPjBDRgQochdLS6kv6CXKa2d2Qt3ylzgpaRRJRDeEP2LHf9mFSVDiTUK3IK0oErgoXbzsfZEcCYqvqeAo_4Q7_mEMeWs3i0hQcN9jB6_l2LQW5fGhD654EbHXDIPIJ3uUCaVb0JSlBUkwLUauSwUTOdZbDFYbbP86eg/s4032/20230503_074017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAsy8w_zn6IdeBNmhgXlMeX3UPjBDRgQochdLS6kv6CXKa2d2Qt3ylzgpaRRJRDeEP2LHf9mFSVDiTUK3IK0oErgoXbzsfZEcCYqvqeAo_4Q7_mEMeWs3i0hQcN9jB6_l2LQW5fGhD654EbHXDIPIJ3uUCaVb0JSlBUkwLUauSwUTOdZbDFYbbP86eg/w640-h480/20230503_074017.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNXKPUsR7nlcPywrNg0igNSJJlaZZGRQmMBNJ1GkCE71hMHnTlU4B2mf1yNEBnxiiPiYhZ9BLHO-7DU4-ycu3eCNoClgUZ1Z3jrbKwkzS7d2HujVjWOyLrk1PyPO3qzATmQMc5IlQ2opjQFkCD6uTdGNZPOoPXp_9JCr0OeJWqwNsZW5Noid0XFBU_g/s4608/20230503_074522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNXKPUsR7nlcPywrNg0igNSJJlaZZGRQmMBNJ1GkCE71hMHnTlU4B2mf1yNEBnxiiPiYhZ9BLHO-7DU4-ycu3eCNoClgUZ1Z3jrbKwkzS7d2HujVjWOyLrk1PyPO3qzATmQMc5IlQ2opjQFkCD6uTdGNZPOoPXp_9JCr0OeJWqwNsZW5Noid0XFBU_g/w640-h480/20230503_074522.jpg" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HU0e3z9jJ0diw-D8Br6H1jn3qlWDFdgy7VF9YGQRKWija-VE69vJZG-OBK_bPebkMAWPmMKQuaTy7iat97IG6vEYQuiMIGmSsXyMrfsppviJX7Wjt0D1lyKrKoZSA1NLYWVof08CAJYmvuZlKv7lWwpAr-Bdbv8ca0E89REBDQWG1olh6DReQI6m3Q/s5472/IMG_5733.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HU0e3z9jJ0diw-D8Br6H1jn3qlWDFdgy7VF9YGQRKWija-VE69vJZG-OBK_bPebkMAWPmMKQuaTy7iat97IG6vEYQuiMIGmSsXyMrfsppviJX7Wjt0D1lyKrKoZSA1NLYWVof08CAJYmvuZlKv7lWwpAr-Bdbv8ca0E89REBDQWG1olh6DReQI6m3Q/w640-h426/IMG_5733.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlpYgJ3e-zR80vnm_CBgSX58HeMIcYmxLgkVTzD7u113rvKePhvHvlcB2MN37PzhuPO-X9kANKxbpWWP1B0RC_a6_5k2j2meMYEimYn2FkgSQP09tvCkUft8hxSV5mrxGSSGmYp1jYQ9DFeKFqu1aOrmoeRVtHfeIHBcPBZyC_-FjB_1qjZQ2Gw1NBQ/s5472/IMG_5735.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlpYgJ3e-zR80vnm_CBgSX58HeMIcYmxLgkVTzD7u113rvKePhvHvlcB2MN37PzhuPO-X9kANKxbpWWP1B0RC_a6_5k2j2meMYEimYn2FkgSQP09tvCkUft8hxSV5mrxGSSGmYp1jYQ9DFeKFqu1aOrmoeRVtHfeIHBcPBZyC_-FjB_1qjZQ2Gw1NBQ/w400-h266/IMG_5735.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yUsBlguDqKZRB4cjotu8OkOPysltyPMXHKtqp2CpivTSbkZ0VmStiubQi1SnPeVKtWYoVFpij0HEZ9gZR1mnmsHxXcW7boZohSIIefhFA7Hibk5dlfNq0xuX2EeV55MW-b08-g9go3Lr7jrKTBbvCkLQ4SMgOl3cVScyAu65hMbq_ywpi4NaG2r_JA/s5472/IMG_5744.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yUsBlguDqKZRB4cjotu8OkOPysltyPMXHKtqp2CpivTSbkZ0VmStiubQi1SnPeVKtWYoVFpij0HEZ9gZR1mnmsHxXcW7boZohSIIefhFA7Hibk5dlfNq0xuX2EeV55MW-b08-g9go3Lr7jrKTBbvCkLQ4SMgOl3cVScyAu65hMbq_ywpi4NaG2r_JA/w640-h426/IMG_5744.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>Shortly before 10 am I was getting ready to leave when a boat dropped of a couple of DOC rangers who had some post-great walk season maintenance to perform.<br>Day two starts with some back-tracking to the North Arm Hut junction. Unsurprisingly for me, the track back is a little less pleasant in an uphill direction.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfOV26uHE8anQEJl1BtS9JXbhb-mq4BDMYB9ZUHmlhcVAl9_e9FlaesOiqBnxmqn2BOPOuq2Ju1f2bYnz-l-PDncb7zg8uIuLimAxB1ENBmQF1SsRMp4888T9uWYpLXqzIqACwzJTawZhRO_2r5KLj4t5sA-t9AT0DD63a6qVPTUbrzO1O_TzqtYL9A/s5472/IMG_5749.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfOV26uHE8anQEJl1BtS9JXbhb-mq4BDMYB9ZUHmlhcVAl9_e9FlaesOiqBnxmqn2BOPOuq2Ju1f2bYnz-l-PDncb7zg8uIuLimAxB1ENBmQF1SsRMp4888T9uWYpLXqzIqACwzJTawZhRO_2r5KLj4t5sA-t9AT0DD63a6qVPTUbrzO1O_TzqtYL9A/w400-h266/IMG_5749.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa2r6WoL_ln6IjAdu7FHPRWrdTWGxXnT5BtoChFqrH-kMJRMFiQTq2e3ymywKHI1PZ64jygddTbV5H0ZQ9IyV-lCKTIGKhJvkW92zfkf_0fzEbDszn_xMnZIGmN7P8rVczYTovGjQ2-LTNmkTPlPS9f5cEg6gcb_5LvX_Kw575vw5F4c1yn3TfF4NHA/s5472/IMG_5751.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa2r6WoL_ln6IjAdu7FHPRWrdTWGxXnT5BtoChFqrH-kMJRMFiQTq2e3ymywKHI1PZ64jygddTbV5H0ZQ9IyV-lCKTIGKhJvkW92zfkf_0fzEbDszn_xMnZIGmN7P8rVczYTovGjQ2-LTNmkTPlPS9f5cEg6gcb_5LvX_Kw575vw5F4c1yn3TfF4NHA/w400-h266/IMG_5751.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1Y2IIuUyRXZPwvXdHxZvkzxT1JwEeooNNxvQzfAgM48B6l2JmoC0R76Dc4bhhlbKHWixeZ4zOdFTX7t6U_H1DsO8GQECvkdAA0KLMvCqmfwJnLlrsaKOaRJnsJyhuPCMVKRE2Lb5zuv9MWy36PE2tRB25sI4s6TZSubv8CPNWy4042QyXRD8Nx52yA/s5472/IMG_5760.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1Y2IIuUyRXZPwvXdHxZvkzxT1JwEeooNNxvQzfAgM48B6l2JmoC0R76Dc4bhhlbKHWixeZ4zOdFTX7t6U_H1DsO8GQECvkdAA0KLMvCqmfwJnLlrsaKOaRJnsJyhuPCMVKRE2Lb5zuv9MWy36PE2tRB25sI4s6TZSubv8CPNWy4042QyXRD8Nx52yA/w266-h400/IMG_5760.JPG" width="266"></a></div><p>Today's track has a reputation for being extremely muddy, initially though it's the same standard as the track that has come before. The forest changes as I follow the track further inland, with more large trees towering over head. There's never a large change in altitude, though what brief ascents and descents there are can be steep.<br>About 2.5 km from Port William Hut, the track passes by some more milling relics - a couple of old log haulers used to drag logs along tramways from the milling site to the sawmills.<br>From here the trail descends to a tannin-stained stream.<br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE9YOJlDmCoJvv2sQj11tEdFE_5siq-iqwCCjhLAtGsyaQOSP8RIr6NLzIb4fGgVyaOQl3MgQJskHbx2ftOsh3G8eqzGlpDMbzQWjnFNtTORQsLi5QdJRdr0kfU1OO4jUp5LqiKK5eMGc0TVI3VDgFJ0nn-D1ydpLqMRPmUIeznt_t3zqvKYz0_R9Ag/s5472/IMG_5765.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE9YOJlDmCoJvv2sQj11tEdFE_5siq-iqwCCjhLAtGsyaQOSP8RIr6NLzIb4fGgVyaOQl3MgQJskHbx2ftOsh3G8eqzGlpDMbzQWjnFNtTORQsLi5QdJRdr0kfU1OO4jUp5LqiKK5eMGc0TVI3VDgFJ0nn-D1ydpLqMRPmUIeznt_t3zqvKYz0_R9Ag/w400-h266/IMG_5765.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jFxA_zxr_Qn14aiUGeoByf0ZXVbV2s5vOVkZY7_ffdrnp8sX0mg9x0BxzvGpcG-MQ13V7HZLvdLJ_rmKCN0v8JAWSdafcNfnmRABwS8R_NIcELtIYOaHxajXpG3DgA9QCkOzBObDusx6oihIgGhhz0kjRwjWt-0POuRjAsSeZXBkBNnfR_4hbbm0MQ/s5472/IMG_5767.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jFxA_zxr_Qn14aiUGeoByf0ZXVbV2s5vOVkZY7_ffdrnp8sX0mg9x0BxzvGpcG-MQ13V7HZLvdLJ_rmKCN0v8JAWSdafcNfnmRABwS8R_NIcELtIYOaHxajXpG3DgA9QCkOzBObDusx6oihIgGhhz0kjRwjWt-0POuRjAsSeZXBkBNnfR_4hbbm0MQ/w400-h266/IMG_5767.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzA2uWswggwnrcdWWIm8EZIxE3--8S--Apy7h4K1SVTC1rtqJEiJI2zWj-3I1d54f3GBRhtBI_hAy-lKdI_5COdE93onnBOaELLp7sKetEg7yjyH_xOtnrT4yt4TLGj5_SL4uTA2AOptWZSMlweicAufHYPHYnwOKXwYEtaAq01zScSdIXcrpZIkP-A/s5472/IMG_5770.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzA2uWswggwnrcdWWIm8EZIxE3--8S--Apy7h4K1SVTC1rtqJEiJI2zWj-3I1d54f3GBRhtBI_hAy-lKdI_5COdE93onnBOaELLp7sKetEg7yjyH_xOtnrT4yt4TLGj5_SL4uTA2AOptWZSMlweicAufHYPHYnwOKXwYEtaAq01zScSdIXcrpZIkP-A/w400-h266/IMG_5770.JPG" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O L D<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXHaDOvOntYjDjYzDFm5G--QTK4W9bJm2twu2DWEWIKf4k1i5aXcK_fVOh3g0pXGoQa4tzdE8zxGTG3iDx1CBDY2PRqkKW3wx4vcKIvlIZs9mWTvrXjCr28JdwEWMAdji6YdWIDJyjJL2lhQrGA796125sXp_1P8EhcVLel8s4d_KJD0Ev7CPvqpyNQ/s5472/IMG_5774.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXHaDOvOntYjDjYzDFm5G--QTK4W9bJm2twu2DWEWIKf4k1i5aXcK_fVOh3g0pXGoQa4tzdE8zxGTG3iDx1CBDY2PRqkKW3wx4vcKIvlIZs9mWTvrXjCr28JdwEWMAdji6YdWIDJyjJL2lhQrGA796125sXp_1P8EhcVLel8s4d_KJD0Ev7CPvqpyNQ/w640-h426/IMG_5774.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>After crossing the bridge, there's a nice wee clearing with a convenient sitting log where I took a quick break to rehydrate and snack.<br>Now well and truly deep into the forest, the track undulates around the flank of a small hill, eventually crossing a bridge over another stream. Along the way I passed one of the people who was at Port William last night. After crossing the stream, the track climbs steeply to an almost-plateau of sorts.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0F1xtjrTp2UKqezwIpYGyLsvvD5lYXt59cHq_5OXfONx44JPq5ZHntcRa6XFiEdcTlA5hz5lOOKr0y-ymsOTrCCpBVikDel6tTFfh7bIkZXZiwrln53tfMC44twqBQ49wZxlynZwriFKOWLFjPMH2Xh2vN1GAOnciUSK49Ay2EV-eSIGgi3CGTE4Lw/s5472/IMG_5777.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0F1xtjrTp2UKqezwIpYGyLsvvD5lYXt59cHq_5OXfONx44JPq5ZHntcRa6XFiEdcTlA5hz5lOOKr0y-ymsOTrCCpBVikDel6tTFfh7bIkZXZiwrln53tfMC44twqBQ49wZxlynZwriFKOWLFjPMH2Xh2vN1GAOnciUSK49Ay2EV-eSIGgi3CGTE4Lw/w426-h640/IMG_5777.JPG" width="426"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYoiouysIcIwSD-tn1eMc1_n_eeoM9dE_KOfXyCqaod6ECb2BZdmr-KGKum-JENGjdxCBcxTcaHlIj0JuHqQjTJHtemMSBmYBJ2nkl31a5De_J1qL0VRPItM2_bMmE5S43nWaco_XzxN8cIgFm7a10MYkzDNj369kpc2YXgRwm6wvQMhmG_ciNxq8gw/s5472/IMG_5780.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYoiouysIcIwSD-tn1eMc1_n_eeoM9dE_KOfXyCqaod6ECb2BZdmr-KGKum-JENGjdxCBcxTcaHlIj0JuHqQjTJHtemMSBmYBJ2nkl31a5De_J1qL0VRPItM2_bMmE5S43nWaco_XzxN8cIgFm7a10MYkzDNj369kpc2YXgRwm6wvQMhmG_ciNxq8gw/w400-h266/IMG_5780.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4s12Xt9utxG3V8qBoa8PJ7AAbYdtuu9gVIEPiLDG3xmzBghgcMushXDShu5obN3LnOFyZ3R1RI0OfoOBxJ-62gAlSeDkIroiyzgsvkUfxq9Oag5OxNcKvXgU8C3dQPfr_QzYI8NxJQlYpvkvp9ARwsSRSTlLCkErntOpP7pQsK6pMABnXMFSw4ruNQ/s5472/IMG_5788.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4s12Xt9utxG3V8qBoa8PJ7AAbYdtuu9gVIEPiLDG3xmzBghgcMushXDShu5obN3LnOFyZ3R1RI0OfoOBxJ-62gAlSeDkIroiyzgsvkUfxq9Oag5OxNcKvXgU8C3dQPfr_QzYI8NxJQlYpvkvp9ARwsSRSTlLCkErntOpP7pQsK6pMABnXMFSw4ruNQ/w640-h426/IMG_5788.JPG" width="640"></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgqPUdqJWYqJbxSnz8yKzCbu2doQ4Xwb52kb9CA4z7IP981J4is4Yms5u1z5HRcGpxvwkz90F43GR6GcJFYjxB9evaS4sMX1Z_kFHp-PEYGU-gZ8U2obfzwW4-QS3uFAOI5hwfQRjYjuYn82ItqfIudVpiCPk-cgD9KCfJKAZilwmGZTVC9JiX0n__g/s5472/IMG_5789.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgqPUdqJWYqJbxSnz8yKzCbu2doQ4Xwb52kb9CA4z7IP981J4is4Yms5u1z5HRcGpxvwkz90F43GR6GcJFYjxB9evaS4sMX1Z_kFHp-PEYGU-gZ8U2obfzwW4-QS3uFAOI5hwfQRjYjuYn82ItqfIudVpiCPk-cgD9KCfJKAZilwmGZTVC9JiX0n__g/w400-h266/IMG_5789.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p>Huffing and puffing my way up the incline, I stopped near the top for a breather only to be passed by the person I had passed earlier as well as a trio of Canadians who had left the hut after me.<br>It's somewhere around here that the patches of foretold mud begins in earnest. Most of the time, somewhere under the mud is at the very least the memory of a formed track bed, so ploughing straight on through the middle is often perfectly fine and I found that largely the mud wasn't deeper than boot height.<br>There was, however, the odd occasion where I plunged far to confidently into mud that ended up being most the way up my calf. Needless to say, gaiters earn their keep here.</p><p>Some of these photos are a bit out of order because Blogger decided to rearrange them and is even worse than Word when it comes to nuking your formatting if you try moving an image around. <br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Xu6lBDtzFu5t9oR0HYKTRG2BTf67oGdB0Tf6EocrLk01dba_Xct4R8Q7v3CiV1COjy2alkkk9EA0Voq98morMoSahOd8Lz7BS4G1SQy1snQqjtzXIa0j3mN9wieWEN6huYwg-WCWh0yTKiG_HRGmOWwEXkQGykWeZd_l2SWCysvqO-0rggEYwXvK1w/s5472/IMG_5800.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Xu6lBDtzFu5t9oR0HYKTRG2BTf67oGdB0Tf6EocrLk01dba_Xct4R8Q7v3CiV1COjy2alkkk9EA0Voq98morMoSahOd8Lz7BS4G1SQy1snQqjtzXIa0j3mN9wieWEN6huYwg-WCWh0yTKiG_HRGmOWwEXkQGykWeZd_l2SWCysvqO-0rggEYwXvK1w/w266-h400/IMG_5800.JPG" width="266"></a></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNuMiWmbPKGOowvVIAJAJcaZ_EcSuYOQ0h2TrcQA2FOlysaUQTUt-JtCJD4DKvHqZDta_CWkMECttxAPNgcljhM2j4bziU3ryDHCDGJn75YlCfX4uuRo9J4COrbi6u8-pTLHvs6zT0OMS8MAPrmEYdQQcLxSJ2J6MgvBvVAEjg0r2b1PT0mZ_JFv1oQ/s5472/IMG_5815.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNuMiWmbPKGOowvVIAJAJcaZ_EcSuYOQ0h2TrcQA2FOlysaUQTUt-JtCJD4DKvHqZDta_CWkMECttxAPNgcljhM2j4bziU3ryDHCDGJn75YlCfX4uuRo9J4COrbi6u8-pTLHvs6zT0OMS8MAPrmEYdQQcLxSJ2J6MgvBvVAEjg0r2b1PT0mZ_JFv1oQ/w400-h266/IMG_5815.JPG" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun tree<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZaiRJ88pJ3QNEBRqdmQ_b9vx6zqUGyk8xwIAjqNPWpgg4uBOyn-6TKfKLTY5CUA1rCYOGGQJPfWXc2BGFQh6Kx1AdTIwgMqFtIJgfwgVodA7-lEtbDYuJsPdJ_4ZMYDCXVAghU6weLqsZ9pKE0pdc-8jW9PVVFWBAzmNFJZ3uwIXbJ3a2UJ29TF-zg/s4608/20230503_121638.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZaiRJ88pJ3QNEBRqdmQ_b9vx6zqUGyk8xwIAjqNPWpgg4uBOyn-6TKfKLTY5CUA1rCYOGGQJPfWXc2BGFQh6Kx1AdTIwgMqFtIJgfwgVodA7-lEtbDYuJsPdJ_4ZMYDCXVAghU6weLqsZ9pKE0pdc-8jW9PVVFWBAzmNFJZ3uwIXbJ3a2UJ29TF-zg/w300-h400/20230503_121638.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud</td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp49EQxlnpiFh_GmhWnQRZFEUzHC1tC1Lro5lw6zmWw3mcZZMmP2yZLCjYM1KdOdsQaDy67DH1UhgtsM-Yn2RUUQm0tC9MXMZlAdJ-ulvShBc06-pDNvosWd2OWh_RmpiLFd_hB1fcGWrkvNkE1sviUm2VSljXPsL69jGJt2wORsixPGbLO3Nb5KVlQ/s5472/IMG_5806.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp49EQxlnpiFh_GmhWnQRZFEUzHC1tC1Lro5lw6zmWw3mcZZMmP2yZLCjYM1KdOdsQaDy67DH1UhgtsM-Yn2RUUQm0tC9MXMZlAdJ-ulvShBc06-pDNvosWd2OWh_RmpiLFd_hB1fcGWrkvNkE1sviUm2VSljXPsL69jGJt2wORsixPGbLO3Nb5KVlQ/w400-h266/IMG_5806.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-2bjRkeF4ZNBDKF0r8PR1VcTi3QOiD3o2SCwCGSqPFPIg5ZQmCZfWU4g253hp69etgaMb5IgoKRld44gfqDwuFkUz5TMlLhfdghZdUq_GaoaQJQkb8xoUqppxd5lQfJo4fwQsDX8tZ_8dz1owQycUaqRtvYy2mOX0oaINeyhrZdYSvbPZumUzNmTfg/s5472/IMG_5809.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-2bjRkeF4ZNBDKF0r8PR1VcTi3QOiD3o2SCwCGSqPFPIg5ZQmCZfWU4g253hp69etgaMb5IgoKRld44gfqDwuFkUz5TMlLhfdghZdUq_GaoaQJQkb8xoUqppxd5lQfJo4fwQsDX8tZ_8dz1owQycUaqRtvYy2mOX0oaINeyhrZdYSvbPZumUzNmTfg/w400-h266/IMG_5809.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk47X7LonPx40WY728tkOlZhqkHX3peVS0Yw1qY70q4ELoR7unkJg3S_eOnDMpyhW1aHIvjze4V3V-Ch6PI5tml3zL4Fk7_lz_iQPauRbkZNpFWlDrc5cCUIdy0AL2crDvi-VpCAHKrJqye7O4zJVTw28Zyjc-Lqt0Nh0Ag1sRngs5nF4cSRbKwyWd2g/s5472/IMG_5813.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk47X7LonPx40WY728tkOlZhqkHX3peVS0Yw1qY70q4ELoR7unkJg3S_eOnDMpyhW1aHIvjze4V3V-Ch6PI5tml3zL4Fk7_lz_iQPauRbkZNpFWlDrc5cCUIdy0AL2crDvi-VpCAHKrJqye7O4zJVTw28Zyjc-Lqt0Nh0Ag1sRngs5nF4cSRbKwyWd2g/w266-h400/IMG_5813.JPG" width="266"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More mud<br></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Somewhere along the way, a pair of signposts pointing in the opposing directions of Port William and North Arm huts marks the halfway point of today's track. Further along, an old buoy hangs from a tree. I was told by the person at the DOC visitor centre that this marks half way - it was only now, pondering that it had been some distance since I'd passed the halfway signs, that it occured to me that the buoy indicates the mid point of the whole of the Rakiura track.</p><p>Somewhere along the way I passed a hut in the trees just off the track. Possibly for biodiversity/conservation work. After a while there's a gradual descent and a small creek is crossed. The foot bridge has a sign which bears an ominous missive to not cross if the water level is above the bridge deck. Another bridge further along carries the same warning.<br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9tBcSVAz4egLBDfIAMPGnM7SXs9ALNUR9P8J7IxOQbixsVksrn7DWRcG6ApYNauNnclct6bGVyS8lVNy_rpcraGHKJY20aJ3GtoZtuyegxmBuTlV1xtMu5XL8giglGA4-pUans2Vt7dtckMnvtdUXFK4yU9rwapu6K0ci4U5ERGO6c8MW7qHfPRDBw/s4032/20230503_135836.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9tBcSVAz4egLBDfIAMPGnM7SXs9ALNUR9P8J7IxOQbixsVksrn7DWRcG6ApYNauNnclct6bGVyS8lVNy_rpcraGHKJY20aJ3GtoZtuyegxmBuTlV1xtMu5XL8giglGA4-pUans2Vt7dtckMnvtdUXFK4yU9rwapu6K0ci4U5ERGO6c8MW7qHfPRDBw/w300-h400/20230503_135836.jpg" width="300"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P52NIsPCcpya-8nJ0_Kngj90YUgF-Zzgt7nkKzK7GzEcWTHBj2TyWZZ09qwGTdNJKGk2gQXmxGp6Sp2O3UlsClL2rpoOXFElKrQe0P6Dyu6URQq9yhGfM2fRIDCbSZrp2nvt2kr0zRT44-OJ2QqjFLVGtnUBoXRuVoy4lPHUVxEf848Lld69xfN9hA/s4032/20230503_140418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P52NIsPCcpya-8nJ0_Kngj90YUgF-Zzgt7nkKzK7GzEcWTHBj2TyWZZ09qwGTdNJKGk2gQXmxGp6Sp2O3UlsClL2rpoOXFElKrQe0P6Dyu6URQq9yhGfM2fRIDCbSZrp2nvt2kr0zRT44-OJ2QqjFLVGtnUBoXRuVoy4lPHUVxEf848Lld69xfN9hA/w400-h300/20230503_140418.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndkoc2y83TsCNQEhFCd8aLI49H06ceRSCA8YEKkLGIym9oq8OG659PpwoTqOh_zYs-uPP--COkVQzKbRpjIyPCrGNxLLDlWJbTkqw3p9OhlQjGPk_OK7XxlAlljXmJuCgzWbs3TaeXkDqIRHgBHyvvSB7mNvTlq39KjecspOiVT7nHkQSrIGgqUgTsA/s4608/20230503_141628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndkoc2y83TsCNQEhFCd8aLI49H06ceRSCA8YEKkLGIym9oq8OG659PpwoTqOh_zYs-uPP--COkVQzKbRpjIyPCrGNxLLDlWJbTkqw3p9OhlQjGPk_OK7XxlAlljXmJuCgzWbs3TaeXkDqIRHgBHyvvSB7mNvTlq39KjecspOiVT7nHkQSrIGgqUgTsA/w400-h300/20230503_141628.jpg" width="400"></a></div><p>North Arm Hut is tantalisingly close now, and the muddy sections are in the past. It's a pleasant walk for the remainder of the journey.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ROR_dqQ4yMzGfTGKzh43tVnNoZ43hcvvt15mrpCaIL3iTLgzA3GwWlYXTW6yx8viQIevOQARD7TWM8Eh-ENwqW37aVhCh-9dENGaGLJ5aRmiGVp3nR672smeVL6n9cAgsGqhiJ_dLNC00Z6eSieMlrSkRL4UAxvxbBG0DpJX98mQIDMRr10-fwwKNw/s5472/IMG_5820.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ROR_dqQ4yMzGfTGKzh43tVnNoZ43hcvvt15mrpCaIL3iTLgzA3GwWlYXTW6yx8viQIevOQARD7TWM8Eh-ENwqW37aVhCh-9dENGaGLJ5aRmiGVp3nR672smeVL6n9cAgsGqhiJ_dLNC00Z6eSieMlrSkRL4UAxvxbBG0DpJX98mQIDMRr10-fwwKNw/w400-h266/IMG_5820.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNsrXco2ikY3D1GmZXFuxP7iB8YwMV2XeOvpzSTe4rp-pvpB2d2xLoncQnULvt1CDKPZNqJAefQ5W6FhUBPHDLNOFHTS86v6SCUmP5Ar-7-vhGWhBL8sjxUWuYHl-G7KrkgNgvp5r-ZkU7JY2iCUv7WJ4wg5VFHpTUAuoRRiZySvWb4HX9_EQYjssHA/s4608/20230503_141628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNsrXco2ikY3D1GmZXFuxP7iB8YwMV2XeOvpzSTe4rp-pvpB2d2xLoncQnULvt1CDKPZNqJAefQ5W6FhUBPHDLNOFHTS86v6SCUmP5Ar-7-vhGWhBL8sjxUWuYHl-G7KrkgNgvp5r-ZkU7JY2iCUv7WJ4wg5VFHpTUAuoRRiZySvWb4HX9_EQYjssHA/s320/20230503_141628.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUXqQJDkm44QK2Gkv-dOFaxw533796cM046lAVko1Q5JSVveR96MzEzrZq_s0_H7l8YUItr5TbVVlHmJ1vZSWorXA4pDI3yIQod7qNehIiYTL-sYqaMbOSHKSy9wRXTpxqNQsPge1HDthIFKwgW6DHCz8A8TAJnfTOyROKZ45LxwNEvhd4-ovG6T6Qw/s4032/20230503_143246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUXqQJDkm44QK2Gkv-dOFaxw533796cM046lAVko1Q5JSVveR96MzEzrZq_s0_H7l8YUItr5TbVVlHmJ1vZSWorXA4pDI3yIQod7qNehIiYTL-sYqaMbOSHKSy9wRXTpxqNQsPge1HDthIFKwgW6DHCz8A8TAJnfTOyROKZ45LxwNEvhd4-ovG6T6Qw/s320/20230503_143246.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMCuBNtGYMbY6Bm1-GAHwUHyevV6CuQFkvdd1mRfBWfhKttV5JeI128ayUNul7K9UBqQQA56WK4G4UkFzGidJVOMH17Ct_GSoncYwozeDtvWs4p92sHdaiAnjTxu_0UuKgZvfiNKPMRT8TtJsyohBCei4LHlDgU7_ZZmA6LcBo84zIfL3wQN-SdnmfA/s5472/IMG_5829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMCuBNtGYMbY6Bm1-GAHwUHyevV6CuQFkvdd1mRfBWfhKttV5JeI128ayUNul7K9UBqQQA56WK4G4UkFzGidJVOMH17Ct_GSoncYwozeDtvWs4p92sHdaiAnjTxu_0UuKgZvfiNKPMRT8TtJsyohBCei4LHlDgU7_ZZmA6LcBo84zIfL3wQN-SdnmfA/s320/IMG_5829.JPG" width="213"></a></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVpgTh17rL8vzvRk8ijKpf96mEET3wudzIcXuNWqqI7sTvhPAXTEug8HfesWHqHxDzjGhVanzdbqfWoZqX-GqOLwbWQF0ajACaRhcQ4EbXI79tvYKF6DQqwp_btKGVWFD5-deTstry4ia0G8O6kQHyWwK6U5161ng1z_Nnm7l1ninezM9ezdP_GOOog/s5472/IMG_5832.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVpgTh17rL8vzvRk8ijKpf96mEET3wudzIcXuNWqqI7sTvhPAXTEug8HfesWHqHxDzjGhVanzdbqfWoZqX-GqOLwbWQF0ajACaRhcQ4EbXI79tvYKF6DQqwp_btKGVWFD5-deTstry4ia0G8O6kQHyWwK6U5161ng1z_Nnm7l1ninezM9ezdP_GOOog/w640-h426/IMG_5832.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at North Arm Hut<br></td></tr></tbody></table><p>North Arm Hut is a large, L-shaped structure with two bunkrooms and a separate cooking/living area. There's a plastic tub and scrubbing brush to clean mud off your boots when you arrive. A picnic table in front of the hut looks out over the water, and a couple of tracks (one either side of the hut) go down to small beaches below the hut. It took me 4:45 to cover the 12.6km from Port William Hut.<br></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8ClmEUQAcFZ-AbJuQRZAFrHaDnbSVEHzFQn6ajQwSBXZL39bfXHyIbuBmwykKHUquVBwikXdXpiAffgl7tkH1TlTEcspKjcwwI2CpC3rZgK5h1XnGwRcj-0YY-t3G64o3QjbdmnvjH9b-r7gzVKOGzKkO2MwVO9vpp_WPEEtx6czQjbB-beVaWebfQ/s5472/IMG_5833.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8ClmEUQAcFZ-AbJuQRZAFrHaDnbSVEHzFQn6ajQwSBXZL39bfXHyIbuBmwykKHUquVBwikXdXpiAffgl7tkH1TlTEcspKjcwwI2CpC3rZgK5h1XnGwRcj-0YY-t3G64o3QjbdmnvjH9b-r7gzVKOGzKkO2MwVO9vpp_WPEEtx6czQjbB-beVaWebfQ/w640-h426/IMG_5833.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny sandy beach at North Arm Hut<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPbvbMs3Qhmgjtffzph_nOuJKjA-m4cBUonH61H2qgmqIPxl9RftcGcp5Zajvv_ObTTf5lwOMgJyt4R5RcmV4Y52--2sh0Wwbcy-kSesjUXjU1XxRLkJDzpTocRYioaQr-HvgOKbbpbQV9i13KqqEw6fy3uwMRU1x4p5IbT238uhNntX2sj0WDowxjw/s5472/IMG_5838.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPbvbMs3Qhmgjtffzph_nOuJKjA-m4cBUonH61H2qgmqIPxl9RftcGcp5Zajvv_ObTTf5lwOMgJyt4R5RcmV4Y52--2sh0Wwbcy-kSesjUXjU1XxRLkJDzpTocRYioaQr-HvgOKbbpbQV9i13KqqEw6fy3uwMRU1x4p5IbT238uhNntX2sj0WDowxjw/w640-h426/IMG_5838.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHL2pnH9jVUsmrx6bTdP_6SkKypnQO0UugLJiXySFSgjZcf4anw56kvKV3eLt7lSPIybWEDSn_s-jf6gTCwjVJJY3KpIKXQyKd0BXLAfxNakijq_C0UdyAkqVq1WWiCkuDnsZiMtitrrpFcdd8Et-0XnlxmYzR5uVUgoWAlOLSNAAQLRcXcZgeDEuduA/s5472/IMG_5843.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHL2pnH9jVUsmrx6bTdP_6SkKypnQO0UugLJiXySFSgjZcf4anw56kvKV3eLt7lSPIybWEDSn_s-jf6gTCwjVJJY3KpIKXQyKd0BXLAfxNakijq_C0UdyAkqVq1WWiCkuDnsZiMtitrrpFcdd8Et-0XnlxmYzR5uVUgoWAlOLSNAAQLRcXcZgeDEuduA/w640-h426/IMG_5843.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YeBfgvUGJXHj8ZCtbLeZ5sCCOytdEAc_A0OBYIE8RJ41yxgRFsP6Cl7Auc-lc9D1Brn2UgO6XYD5klum0xMvQ-JGJEIR5AclBoELLAz-GEOsyGkvQNsqJc7gjRhk0H61INhoDQ1aoFnoNkpqzeu6WI7UUT0VHXgUFvxRhSVAgpHuw7HGhgP7Gm9N6A/s5472/IMG_5849.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YeBfgvUGJXHj8ZCtbLeZ5sCCOytdEAc_A0OBYIE8RJ41yxgRFsP6Cl7Auc-lc9D1Brn2UgO6XYD5klum0xMvQ-JGJEIR5AclBoELLAz-GEOsyGkvQNsqJc7gjRhk0H61INhoDQ1aoFnoNkpqzeu6WI7UUT0VHXgUFvxRhSVAgpHuw7HGhgP7Gm9N6A/w640-h426/IMG_5849.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20kpJqrV35IukJWx2MwJ0Mhe-pPRdNw4I7MIJNS7H0LwYlo-oM-GT3zSMon98bL6Kout-gl-eULpKNoDOP9DWhHpg8ofbOlqiWyUftpk8geRv9l-JSQIZB6-mjEAU3PyRD6sqQV4cwQ3ot3J6Q4bugJSR-kIgXzfn7ly9kTFMmHeBf-P8Fcfy4g6XXQ/s5472/IMG_5851.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20kpJqrV35IukJWx2MwJ0Mhe-pPRdNw4I7MIJNS7H0LwYlo-oM-GT3zSMon98bL6Kout-gl-eULpKNoDOP9DWhHpg8ofbOlqiWyUftpk8geRv9l-JSQIZB6-mjEAU3PyRD6sqQV4cwQ3ot3J6Q4bugJSR-kIgXzfn7ly9kTFMmHeBf-P8Fcfy4g6XXQ/w266-h400/IMG_5851.JPG" width="266"></a></div>Another feature of the hut worth a mention is the axe - at some point in the past, the handle must have broken off and has since been replaced with a hefty steel pole welded to the head. Splitting firewood with that axe is a highlight of the Rakiura Track that should not be missed.<p></p><p>It started raining in the evening and was still drizzling when I got up the next morning. The gas canister I'd bought at the DOC centre was still fairly full, unable to take it on the flight home I elected to leave it at the hut for anyone who may have need of it on the future (and to save me a couple of hundred grams in my pack).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh21jGcQqD5IV3HygMn38lAI_bJkW50CM_ustxB7zBm9T3g5SkcrNR2TPeNZGd9OzsKI0hb_hOLqC65qhZU6IoRYTsGJfLwFjEJIu__B3jng9wV5qw8SYJelT3-745cEmVZciVnxmFcz4bQYeGTHLJ7bqq3DfxSyo1WASIXHAmaZGVAzWGXQ8zyBQyTw/s5472/IMG_5860.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh21jGcQqD5IV3HygMn38lAI_bJkW50CM_ustxB7zBm9T3g5SkcrNR2TPeNZGd9OzsKI0hb_hOLqC65qhZU6IoRYTsGJfLwFjEJIu__B3jng9wV5qw8SYJelT3-745cEmVZciVnxmFcz4bQYeGTHLJ7bqq3DfxSyo1WASIXHAmaZGVAzWGXQ8zyBQyTw/w400-h266/IMG_5860.JPG" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oyster catchers<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_yhCIPkqKF2_TRPZ30heDrM5orohZKgiw4o9vHlBb-4p9HEkVVPlCTqFOUTvsQjinD9Vk2uOvY99xn6fvARkUXwDkY7ntV00n3p8RzqYzdtgm3QBJC81uKKpaIF_0iFM3djAJx1Nq-WyGdDCuLXliriBkxGEsTtxQSQHsBHnvyBzjmvKSBEEEsB12Q/s5472/IMG_5857.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_yhCIPkqKF2_TRPZ30heDrM5orohZKgiw4o9vHlBb-4p9HEkVVPlCTqFOUTvsQjinD9Vk2uOvY99xn6fvARkUXwDkY7ntV00n3p8RzqYzdtgm3QBJC81uKKpaIF_0iFM3djAJx1Nq-WyGdDCuLXliriBkxGEsTtxQSQHsBHnvyBzjmvKSBEEEsB12Q/w412-h618/IMG_5857.JPG" width="412"></a></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyOQ1o76DoY1ZSzkKyPclG41U5GnRaL_E_T--jpyz6xZ3MY046iLnM7JqFjDQDhljfRciGByulekHQAdop0240dYUk22muDYYIhVtCgMz__Qc7YaOiDfexp63q7tqdsvMjRRgc71z6Fjlwy4BzJbZcaWF3CVwz6PHgqwWB3hpq4O_Umz6ztG5gjFTrQ/s5472/IMG_5853.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyOQ1o76DoY1ZSzkKyPclG41U5GnRaL_E_T--jpyz6xZ3MY046iLnM7JqFjDQDhljfRciGByulekHQAdop0240dYUk22muDYYIhVtCgMz__Qc7YaOiDfexp63q7tqdsvMjRRgc71z6Fjlwy4BzJbZcaWF3CVwz6PHgqwWB3hpq4O_Umz6ztG5gjFTrQ/w640-h426/IMG_5853.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Non-sandy beach at North Arm Hut<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChWTulOXJZtLwsKk9nXKZ54INaJFgh7C1UryuYnrHRC3iNJpilZBvohQ5U9F-hX9AL82I7GCmgzqBA1ufvuVwdmYHUM8IwqucWa_iFyPSTYfBKjfAM6JN4o9KjEUtpIUzg-b2RY2C_KZDFdC0ZEuK6CNrCZkXdtFow73p5SSf5e-ND8LnWXlb-TrcIQ/s5472/IMG_5867.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChWTulOXJZtLwsKk9nXKZ54INaJFgh7C1UryuYnrHRC3iNJpilZBvohQ5U9F-hX9AL82I7GCmgzqBA1ufvuVwdmYHUM8IwqucWa_iFyPSTYfBKjfAM6JN4o9KjEUtpIUzg-b2RY2C_KZDFdC0ZEuK6CNrCZkXdtFow73p5SSf5e-ND8LnWXlb-TrcIQ/w640-h426/IMG_5867.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAWm9vqG-Q7fiaPBRiWP4olKKHOMzpt9UWx6KN3cyRhx149oTmGVXj9RHrLXloZeorb3x0QisDFB_zZwWQPm8JBWZ8snbG4RlPJnJxnzI_HAqh6i2lPqshaaKAxn85Od_iFojTU3EBXcSxAcVufXRxfk8WVtf2B0zyJRu4rp-9GO4BFUKh2vq1ZdDlw/s5472/IMG_5865.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAWm9vqG-Q7fiaPBRiWP4olKKHOMzpt9UWx6KN3cyRhx149oTmGVXj9RHrLXloZeorb3x0QisDFB_zZwWQPm8JBWZ8snbG4RlPJnJxnzI_HAqh6i2lPqshaaKAxn85Od_iFojTU3EBXcSxAcVufXRxfk8WVtf2B0zyJRu4rp-9GO4BFUKh2vq1ZdDlw/w640-h426/IMG_5865.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>The rain stopped stopped and it was time to head out. Today's walk starts with a steep climb back up past the campsite to rejoin the Rakiura Track proper. The track proceeds through the forest before dropping down to edge around a small bay.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55fWczddxj13VXG5uxMK5tKyOqYYYY3_VuhEPgxPc43Zv1rpl6nFV_9VD0uN5_MgRrhpUJrquti2YHBuYPKZAjQPM49i3hgqpynihymxo6qo0bBk2zSoZcYIHbGIQrG2EE0wS4_xuTna-mXiy9jm12QQ_LYLFFVo8zxSAmPXxKPVebMDVyxxLqpJHPQ/s5472/IMG_5870.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55fWczddxj13VXG5uxMK5tKyOqYYYY3_VuhEPgxPc43Zv1rpl6nFV_9VD0uN5_MgRrhpUJrquti2YHBuYPKZAjQPM49i3hgqpynihymxo6qo0bBk2zSoZcYIHbGIQrG2EE0wS4_xuTna-mXiy9jm12QQ_LYLFFVo8zxSAmPXxKPVebMDVyxxLqpJHPQ/w426-h640/IMG_5870.JPG" width="426"></a></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vQYJxhtUNbJOmCP4n5GSlpq1Doz8iBn7oJ1ETFUnko4ikpKe2YJhMwhgF8hR0OEfDsNxese_KozVKEJTuQwkKd4b0gJeLj_oUgIkHKgFzKBOO9eJIE02F3KansswvDLxq-ZquBYEHDGlfg_GPC_STN52ONXOQ7b3DnNU88sjjBhXoCuRruczKmkK9A/s2451/IMG_5878%20crop.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1634" data-original-width="2451" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vQYJxhtUNbJOmCP4n5GSlpq1Doz8iBn7oJ1ETFUnko4ikpKe2YJhMwhgF8hR0OEfDsNxese_KozVKEJTuQwkKd4b0gJeLj_oUgIkHKgFzKBOO9eJIE02F3KansswvDLxq-ZquBYEHDGlfg_GPC_STN52ONXOQ7b3DnNU88sjjBhXoCuRruczKmkK9A/w640-h426/IMG_5878%20crop.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomtit/Miromiro</td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggruO-QNMO6MfsKQGSBd6Xi_GfwsSWSvg6nVoMLvb3JH7fwyyDmbdZ46PfEDyhgZnfDbtJvNEUHL_q4EFI0rKjKCtpkvuShdwXJ_-w_s8gVS-hjL8HXmh2wJ98IkcZoXJUxk9J8b6jH55pzruv1vv0_wiTtFWdZT4--qUyS5zin3WvGsaz4lMCZe6LJw/s5472/IMG_5880.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggruO-QNMO6MfsKQGSBd6Xi_GfwsSWSvg6nVoMLvb3JH7fwyyDmbdZ46PfEDyhgZnfDbtJvNEUHL_q4EFI0rKjKCtpkvuShdwXJ_-w_s8gVS-hjL8HXmh2wJ98IkcZoXJUxk9J8b6jH55pzruv1vv0_wiTtFWdZT4--qUyS5zin3WvGsaz4lMCZe6LJw/w426-h640/IMG_5880.JPG" width="426"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQuX27xtMAMYp1VICkjEhil6ltM8iT6-ItKyZhXrpWg4ulIeW61Ok2V5_w32801b3V8Xb7PzJ2nt7dnIxBRPo4aVyHU-SKB0aP3oC8r5iBgd-_qcE6rENYuCDfD1JtxZWgWvK9qjko-bZztcJ-aIee0PYRXHwIN70KhY55AWOlk5BUrVuiRRR38OONw/s5472/IMG_5882.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQuX27xtMAMYp1VICkjEhil6ltM8iT6-ItKyZhXrpWg4ulIeW61Ok2V5_w32801b3V8Xb7PzJ2nt7dnIxBRPo4aVyHU-SKB0aP3oC8r5iBgd-_qcE6rENYuCDfD1JtxZWgWvK9qjko-bZztcJ-aIee0PYRXHwIN70KhY55AWOlk5BUrVuiRRR38OONw/w400-h266/IMG_5882.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfaIQWec1MssG6oKO5QmDSjMaLnUo648-iy-q7CmakQrYt_AXnCaIpqaTsaNBRFShMeVXi8g-CtKSFTyk_0UoLlk6RJrdIXt_0RTMtz_oOo3nr2km7o2ORK1RLcssnOsVBMSHE_sWVtcCX8YVFDNroq0G1h6rMUR0ar92Pl9_6IikbXxZQmXU_7IFsQ/s5472/IMG_5883.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfaIQWec1MssG6oKO5QmDSjMaLnUo648-iy-q7CmakQrYt_AXnCaIpqaTsaNBRFShMeVXi8g-CtKSFTyk_0UoLlk6RJrdIXt_0RTMtz_oOo3nr2km7o2ORK1RLcssnOsVBMSHE_sWVtcCX8YVFDNroq0G1h6rMUR0ar92Pl9_6IikbXxZQmXU_7IFsQ/w426-h640/IMG_5883.JPG" width="426"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqc1dqYtgr6kED3m4VbpvxlyYqNQ7njAbF0wsRd1thDu75NOci331X30qe-MQzaWVh7URv_vN5EGvBbRy43dR06AGtvcPkuU4BN2RbcgC-DH3gwiBK4npdY53MqRfoTyU0N39dkx7jyrL4TcqKWYcu_DnDxu1gyINZXF8NAFeyHx-tjr5IZFQBckC9A/s5472/IMG_5886.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqc1dqYtgr6kED3m4VbpvxlyYqNQ7njAbF0wsRd1thDu75NOci331X30qe-MQzaWVh7URv_vN5EGvBbRy43dR06AGtvcPkuU4BN2RbcgC-DH3gwiBK4npdY53MqRfoTyU0N39dkx7jyrL4TcqKWYcu_DnDxu1gyINZXF8NAFeyHx-tjr5IZFQBckC9A/w640-h426/IMG_5886.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>From the bay its upwards again across a small headland of sorts before descending gain to cross a stream and arrive at another bay. Semi-submerged in the water below the track is old piece of logging machinery.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhxYmGgiv9LI3Z5Ik1HjyMMsSiVUtSdbbzDk2xCXIxl4Xjq_YDvdLMv0l7SbHqrbeJXOCaLJlt8cyRfgU04DH1Y8UUkR7yEN6uC_7ct6n2NfLDWeZl7x6VYz7dwZlW6fubemIiZA56fOo5X06P4FR4LzlxSA7AypmsHyeRbSt8jjUGR2cG9OhPqOXPw/s2786/IMG_5893%20crop.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1857" data-original-width="2786" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhxYmGgiv9LI3Z5Ik1HjyMMsSiVUtSdbbzDk2xCXIxl4Xjq_YDvdLMv0l7SbHqrbeJXOCaLJlt8cyRfgU04DH1Y8UUkR7yEN6uC_7ct6n2NfLDWeZl7x6VYz7dwZlW6fubemIiZA56fOo5X06P4FR4LzlxSA7AypmsHyeRbSt8jjUGR2cG9OhPqOXPw/w400-h266/IMG_5893%20crop.JPG" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thought it might be Robin, probably just a tit.<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaF9DSsZUHDyqR-uk-ex01gowQFHcvDSs0jn0JAS8VLe7w2VXMiajVcQh7BnrOsALSH35p5RcAg5LbhzLQnx2GT9444fEWW92R5lc49gynUk2tUNdtXX8oQIMwGcFl-G6PY7pkiBtBFpsyCFTG8TG3iRhldRw7qF7idBBwppqn7RARHCvmf4nkKgSJw/s5472/IMG_5894.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaF9DSsZUHDyqR-uk-ex01gowQFHcvDSs0jn0JAS8VLe7w2VXMiajVcQh7BnrOsALSH35p5RcAg5LbhzLQnx2GT9444fEWW92R5lc49gynUk2tUNdtXX8oQIMwGcFl-G6PY7pkiBtBFpsyCFTG8TG3iRhldRw7qF7idBBwppqn7RARHCvmf4nkKgSJw/w266-h400/IMG_5894.JPG" width="266"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6ftFT-g4DTfOFVljTIENKXoiyb-6NMiP5Ywyj2GnAXifDODEbydhC_awzNs_mgvKlGtY11AKaFwhH38WSi3owjzH9avef7z2fCKMwj8Su_43oLn47jSbbaabhASLjXJ3QzZOndmron57emhdIlsbuYUbZe0FW5eIN0zsHw_d0Ntj-7NzzKzCXKmH6Q/s5472/IMG_5895.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6ftFT-g4DTfOFVljTIENKXoiyb-6NMiP5Ywyj2GnAXifDODEbydhC_awzNs_mgvKlGtY11AKaFwhH38WSi3owjzH9avef7z2fCKMwj8Su_43oLn47jSbbaabhASLjXJ3QzZOndmron57emhdIlsbuYUbZe0FW5eIN0zsHw_d0Ntj-7NzzKzCXKmH6Q/w266-h400/IMG_5895.JPG" width="266"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3OGqlCxJx2IiWdR-uwt7tyc-Ry_lLu5aBqd2UcP9PvfBLxiJs3q2hOvqJfLn_LXY77UiznoWdfIl5U-bfF8ts_aA1SP3xyF9KM2LTxPsdno2MWmRghZqhRyG6HgvMlDR8IK1_oix6V543_rzef38GX6PkJQP2gr0R9debcPpgd0i67hD00cO9nPZtA/s5472/IMG_5897.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3OGqlCxJx2IiWdR-uwt7tyc-Ry_lLu5aBqd2UcP9PvfBLxiJs3q2hOvqJfLn_LXY77UiznoWdfIl5U-bfF8ts_aA1SP3xyF9KM2LTxPsdno2MWmRghZqhRyG6HgvMlDR8IK1_oix6V543_rzef38GX6PkJQP2gr0R9debcPpgd0i67hD00cO9nPZtA/w266-h400/IMG_5897.JPG" width="266"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfoAAStHXvwzA6V-UJz_ppAxi4bd1vmjbCAGEpnlogukGbBn0Sw6arAupS4RQe4PBcBvgqNSUWkOslCyo0GSdbwOiFBr4q0G-ImTnJWpioYJSEQ7IFhSBzIZ1Cc6K10F3E2RU8Yoz62_SGC2eW-hakmCl1YfZOPj_uruq5E6p79Gl7Eo0NzKuDNh5AQ/s5472/IMG_5901.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfoAAStHXvwzA6V-UJz_ppAxi4bd1vmjbCAGEpnlogukGbBn0Sw6arAupS4RQe4PBcBvgqNSUWkOslCyo0GSdbwOiFBr4q0G-ImTnJWpioYJSEQ7IFhSBzIZ1Cc6K10F3E2RU8Yoz62_SGC2eW-hakmCl1YfZOPj_uruq5E6p79Gl7Eo0NzKuDNh5AQ/w400-h266/IMG_5901.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p>Whilst the environment of today's track is in many ways similar to the track of day one - meandering along the coast, up, down, and around bays and headlands, there are some differences too. Patterson Inlet, the body of water adjacent to the track, is quite different to the open ocean coastline of day one. No open horizons, calmer waters and tidal flats abound. Historic logging operations along the inlet also mean an absence of large, tall trees in the canopy.</p><p>It's easier going than the previous to days as well, there's similar ups and downs but they seem milder.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGCy7GxecmGDhMrekQWhFPu_8-euYmN-R5RDW5wvCOIGS9pawuhVpxLxPUYt8sXzC44JwVjBGPbM4jUSkp5iXKoLx7owV9j5YEptS1RndPoK8oJMaqzLczvTk8GPofqsBBFDSthqE_v9x9qkAiQ5kgSvRciEyJLg8venGicSLPefw-Va3ZaTLJsC1Jw/s5472/IMG_5903.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGCy7GxecmGDhMrekQWhFPu_8-euYmN-R5RDW5wvCOIGS9pawuhVpxLxPUYt8sXzC44JwVjBGPbM4jUSkp5iXKoLx7owV9j5YEptS1RndPoK8oJMaqzLczvTk8GPofqsBBFDSthqE_v9x9qkAiQ5kgSvRciEyJLg8venGicSLPefw-Va3ZaTLJsC1Jw/w400-h266/IMG_5903.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2T7KKxNQpPry8u4vBkRrDLqMXhlMqdMvT6J5uoE5AUPaKgAD-aGFw0OoraYsRFnrS1gFCxcIZVGA9qpnOHkmbnDGaDeRhnBbhSXu3MSUfUBHFIv7a3z0boLU5LEnd6_rtcba1h6v8GIvMu4UV9nDSafsvYjjb2BWAZ4x2Ejz_rjB8-sEGbACKjHXYCw/s5472/IMG_5904.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2T7KKxNQpPry8u4vBkRrDLqMXhlMqdMvT6J5uoE5AUPaKgAD-aGFw0OoraYsRFnrS1gFCxcIZVGA9qpnOHkmbnDGaDeRhnBbhSXu3MSUfUBHFIv7a3z0boLU5LEnd6_rtcba1h6v8GIvMu4UV9nDSafsvYjjb2BWAZ4x2Ejz_rjB8-sEGbACKjHXYCw/w400-h266/IMG_5904.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnNRAm09UButEKvdYiJVvwrCLtADZVRONSxtqPzAtRcVG-6GdIr4gFrQo5sdgJ5EZOnWzNwSGHdosXY-G5PMAi98kfHDSR8F7RNnbt75kF1Hg_KmbdQ8p_V3cNAYt_UBY8qbjLcs_d92I-_jOKJx63C0mBZ1HfQ97gzlXiobHDmrGU4PuOHkkSS74Kg/s5472/IMG_5907.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnNRAm09UButEKvdYiJVvwrCLtADZVRONSxtqPzAtRcVG-6GdIr4gFrQo5sdgJ5EZOnWzNwSGHdosXY-G5PMAi98kfHDSR8F7RNnbt75kF1Hg_KmbdQ8p_V3cNAYt_UBY8qbjLcs_d92I-_jOKJx63C0mBZ1HfQ97gzlXiobHDmrGU4PuOHkkSS74Kg/w400-h266/IMG_5907.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahDs3rikBt7debeUJ6o65-qmLKpI2ob_U_0pPoJ666wwEIAU2P8LA3FxtVBvdQYqzCvhcXMC-vox1JM4GGLEHJHvOhGEekf8Xd-6lGdwv-VxRGS0dmgikcRE25m54uU3qwXz6K50hRheWs1YTubH3Tqjg_NpllXOT21vZUWticUHfGVX50phgiYjd6w/s5472/IMG_5911.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahDs3rikBt7debeUJ6o65-qmLKpI2ob_U_0pPoJ666wwEIAU2P8LA3FxtVBvdQYqzCvhcXMC-vox1JM4GGLEHJHvOhGEekf8Xd-6lGdwv-VxRGS0dmgikcRE25m54uU3qwXz6K50hRheWs1YTubH3Tqjg_NpllXOT21vZUWticUHfGVX50phgiYjd6w/w640-h426/IMG_5911.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJNT7Ey2S8VKPj1YmKvgr7JlYhYvD_PhP1SEe2aPXLe_xWl_yKuBXWF-_9PVHLt7IWWgDkYB7x5XKpzFD2wtWH68Si-Kl0_BPuhWrXBr5oMs_pYzi7DRcmdG3SRoSXwc3NqRcunq4jmiyqHV0k6sjZD21lkyA7s-8kg67d3zFYx6FP_jL2rZBfVx4YQ/s5472/IMG_5915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJNT7Ey2S8VKPj1YmKvgr7JlYhYvD_PhP1SEe2aPXLe_xWl_yKuBXWF-_9PVHLt7IWWgDkYB7x5XKpzFD2wtWH68Si-Kl0_BPuhWrXBr5oMs_pYzi7DRcmdG3SRoSXwc3NqRcunq4jmiyqHV0k6sjZD21lkyA7s-8kg67d3zFYx6FP_jL2rZBfVx4YQ/w640-h426/IMG_5915.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>From this bay, it's back uphill to cross the neck of sort of peninsula. At one point the track circle around some large boulders. Then it's back down to another small inlet where there's an old disused dam that was part of a sawmill. </p><p>Back inland again before reaching another stream/estuary. Here a side track heads upstream a few metres where there's an information sign about a sawmill that used to be on this site.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV37FZZc4CttX5culthnOUhJyhvcH7Z-V4j-ES67vYkCAn3qdkz2QWXKC-iZRFNlzuFqJmIFZ7a8LURy-c_YHewP-8yp6ejjmBYylYzN6-ifobpcdQvrNZ5iiwfBdVSdRN6803ODe_abmsCPUa6yT4rfETzBgFx5TpKifQlcJ2mvOpjGW-gi7R-j5Cg/s5472/IMG_5918.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV37FZZc4CttX5culthnOUhJyhvcH7Z-V4j-ES67vYkCAn3qdkz2QWXKC-iZRFNlzuFqJmIFZ7a8LURy-c_YHewP-8yp6ejjmBYylYzN6-ifobpcdQvrNZ5iiwfBdVSdRN6803ODe_abmsCPUa6yT4rfETzBgFx5TpKifQlcJ2mvOpjGW-gi7R-j5Cg/w400-h266/IMG_5918.JPG" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is a nice boulder<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwy_CWzjyzRDARuIW_FO6pSjQYRCwLjFtRTPqNbhKkPTp_rgavJKLaO6zlSMhp7gj0npzHAoTWAsNSUS4gIYypjNHatMhTsQJGTge3HfSCKtmVIwNHZo-m_VQg1a0uroPAQcZLNkO8jw1IGgFALEQKzgoOKYUl9v9uqIHIwdfxF728DK-RbTMjKOR1Q/s5472/IMG_5923.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwy_CWzjyzRDARuIW_FO6pSjQYRCwLjFtRTPqNbhKkPTp_rgavJKLaO6zlSMhp7gj0npzHAoTWAsNSUS4gIYypjNHatMhTsQJGTge3HfSCKtmVIwNHZo-m_VQg1a0uroPAQcZLNkO8jw1IGgFALEQKzgoOKYUl9v9uqIHIwdfxF728DK-RbTMjKOR1Q/w400-h266/IMG_5923.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lAbPN8Svt1rhr7O0hVQxkHTDaM1GLKchw99n-rytIiqoCk58j16izXR5Tzcj6ryZqQ19DzafjP7wtIeA2E8tZb25DPKaRIaHV8iwh_IClyCyuvAhVmUCCfxsPw1Zv-kwsHAITbYURMW5nHvEbNUtjB6aOMxrMU5BHVaKp4YXp5Lf4RzOS6-SCOlhRQ/s5472/IMG_5927.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lAbPN8Svt1rhr7O0hVQxkHTDaM1GLKchw99n-rytIiqoCk58j16izXR5Tzcj6ryZqQ19DzafjP7wtIeA2E8tZb25DPKaRIaHV8iwh_IClyCyuvAhVmUCCfxsPw1Zv-kwsHAITbYURMW5nHvEbNUtjB6aOMxrMU5BHVaKp4YXp5Lf4RzOS6-SCOlhRQ/w426-h640/IMG_5927.JPG" width="426"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWv73e5dwmJ6to7uWqhyFulkJ7dmbaqu6s_SGLI4BzTdnXzHBPs0MgLl1SeevLR2wOiIY2ADtBjBDjsRIA-FBXnR7w0OTVWq404H28sxh1VWDGq0Qk9czq73G_hO3-zF1ud1dbZEURDy22m0CsEtrHWyjwy_VcOKwlDrXyhAiRAl-IQRMrRyCbc5o1Q/s5472/IMG_5930.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWv73e5dwmJ6to7uWqhyFulkJ7dmbaqu6s_SGLI4BzTdnXzHBPs0MgLl1SeevLR2wOiIY2ADtBjBDjsRIA-FBXnR7w0OTVWq404H28sxh1VWDGq0Qk9czq73G_hO3-zF1ud1dbZEURDy22m0CsEtrHWyjwy_VcOKwlDrXyhAiRAl-IQRMrRyCbc5o1Q/w400-h266/IMG_5930.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p>Shortly afterwards, a foot bridge crosses a somewhat eerie tidal estuary. After some more meanderings, a junction is reached. The left branch continues on back to Oban. I take the right branch for a brief side trip to Kaipipi Bay where I stopped for a quick break and oceanic boot rinse.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVw2zR6xThsJYJlgd-E5fpjtU3dEpMCMEpRRoApVVjKGp0iJWTu5ZG1Vpe-7_Cec4q1slRlwgNFASqOlEwlb72d-Wzjagksz5GC_ATBaKH_GRwDYwI-SCNEkxbQcChDjHorCLYqB7xPSv_l7TUsEEQLVSFw5nWXct_9p9vUlmKVy2H6_J0bDlAo0g9w/s5472/IMG_5938.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVw2zR6xThsJYJlgd-E5fpjtU3dEpMCMEpRRoApVVjKGp0iJWTu5ZG1Vpe-7_Cec4q1slRlwgNFASqOlEwlb72d-Wzjagksz5GC_ATBaKH_GRwDYwI-SCNEkxbQcChDjHorCLYqB7xPSv_l7TUsEEQLVSFw5nWXct_9p9vUlmKVy2H6_J0bDlAo0g9w/w266-h400/IMG_5938.JPG" width="266"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbKLoYuLq-lJbc9tzkg9pbPCETehCuwo4K94dT-HLKXPkAkFMMVjqowFzZD-wU4GtJJniYY4Lw0Hk1G5eGSq8eu6FuNGPtNfSViXNE-8AXnhz1TTff8HHgD2yR4nF68cq-MBXKc7BNh-zD6HbU47L-7E-CU9F5sw_PV1-9iJ5BdpOkPbvXTgqJKfMBw/s5472/IMG_5939.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbKLoYuLq-lJbc9tzkg9pbPCETehCuwo4K94dT-HLKXPkAkFMMVjqowFzZD-wU4GtJJniYY4Lw0Hk1G5eGSq8eu6FuNGPtNfSViXNE-8AXnhz1TTff8HHgD2yR4nF68cq-MBXKc7BNh-zD6HbU47L-7E-CU9F5sw_PV1-9iJ5BdpOkPbvXTgqJKfMBw/w640-h426/IMG_5939.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIl1HlZY4BJHIqGCEkkBKYG0IkvTNliw8NQmAVUtw0w5_HevxFUE4gKI3YsoMCi-jndekwESrOnX99I-7ghpJMg6BC8Ly0IG6eoKx5qWOXIspcXALjn-y4QYcuk2LSMhpi9iRxP2ICbVU8OVERkIYR8W_P6ZMIPq48d4VxLg17dJVsltTc4LB7ANPzQ/s5472/IMG_5942.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIl1HlZY4BJHIqGCEkkBKYG0IkvTNliw8NQmAVUtw0w5_HevxFUE4gKI3YsoMCi-jndekwESrOnX99I-7ghpJMg6BC8Ly0IG6eoKx5qWOXIspcXALjn-y4QYcuk2LSMhpi9iRxP2ICbVU8OVERkIYR8W_P6ZMIPq48d4VxLg17dJVsltTc4LB7ANPzQ/w640-h426/IMG_5942.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2Wp9ct29jZJRwwnodVoX9Nilxupg-FyMqtbybEfa6mVrz4l-L4WL6oJKqPqhY7LQaR4CiMvOnWIdV2cBPEE-rsQFnZCjr5gxkEmYomzRmG_A04a8BqReW8VDxVOZXUnzM6I4e0QD7u87eiLYLsiJCocX5qPAPzD24RF1BELyNF1SWvY0448YrdaiLg/s5472/IMG_5944.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2Wp9ct29jZJRwwnodVoX9Nilxupg-FyMqtbybEfa6mVrz4l-L4WL6oJKqPqhY7LQaR4CiMvOnWIdV2cBPEE-rsQFnZCjr5gxkEmYomzRmG_A04a8BqReW8VDxVOZXUnzM6I4e0QD7u87eiLYLsiJCocX5qPAPzD24RF1BELyNF1SWvY0448YrdaiLg/w640-h426/IMG_5944.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQFoKjX2SU9TIznv264gIaIFmpi6sIcU00WebbPhyaCLX_4YwBzkJ2XHYFEk045XiUEpCAu_ooIheaFAgowTPIj41lsKoOueCqgwAa5s8emoqNEesO6F2j52uI99L8_YnkkR_p4VDKFf4OLtU8ny9cCJnUsFd6ViRjg9qQb393QyI3KP58Za5jLCCYw/s5472/IMG_5947.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQFoKjX2SU9TIznv264gIaIFmpi6sIcU00WebbPhyaCLX_4YwBzkJ2XHYFEk045XiUEpCAu_ooIheaFAgowTPIj41lsKoOueCqgwAa5s8emoqNEesO6F2j52uI99L8_YnkkR_p4VDKFf4OLtU8ny9cCJnUsFd6ViRjg9qQb393QyI3KP58Za5jLCCYw/w640-h426/IMG_5947.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaipipi Bay<br></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The weather had become a bit rainy, but by now the end is very nearly in site. Back at the junction, the Rakiura track becomes very wide and almost road-like. This is because it was, in fact, a road once upon a time. In they heyday of logging operations this was the most well maintained road on Stewart Island. Nowadays it's only traversed by hikers, but it still makes for a very easy traverse.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdl_p29IeojgwTH5oymVjs5cYFNRfQabX7qJ1H0n6IXww9-cHICpe6GgRhFqzaR7qT3iUjps45S6QQCGTTs-9wae5R3dEBFXoBYhzQPLE_diPieG3PAxHPSZo0x_c4oahPV4COb9eLEpAkVpqFaUHroM-sASprNx8ZuvzrJj5Gv4PUPKr7TxOetn2fQ/s5472/IMG_5953.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdl_p29IeojgwTH5oymVjs5cYFNRfQabX7qJ1H0n6IXww9-cHICpe6GgRhFqzaR7qT3iUjps45S6QQCGTTs-9wae5R3dEBFXoBYhzQPLE_diPieG3PAxHPSZo0x_c4oahPV4COb9eLEpAkVpqFaUHroM-sASprNx8ZuvzrJj5Gv4PUPKr7TxOetn2fQ/w266-h400/IMG_5953.JPG" width="266"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzEB7EweZPT7DCSBvoqzgCWAjpxeN4baBYs5xiqUFs_2CCC1FYEw8AZ-zTHxoRoYghndTlckncmmDySFwNIFZMUTagAwFdqb8Q1bKFsovGXmZdaKD_JMYWG24aacIIVrUZpfq1haXxRp-3MhiM8IKM5NxlviIxW2rzD1BgTaO-RlN-1oqnju-pDkVDQ/s5472/IMG_5956.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzEB7EweZPT7DCSBvoqzgCWAjpxeN4baBYs5xiqUFs_2CCC1FYEw8AZ-zTHxoRoYghndTlckncmmDySFwNIFZMUTagAwFdqb8Q1bKFsovGXmZdaKD_JMYWG24aacIIVrUZpfq1haXxRp-3MhiM8IKM5NxlviIxW2rzD1BgTaO-RlN-1oqnju-pDkVDQ/w400-h266/IMG_5956.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p>Eventually another junction is reached. The Rakiura Track is again the left branch. Turning right will take you along the Ryan's Creek track. For some reason I hadn't realised quite how close I was to the end of the track, and was a little surprised when I arrived at the Fern Gully road end. In hindsight, finishing the track via Ryan's Creek probably would've been a worthwhile addition. However, I'd already pre-aranged a pick up at Fern Gully and didn't want to have someone sitting there waiting for me. I was also conscious of the limited turnaround before my flight at 4pm.<br>As it turned out, the taxi was waiting for a text before coming to pick me up; Fern Gully was close enough to town that I would happily have walked back; and I probably would've had time to take the longer Ryan's Creek track.<br>Nevertheless, I was pleased to reach the end of the track and also a little bit sad to be leaving. A total for the day of 3:56 and 11.2 km.<br></p><p>There's definitely more singularly impressive tracks out there, but there's something oddly enchanting about this place. A brilliant few days.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXLYwi5bNHpqNOKX-QvJD2h0za-iuiIPAGTEbwdG6nCRXfqg3bbfVjlrFI33xANb8JygU9RZKJWEjpcLmAnnFK8XyMAdX7u2af1z9jfS9CAR--hV5keyN9Tmc5tu_Y_nJcZ0Sb-lNj0zv_qRcRMgbGC6YRoaObR321U-Tx5npXCig8GSak2nI54_EQA/s5472/IMG_5965.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXLYwi5bNHpqNOKX-QvJD2h0za-iuiIPAGTEbwdG6nCRXfqg3bbfVjlrFI33xANb8JygU9RZKJWEjpcLmAnnFK8XyMAdX7u2af1z9jfS9CAR--hV5keyN9Tmc5tu_Y_nJcZ0Sb-lNj0zv_qRcRMgbGC6YRoaObR321U-Tx5npXCig8GSak2nI54_EQA/w400-h266/IMG_5965.JPG" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halfmoon Bay/Oban<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_AC2UGWFny_TEMhzhfxgLeHwF-iEYM0ZaT5J1XmQvK9fXOmAOIGeAKUn1qc1xmf4cy-_iFF-iGKzmIsUujFgaLihGTw7kJWMyr91LxqHvpY0maP_td_KCY4dwaAirlj-Q8EBopCZ7fpsrv44CO1hDlR3kOr8m3QRjuEF5Jtzmv85smf6y_f-P8Fj8g/s5472/IMG_5967.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_AC2UGWFny_TEMhzhfxgLeHwF-iEYM0ZaT5J1XmQvK9fXOmAOIGeAKUn1qc1xmf4cy-_iFF-iGKzmIsUujFgaLihGTw7kJWMyr91LxqHvpY0maP_td_KCY4dwaAirlj-Q8EBopCZ7fpsrv44CO1hDlR3kOr8m3QRjuEF5Jtzmv85smf6y_f-P8Fj8g/w400-h266/IMG_5967.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg6KTMJrIZsoBRg-SeaP5Qb7gQAWy8H-e1nj0wCmJRwHTZX2JPk2rZw44z3tPtvNzA1eCgLPpRB7fVELN7v-anS9bRicMu7dOd_e2JFFDAM8oaQ4Oc0dqkbhyggu_oxtZHNMiEaAHQAiZci_HE9BGYQ2Fj9X5QV9Kthai9F6JJ-ckUctuYj35ON-Wzw/s5472/IMG_5972.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg6KTMJrIZsoBRg-SeaP5Qb7gQAWy8H-e1nj0wCmJRwHTZX2JPk2rZw44z3tPtvNzA1eCgLPpRB7fVELN7v-anS9bRicMu7dOd_e2JFFDAM8oaQ4Oc0dqkbhyggu_oxtZHNMiEaAHQAiZci_HE9BGYQ2Fj9X5QV9Kthai9F6JJ-ckUctuYj35ON-Wzw/w400-h266/IMG_5972.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p></p><p>Back in Oban, I returned to the DOC VC to collect my belongings, before slowly making my way to the Stewart Island backpackers via the waterfront. There you can pay $5 to use their showers so as to not offend fellow travelers with the odour acquired from a three day tramp. All too soon it was then time to head to the Stewart Island Flights depot (also the local post office) to check in for my flight. I'd hoped to enjoy some fish and chips on the beach before hopping in the van up to the air field, but alas the fish and chip place wasn't yet open. But not even that could tarnish what had indeed been a great walk.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Stats & Maps:</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Day 1: </b>Lee Bay to Maori Beach Campsite: 4.1 km, 1 hr 6 mins; Maori Beach to North Arm Junction 2.44 km, 53 min; Junction to Port William Hut: 1.76 km, 32 min. Total: 8.30 km, 2:35.<br><b>Day 2: </b>Port William to Log Haulers: 2.59 km, 57 min; Haulers to North Arm Hut: 10.1 km, 3 hr 48 min. Total: 12.7 km, 4:45.<br><b>Day 3: </b>North Arm to Dam: 4.37 km, 1 hr 29 min; Dam to Kaipipi Bay: 3.17 km, 1 hr 20 min; Kaipipi to Fern Gully: 3.66 km, 1 hr 7 min. Total 11.2 km, 3:56.<br><b>Overall Total: </b>32.2 km</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxVXu-G8e1bA02wzlwf8iW0RPPXiocMmOeDMktvrLsE3SgqyMBXRJEP3xJY--ek6THp6Q5380VwadC1axqpl2nd1XmH45WdzQkYZA363lgW7-GtzZ4RFDbrpHiR652Ny18zuf_RyCBz9Dv0Jigq5dEzpSWyOM6kY-Kw5uaE1kDlwwA11AHr0KmdhskA/s878/map.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="878" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxVXu-G8e1bA02wzlwf8iW0RPPXiocMmOeDMktvrLsE3SgqyMBXRJEP3xJY--ek6THp6Q5380VwadC1axqpl2nd1XmH45WdzQkYZA363lgW7-GtzZ4RFDbrpHiR652Ny18zuf_RyCBz9Dv0Jigq5dEzpSWyOM6kY-Kw5uaE1kDlwwA11AHr0KmdhskA/w640-h536/map.png" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLl8saOwgT4rBxxn_6A9oytojR-ScUqsa-IVwHXMhuvM1YFv3uQoKuS1q9OzK4ElkHMJ9JtSCrdpgiyxl2WIIuDLTrYhWFNp50utxPU0LNRA_jxnKRncSbw4BgD8q9j9ExHm8QVROSPndGJPTlbEupOFU_sWItI-dWGGicbZW_q4yy-ACiFMAYV2Ivbw/s1161/map1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1161" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLl8saOwgT4rBxxn_6A9oytojR-ScUqsa-IVwHXMhuvM1YFv3uQoKuS1q9OzK4ElkHMJ9JtSCrdpgiyxl2WIIuDLTrYhWFNp50utxPU0LNRA_jxnKRncSbw4BgD8q9j9ExHm8QVROSPndGJPTlbEupOFU_sWItI-dWGGicbZW_q4yy-ACiFMAYV2Ivbw/w640-h458/map1.png" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yK599rmX3FDjJMz9KV8hkjA9G40voACOi2bjHcuRAH3BrO8sgu9E9TceYqpbQEFoiq5agDcGCQtVsxNQdfbUM6cq-orVG5sXBQ7_P1ft3W1JHj7S6tYruBHYrZ5MlSKIyGo29kyCOpSdWwuxe8gkgxVVO9meX1yK7SDrk6zR95krD4PXoQp10U2UyA/s973/map2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="973" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yK599rmX3FDjJMz9KV8hkjA9G40voACOi2bjHcuRAH3BrO8sgu9E9TceYqpbQEFoiq5agDcGCQtVsxNQdfbUM6cq-orVG5sXBQ7_P1ft3W1JHj7S6tYruBHYrZ5MlSKIyGo29kyCOpSdWwuxe8gkgxVVO9meX1yK7SDrk6zR95krD4PXoQp10U2UyA/w640-h582/map2.png" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMDWHVfmbcQJnKz-IywAfCKLcqwGyPuNErF3mBMzsFR3in5-aJRtS8zicEozSQteQ3MpRzZv-FbuD8KSzUw_CBVc9VPWS5tjm5H_u8C2QeHLI1_L1ZUfLO7j9cDlNzfoDPbQnTZ-OFrUmJ0SZNxZ57Xc8IcrqQzOv50qGB3oighgnR7TBZY0gZ1FMEA/s1377/map3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1377" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMDWHVfmbcQJnKz-IywAfCKLcqwGyPuNErF3mBMzsFR3in5-aJRtS8zicEozSQteQ3MpRzZv-FbuD8KSzUw_CBVc9VPWS5tjm5H_u8C2QeHLI1_L1ZUfLO7j9cDlNzfoDPbQnTZ-OFrUmJ0SZNxZ57Xc8IcrqQzOv50qGB3oighgnR7TBZY0gZ1FMEA/w640-h334/map3.png" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 3<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTiAm2_2nqCac5aTBete1gI5cwmdnKGCNmcw-T2lF2tsSAJ5x5URTOUwel8nRAvuzbviAchZgQtPzblPQxMyJQikJ4tRksXCXYhPexQfU1fp273Jb31A2iv03HD71_NOxLuQpes3zgIG5Hv9_ukpJBUSEd8fB01vOOdGneJVQS9k_TYLyaWDkpWrUyw/s1492/sat.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1492" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTiAm2_2nqCac5aTBete1gI5cwmdnKGCNmcw-T2lF2tsSAJ5x5URTOUwel8nRAvuzbviAchZgQtPzblPQxMyJQikJ4tRksXCXYhPexQfU1fp273Jb31A2iv03HD71_NOxLuQpes3zgIG5Hv9_ukpJBUSEd8fB01vOOdGneJVQS9k_TYLyaWDkpWrUyw/w640-h398/sat.png" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Earth Satellite View<br></td></tr></tbody></table><br>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-36447569473472604242023-04-27T23:08:00.008+12:002023-04-29T22:35:26.893+12:00Waiopehu Hut<p> <i>Spectacular views await at the end of this tramp up a near-endless ridge.</i></p><p>The track begins over squidgy farmland from the small carpark at the end of Poads Road, a short distance from Levin. Part way through the waterlogged paddocks, a large boulder with a memorial plaque slapped on it is passed. <br />15 minutes later, the Tararua Forest Park is reached and the track branches in two directions (well signposted). Straight ahead will take you to the Ohau River gorge (a track that's officially closed currently due to a slip). Turning right, the ascent up to the Waiopehu Ridge begins immediately.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTYuc6ti_zSq6Mhlwax0rYghUmLtUEQEwCaiGrDUU8qhGAwsTqW1lGF9l2AEq7aGPuHvVByECQqueEA4yTO6dfUPsYPgTLSiOUY0yXoz8fLI146V6nQzCyhe0-I1pKvf9qTOVPz6frTl79BWpbUgN-exBB2vpybPkaNffQRn042UF6LNeQUvqCIbNbw/s4032/20230424_112015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTYuc6ti_zSq6Mhlwax0rYghUmLtUEQEwCaiGrDUU8qhGAwsTqW1lGF9l2AEq7aGPuHvVByECQqueEA4yTO6dfUPsYPgTLSiOUY0yXoz8fLI146V6nQzCyhe0-I1pKvf9qTOVPz6frTl79BWpbUgN-exBB2vpybPkaNffQRn042UF6LNeQUvqCIbNbw/w640-h480/20230424_112015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boulder</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmi8HLKEc1BV6yfovL6OSmDT1jfyEisP1hlGUjND83004kwewD6jc4tQtyS8o8kc_tIuKN9UnT71fCOCc79uTAxRC5oue9QW-q2vMoSzTeQ6iosv8nXDE9DaLtblwNpghvk9nC-xeuI-Je2zxvIKoKVUXAz8ux1H7TzKegd3MhQs8ADtdIGeWQgDITQ/s4608/20230424_112920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmi8HLKEc1BV6yfovL6OSmDT1jfyEisP1hlGUjND83004kwewD6jc4tQtyS8o8kc_tIuKN9UnT71fCOCc79uTAxRC5oue9QW-q2vMoSzTeQ6iosv8nXDE9DaLtblwNpghvk9nC-xeuI-Je2zxvIKoKVUXAz8ux1H7TzKegd3MhQs8ADtdIGeWQgDITQ/w640-h480/20230424_112920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The next 2.5km are the steepest and most challenging part of the journey. The track is also quite slippery in places. 3.5km/1hr30 from the start, a second track junction is reached. I breathed a sigh of relief at this point, and promptly sat myself on a conveniently placed fallen tree to have snack and catch my breath before beginning what would turn out to be a seemingly endless trudge along the ridge.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoEU4a8H0lcQOmAsUSGLvXAhC10MnDw79SWUNAUgNH1fKLJsqLkHtG7HoZ1yfE94Uc6OnT5ccRmAIboV_ZfJ6hn0xIsiyszY5OO2HUpdH5tsOkDLxHhddvmaKKVSb4LbTFxvLmyma-UB5my-iYj4jWzd67yjXPR7kfpO6JlXJ-EvoqVSi2aZPwFpC_w/s4032/20230424_115947.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoEU4a8H0lcQOmAsUSGLvXAhC10MnDw79SWUNAUgNH1fKLJsqLkHtG7HoZ1yfE94Uc6OnT5ccRmAIboV_ZfJ6hn0xIsiyszY5OO2HUpdH5tsOkDLxHhddvmaKKVSb4LbTFxvLmyma-UB5my-iYj4jWzd67yjXPR7kfpO6JlXJ-EvoqVSi2aZPwFpC_w/w640-h480/20230424_115947.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rata?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp53LnoJ9jAPMopWQN4q8uo4TF9-OH_9CnWVmeaqHCyAFnRabtydyJmFwKsUowQYP2IbDVKGmULfTyH8NAUye5KlQCb0GhI8_HzNRjNJ7EzIlQgbA1KffmEngrtKlt-t-yfP1KYN_5FvQ0JGYCSNJIoVgLdAt6wJ2sJEk4Z_wYY73oqWQWApbavt3Sw/s4032/20230424_123748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp53LnoJ9jAPMopWQN4q8uo4TF9-OH_9CnWVmeaqHCyAFnRabtydyJmFwKsUowQYP2IbDVKGmULfTyH8NAUye5KlQCb0GhI8_HzNRjNJ7EzIlQgbA1KffmEngrtKlt-t-yfP1KYN_5FvQ0JGYCSNJIoVgLdAt6wJ2sJEk4Z_wYY73oqWQWApbavt3Sw/w640-h480/20230424_123748.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIiYOhCgO37Al6B-Uc5Pfe_LgqbDuvVxzhpy7HASADae3GuIoHr2rzTAxq-1ECJZ54EQkga29nw0SmIknVLYbR8iocYWpP63fc5IGVVBLtehUiGHtfSmVMbTxX54vkJ1EBLnYck0eEgaVtzDq2WhuZZI8P8znh724EhSd9YCrD9DvCNbASV00bNbY8Q/s4032/20230424_132107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIiYOhCgO37Al6B-Uc5Pfe_LgqbDuvVxzhpy7HASADae3GuIoHr2rzTAxq-1ECJZ54EQkga29nw0SmIknVLYbR8iocYWpP63fc5IGVVBLtehUiGHtfSmVMbTxX54vkJ1EBLnYck0eEgaVtzDq2WhuZZI8P8znh724EhSd9YCrD9DvCNbASV00bNbY8Q/w640-h480/20230424_132107.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>At this junction, the left branch is the bemusingly named Six Discs track, which descends to meet the aforementioned Ohau Gorge track. Again take the right branch: the Waiopehu track along the Waiopehu Ridge to Waiopehu Hut and also Waiopehu Peak (how many times can I reasonably include the word 'Waiopehu' in sentence?).</p><p>Whilst another 500m or so of altitude is gained from this point, it's a climb that is largely spread out across the length of the ridge so the gradient is relatively tolerable. The track is quite muddy in places, although work to install wooden 'rafts' (a sort of basic boardwalk) is being carried out by the Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2U8I8BS4qVCwNwDd_oj_blJX4hi1LB18omwXK2BPwk6qIZnTRPslQHZR6gMzE7vTDK-yADqHSB1KCYdZwVAaCc_tvBhSUo_JlNhHn7tMZlt09N4sZBRvwS50JFeTh6haHGmarEND5ww88ca_qktGmTXeNUAATuW3mTEWAnAro9GruWRya4WeS7nDvg/s4032/20230424_135833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2U8I8BS4qVCwNwDd_oj_blJX4hi1LB18omwXK2BPwk6qIZnTRPslQHZR6gMzE7vTDK-yADqHSB1KCYdZwVAaCc_tvBhSUo_JlNhHn7tMZlt09N4sZBRvwS50JFeTh6haHGmarEND5ww88ca_qktGmTXeNUAATuW3mTEWAnAro9GruWRya4WeS7nDvg/w480-h640/20230424_135833.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOU8sHmaAjliF1UgfIR_sSCBBwKFVz5VNlMNk9dx9szewkdDUryH7rIMz5mBbL98dQLba_3W5kS1qnvkSc12hbRtycRB9gbHKitBLettXQ5jBkSqm4zZpcgK4MUTx-rL7YKOrLNX0ZI4RYo6FTmHeyUw-l1dVDkLxfN1k8H9XsbaHuQFqUirQIEGVX_g/s4032/20230424_142110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOU8sHmaAjliF1UgfIR_sSCBBwKFVz5VNlMNk9dx9szewkdDUryH7rIMz5mBbL98dQLba_3W5kS1qnvkSc12hbRtycRB9gbHKitBLettXQ5jBkSqm4zZpcgK4MUTx-rL7YKOrLNX0ZI4RYo6FTmHeyUw-l1dVDkLxfN1k8H9XsbaHuQFqUirQIEGVX_g/w640-h480/20230424_142110.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9RZlQvE0AqG-gY9ZINu9uDxZpEWW9LUV1MLm0Q3y3f99c7zB2El5BqrlnaP_CqQrbKajHXHHsVQwhBoew9z0VVP4wYsPsZeURwnVsxS3UgonpwFeK7sJ3Hn7P8pZLZBCi631Y4s8d-DgKWHmzvqvsnLl59OoBDawUKTsbCQn5ru8N39h4uCUoP12kg/s4032/20230424_150657.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9RZlQvE0AqG-gY9ZINu9uDxZpEWW9LUV1MLm0Q3y3f99c7zB2El5BqrlnaP_CqQrbKajHXHHsVQwhBoew9z0VVP4wYsPsZeURwnVsxS3UgonpwFeK7sJ3Hn7P8pZLZBCi631Y4s8d-DgKWHmzvqvsnLl59OoBDawUKTsbCQn5ru8N39h4uCUoP12kg/w480-h640/20230424_150657.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The ridge is entirely below the bushline, so views are few-and-far between and it can begin to get a bit tedious. Though to call it unpleasant would be unfair.<br />About 1km from the hut, the site of the previous incarnation of Waiopehu Hut is approached through a small clearing. An almost illegibly faded sign marks the old huts location. A concrete slab from the open fireplace is all that remains.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyw9xkKUsMTo_XkHS8b1vGjeVUK5bSiRTzzpfHI6NPvlsPa_d692_db1jJGdb_Z8uMmAL1xj7uErl2AB1lK6QCxuOavkZuPFYmZnY15jErg8DFiAWTOJU8FPeNJ9ICTs8NFFLaLwh89Pe2T2uPodQFbSGFWNdpMuWrWjUTbgq0n5wmBYTu0hYar6msA/s4032/20230424_151602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyw9xkKUsMTo_XkHS8b1vGjeVUK5bSiRTzzpfHI6NPvlsPa_d692_db1jJGdb_Z8uMmAL1xj7uErl2AB1lK6QCxuOavkZuPFYmZnY15jErg8DFiAWTOJU8FPeNJ9ICTs8NFFLaLwh89Pe2T2uPodQFbSGFWNdpMuWrWjUTbgq0n5wmBYTu0hYar6msA/w300-h400/20230424_151602.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VbOjezpmh6cr-k5kCdv9jdwkYRpqEVnu1axbj_fQAYq1ZHQOy_RmwtNzWeUDRxKptb340_OCP-dGb_PWf4MXoj1SiJ-Q5NEMHbRxfbiH9vyEvHaPvVJpakmlnX-3sQeqvrSXR7fzQ7lNMEHryJAdO607CyBtOtCgQfh2SWvjBzmLhNFBgRh2nYr1sQ/s4032/20230424_151639.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VbOjezpmh6cr-k5kCdv9jdwkYRpqEVnu1axbj_fQAYq1ZHQOy_RmwtNzWeUDRxKptb340_OCP-dGb_PWf4MXoj1SiJ-Q5NEMHbRxfbiH9vyEvHaPvVJpakmlnX-3sQeqvrSXR7fzQ7lNMEHryJAdO607CyBtOtCgQfh2SWvjBzmLhNFBgRh2nYr1sQ/w300-h400/20230424_151639.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvKxCKNDiLRXuJ4vpQn2qsHpW2D5KuNu2R080Asz428uVi-wCskYiSZyFKgHkQ7Oa1x7Wa7FZjcj_oWwOP828yHR79CVU7gxQKeJxT4twV4iq7T_-fSREKbs15FMI11eE3HhbOirqysET2d-wqGgemByOW2mm1dDCIU3xl59-httCYZbhpcviprN8gw/s4032/20230424_153029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvKxCKNDiLRXuJ4vpQn2qsHpW2D5KuNu2R080Asz428uVi-wCskYiSZyFKgHkQ7Oa1x7Wa7FZjcj_oWwOP828yHR79CVU7gxQKeJxT4twV4iq7T_-fSREKbs15FMI11eE3HhbOirqysET2d-wqGgemByOW2mm1dDCIU3xl59-httCYZbhpcviprN8gw/w300-h400/20230424_153029.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiTNDq7gjvVsJcf827yUPOABgpQ6ksyaAoam9D_eQ57U6ZN3T7cQwH0zI45uW6wTbWrpLHmnLjV1LAIRmkwo9AJ5dT-waIsm6EZntxj-lTzmFEd80iJimi5wbGCQkAGhRzLRg577hF76mpIyAocFMU1bnSdHSgwqqW3m95cf1_lqKt3cQ-TBTd4oPiw/s4032/20230424_153156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiTNDq7gjvVsJcf827yUPOABgpQ6ksyaAoam9D_eQ57U6ZN3T7cQwH0zI45uW6wTbWrpLHmnLjV1LAIRmkwo9AJ5dT-waIsm6EZntxj-lTzmFEd80iJimi5wbGCQkAGhRzLRg577hF76mpIyAocFMU1bnSdHSgwqqW3m95cf1_lqKt3cQ-TBTd4oPiw/w640-h480/20230424_153156.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Eht0WDAWaU-MMrSDtxNCKZAX-Rlvc2WqcVyaVVd7JPNrTIZcZD5OUvtbjEoA93lM4_Qc8VxdGkj5YkD7aNiCmSdr9unNzYlJEZQNfAXxG5A-PeA5aE3uxO2khicFIR1IMdC4I5CQYYEhmvgNae6oK7mDacBq2jeadSe7NFitG06TvMwjnxN18t52SA/s4032/20230424_153728.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Eht0WDAWaU-MMrSDtxNCKZAX-Rlvc2WqcVyaVVd7JPNrTIZcZD5OUvtbjEoA93lM4_Qc8VxdGkj5YkD7aNiCmSdr9unNzYlJEZQNfAXxG5A-PeA5aE3uxO2khicFIR1IMdC4I5CQYYEhmvgNae6oK7mDacBq2jeadSe7NFitG06TvMwjnxN18t52SA/w300-h400/20230424_153728.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The track gets a little steeper along these final stretches, but I reached the hut in a time I found surprisingly quick after the temporal quagmire of the preceding ridge section.<br />As the bushline is approached and the trees become shorter, views begin to open up. At this point, brief periods of an almost sleety drizzle wafted over, but cloud never set in and the rain combined with sun to create a striking rainbow sitting in front of the inner ridges of the Tararua Range.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHG0mOVCVJvf-R4wemOvURW_TYkmhMGDtJgegecoIWqT4s-PKIpa5sf8qiS0dcLEyFpJ-9-_uHPJUky2VU-5EUpQJm89rkLPcnsRwUEt5w4jcCVRE-jd6_qkj6GuRhlzY_O88jJArJHuNX0tyIqlZ1dAKNAMHKj_M3Qpj2DoC9MYeEzy4703AqFAumg/s4032/20230424_154002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHG0mOVCVJvf-R4wemOvURW_TYkmhMGDtJgegecoIWqT4s-PKIpa5sf8qiS0dcLEyFpJ-9-_uHPJUky2VU-5EUpQJm89rkLPcnsRwUEt5w4jcCVRE-jd6_qkj6GuRhlzY_O88jJArJHuNX0tyIqlZ1dAKNAMHKj_M3Qpj2DoC9MYeEzy4703AqFAumg/w400-h300/20230424_154002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKH_2blcNR-kOifBLHIItkDKrMVqDlAW2DnBVcGKHKO_9aIfTMbzyMeXmPCpfGfDQpQFH7IYYqvIlHr2gcLydhQ8Beee-8tkh4h4Am_luSEjhjBg_iZVeHsyZ1CzcE15d3WKSvDdbfQtsd9FmppF8Q6WtKc1boh3iC7ihxJPC_AmIt8w0tT3fBFi4wg/s4032/20230424_154057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKH_2blcNR-kOifBLHIItkDKrMVqDlAW2DnBVcGKHKO_9aIfTMbzyMeXmPCpfGfDQpQFH7IYYqvIlHr2gcLydhQ8Beee-8tkh4h4Am_luSEjhjBg_iZVeHsyZ1CzcE15d3WKSvDdbfQtsd9FmppF8Q6WtKc1boh3iC7ihxJPC_AmIt8w0tT3fBFi4wg/w400-h300/20230424_154057.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgvmctn9CfyRr0sPFO-Nr17a48IT8z7MOXwGjLp3Gsir38DDAmlBF51hNHJvmm1_mIWC4c8sxegIIdnQewVgHZ4fSsdQzWzrpdyKHv3szQFH7dSHi3Oz1j6FK_cIblV1rgmHsf1Ff4V7SpHYsX7ZmmrvVwl-u4UcJ4rO_irvd03F1JP6NsGyn3ndpTQ/s4032/20230424_154652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgvmctn9CfyRr0sPFO-Nr17a48IT8z7MOXwGjLp3Gsir38DDAmlBF51hNHJvmm1_mIWC4c8sxegIIdnQewVgHZ4fSsdQzWzrpdyKHv3szQFH7dSHi3Oz1j6FK_cIblV1rgmHsf1Ff4V7SpHYsX7ZmmrvVwl-u4UcJ4rO_irvd03F1JP6NsGyn3ndpTQ/w640-h480/20230424_154652.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrDCXjKo3gwoygEYuDLr4lzz2-Wu_mbeBl_n6jRAQkvZhTNyXTRmH63HtibangG-sYE66GolAJ8Mk4wosJtuMbN2w83PfyQW-PbAc7wBnQx3C_rhGVZuoAXsFWeWjrCNoWjY0jAC0MvfgQJNpmqm48NtnR2PUkrtVFNGQ2PScb0b4Hd5UYl8pOVZ-oQ/s4032/20230424_154910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrDCXjKo3gwoygEYuDLr4lzz2-Wu_mbeBl_n6jRAQkvZhTNyXTRmH63HtibangG-sYE66GolAJ8Mk4wosJtuMbN2w83PfyQW-PbAc7wBnQx3C_rhGVZuoAXsFWeWjrCNoWjY0jAC0MvfgQJNpmqm48NtnR2PUkrtVFNGQ2PScb0b4Hd5UYl8pOVZ-oQ/w640-h480/20230424_154910.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONii39nrsvfW4739UPg6iiHDToJ6KFrbKq4j7RHEW-JrzYapVjugMdtg1ptHS5WvbdfAW8o-tgdkiLvXaebI10Mu3ffhY6S2R2xnK-4dbnreZ1uCM-5VxuT8BIv-pa4eSkb0On6AQ13i7xDaLZRloxxExVhyWDzOr4iTi6xzpLnY47K5jZsY85dH7sw/s4608/20230424_155406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONii39nrsvfW4739UPg6iiHDToJ6KFrbKq4j7RHEW-JrzYapVjugMdtg1ptHS5WvbdfAW8o-tgdkiLvXaebI10Mu3ffhY6S2R2xnK-4dbnreZ1uCM-5VxuT8BIv-pa4eSkb0On6AQ13i7xDaLZRloxxExVhyWDzOr4iTi6xzpLnY47K5jZsY85dH7sw/w640-h480/20230424_155406.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGf7llDVJphbasgPxT-JUONdeLKOyhvNsMIfTv4RgiONcCejXgBxTg4X1_G39Brwz0p_73k-g4L51bP1G0l52oaavKx73cgOBD36izLw7g9U6OgODCvVxCWPxLkGrM9JdimWG1h_2wvdi35koFqHzzO-FHXCHXguCtlWc4dRIBGSW51AOjMFI-_SC2w/s4608/20230424_155420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGf7llDVJphbasgPxT-JUONdeLKOyhvNsMIfTv4RgiONcCejXgBxTg4X1_G39Brwz0p_73k-g4L51bP1G0l52oaavKx73cgOBD36izLw7g9U6OgODCvVxCWPxLkGrM9JdimWG1h_2wvdi35koFqHzzO-FHXCHXguCtlWc4dRIBGSW51AOjMFI-_SC2w/w640-h480/20230424_155420.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsHSTNcTEjn_lHGSr_wW2XqjntXnPEaX42VOHW35RxFt66QR0csMHq2ljVIg73rXs3DPvgwuTT73JybcPknVz5nuPMXVAkebjnmH6VhjFpcMjyDe2LWFjzPsFvh9nrxdfyFzZF_y7fF7A6EMibPqj8YuFq9zxX8t870EyZ806vT33_HDXDvcFGe8OgQ/s4032/20230424_155439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsHSTNcTEjn_lHGSr_wW2XqjntXnPEaX42VOHW35RxFt66QR0csMHq2ljVIg73rXs3DPvgwuTT73JybcPknVz5nuPMXVAkebjnmH6VhjFpcMjyDe2LWFjzPsFvh9nrxdfyFzZF_y7fF7A6EMibPqj8YuFq9zxX8t870EyZ806vT33_HDXDvcFGe8OgQ/w400-h300/20230424_155439.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The hut sits near the edge of the ridge, bathed in afternoon sun. Signposts point the way to the main entrance, toilet, and hose for washing mud off boots. All told, 4hr39min had elapsed by the time I reached the hut.<br /> The interior of the hut is spacious and warm from the sun. Two semi-separated sleeping areas are at one end, with the cooking/dining area at the northern end. Windows allow views to the west and north across the Horowhenua and Manawatu plains.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WVmg-Ai6CKmkESlTYp__YFd6Md4x-1ig5-PMHQoGFPI6B5eFQHwPRPqqk432fkgMJ7TN7LT0khg4NiS03nuUNWZhaYe3HFC1ScnxLm2pQOcj7LlpRYwei_ijV18AZ3eiymahKfno-KyyjkSDUFJcxmduJe_dvXSRtmAc0eakzjfGkBfupLW2ZmUsrg/s4608/20230424_155853.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WVmg-Ai6CKmkESlTYp__YFd6Md4x-1ig5-PMHQoGFPI6B5eFQHwPRPqqk432fkgMJ7TN7LT0khg4NiS03nuUNWZhaYe3HFC1ScnxLm2pQOcj7LlpRYwei_ijV18AZ3eiymahKfno-KyyjkSDUFJcxmduJe_dvXSRtmAc0eakzjfGkBfupLW2ZmUsrg/w400-h300/20230424_155853.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1w-8kLEickMe2EF6gD9O2GBTXOdan-H6bv4K-FY_uMc2Dk0K5hz_g06NxTlssVFXKOWIbJ-fN-Tc5wMoQpRoAR10ne9RoJBOcykQ15FLi858kESMtYuQs8u0Z03749g1PAS2tKj-s7biGNu9yrOkL34-QsBdSf2Ydb49D_fdlQQq4nJcfBaMbxskEQ/s4032/20230424_160104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1w-8kLEickMe2EF6gD9O2GBTXOdan-H6bv4K-FY_uMc2Dk0K5hz_g06NxTlssVFXKOWIbJ-fN-Tc5wMoQpRoAR10ne9RoJBOcykQ15FLi858kESMtYuQs8u0Z03749g1PAS2tKj-s7biGNu9yrOkL34-QsBdSf2Ydb49D_fdlQQq4nJcfBaMbxskEQ/w400-h300/20230424_160104.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQX_cvGYrOKid7j1iC_wwbWvOA7dn7A3OGOQl8OXk9jrwuKQhv25ojzo-IaFHlBpSJhyUOppSghzPgaBCvmQmJUXvuCZy4s-Cq8O7JOMh4ZCdRUl0B484kPedHc57gzs-BFFf6fFH4I0z_slxUlugc7LIffi05fg9R2dWltgJUMONFCUFYuODzcSnDQ/s4608/20230424_160117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQX_cvGYrOKid7j1iC_wwbWvOA7dn7A3OGOQl8OXk9jrwuKQhv25ojzo-IaFHlBpSJhyUOppSghzPgaBCvmQmJUXvuCZy4s-Cq8O7JOMh4ZCdRUl0B484kPedHc57gzs-BFFf6fFH4I0z_slxUlugc7LIffi05fg9R2dWltgJUMONFCUFYuODzcSnDQ/w400-h300/20230424_160117.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Sunset brought more incredible views, both out toward the sea and deeper into the ranges.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDumiuTe9feIXd87Yff72umotM0jjI9j2OscfB5M2JRIDPfvZKBBj_JM_bYLgHq3yYXN1-14qeurQ5S4YBWOPmq10HjmhduSaXYdXMjkWygFTWQSRtA_v_a-uJXPbKPj1M_yJmpiowuHZp3J6KIt6eBiAqo16EejoGibf7WBNzBQc3PnX4MWvtP8RYg/s4032/20230424_172420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDumiuTe9feIXd87Yff72umotM0jjI9j2OscfB5M2JRIDPfvZKBBj_JM_bYLgHq3yYXN1-14qeurQ5S4YBWOPmq10HjmhduSaXYdXMjkWygFTWQSRtA_v_a-uJXPbKPj1M_yJmpiowuHZp3J6KIt6eBiAqo16EejoGibf7WBNzBQc3PnX4MWvtP8RYg/w640-h480/20230424_172420.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWp5MeVI6KR6DjD9kE5-fNLE8LWs8gY-JtyIiUrZCkZmaMsiiL4ex0hJDVJrjfm7CMVkSWSs_nifzNVN5wLWteLKc7SPRcwQYDdkYpcKgwGjh_G2Uygo9jYq31hy85wcNC34X00Z95-2-xnpecRkG-txURMhcF7dyEdc6bZ_cibwrFSK3Bx57y1z9Vw/s4032/20230424_173121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWp5MeVI6KR6DjD9kE5-fNLE8LWs8gY-JtyIiUrZCkZmaMsiiL4ex0hJDVJrjfm7CMVkSWSs_nifzNVN5wLWteLKc7SPRcwQYDdkYpcKgwGjh_G2Uygo9jYq31hy85wcNC34X00Z95-2-xnpecRkG-txURMhcF7dyEdc6bZ_cibwrFSK3Bx57y1z9Vw/w640-h480/20230424_173121.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi297bWHedo6CJz9Iy5ap9eK4AsJUD3XnN_aFt1CN7hbrgm75dEZSK52Z6rBiTgeEH4OdML1dKqSTDrVIFOL8rFlXTR4OWHR_nPceKpS28RSU8Ek2qxg5hIZazcDoQ43b1M1RAT1QUat2xMn6Jne895cYSu2fCwt4ArwqAUsabFgWMmmsy78dBHyIhfUg/s4032/20230424_173648.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi297bWHedo6CJz9Iy5ap9eK4AsJUD3XnN_aFt1CN7hbrgm75dEZSK52Z6rBiTgeEH4OdML1dKqSTDrVIFOL8rFlXTR4OWHR_nPceKpS28RSU8Ek2qxg5hIZazcDoQ43b1M1RAT1QUat2xMn6Jne895cYSu2fCwt4ArwqAUsabFgWMmmsy78dBHyIhfUg/w640-h480/20230424_173648.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WBo7G7rHOVALfWXDC7X_zqM5JwsPQLcPcGstQHIO97E_SCt_bd3VYZzAz553axRcE-7HpiiMt8qntXqkKXgclEYPeLd3HvyBoNdFqPNwTggebcJz2TD4zLUpNcl94lVrjNn77twrn7cxzwJXIpHuRKmJDXDDK0xrLGq9YxO7lLXaKUfYVzwBU4iBhw/s4032/20230424_173951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WBo7G7rHOVALfWXDC7X_zqM5JwsPQLcPcGstQHIO97E_SCt_bd3VYZzAz553axRcE-7HpiiMt8qntXqkKXgclEYPeLd3HvyBoNdFqPNwTggebcJz2TD4zLUpNcl94lVrjNn77twrn7cxzwJXIpHuRKmJDXDDK0xrLGq9YxO7lLXaKUfYVzwBU4iBhw/w640-h480/20230424_173951.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Despite the freezing cold temperatures outside, the well-insulated hut remained surprisingly not-cold (although not quite warm) despite a lack of heating.</p><p>The next morning brought cloud and the thought that the toilet here might challenge Powell Hut for loo with best view in the Tararua FP (the toilets themselves at Powell are undoubtedly better however).</p><p>Following porridge and coffee, I decided to take a quick side-trip up to the nearby Waiopehu peak (1094m) after hearing from some other hut occupants that views from there are even better.<br />The track initially climbs steeply from the hut through a small patch of beech trees before emerging onto the tops and sidling next to the peak itself. From there, the track dips onto a muddy ridge before eventually climbing again up to Twin Peak (1097m). The track here is very slippery and a small nub between the two main peaks briefly got my hopes up that the twin peak was much closer than it actually is.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvxeSDIYoLIre-cXb7tJS5UF7b8xIIH5ZxKngwOUPe1IFIQ7vo-A2v7ZMF0uQRvJJTqbfFm71XHb1ERV0_1kP773Z6sgwpuTbFVIMYr19rr1pWU0OKaz42DWGkRjfj7BiS0QYZoSHsBcBbY0Zjuvy2j4xC4pFabtCoa-xrHPh3zE4emb06FLoJvCdeA/s4032/20230425_090002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvxeSDIYoLIre-cXb7tJS5UF7b8xIIH5ZxKngwOUPe1IFIQ7vo-A2v7ZMF0uQRvJJTqbfFm71XHb1ERV0_1kP773Z6sgwpuTbFVIMYr19rr1pWU0OKaz42DWGkRjfj7BiS0QYZoSHsBcBbY0Zjuvy2j4xC4pFabtCoa-xrHPh3zE4emb06FLoJvCdeA/w300-h400/20230425_090002.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-S-DbH31efY5B7g3nQX-kikagI2W_YNIqoMQLiuMrcH7GK2EQ_ehMdSq2C-S2IqDmhuWFwoY3ROTba8ugtuySevJbAj0fTkOQ7Wrt1GBUw1QV5C7PPMMsOV4RUNbSIvOA8vRJG93qR1JGrGcD6hraDoZgft-5HKIJXpUfKAj7ITT823rst3eEdGxBNw/s4032/20230425_090533.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-S-DbH31efY5B7g3nQX-kikagI2W_YNIqoMQLiuMrcH7GK2EQ_ehMdSq2C-S2IqDmhuWFwoY3ROTba8ugtuySevJbAj0fTkOQ7Wrt1GBUw1QV5C7PPMMsOV4RUNbSIvOA8vRJG93qR1JGrGcD6hraDoZgft-5HKIJXpUfKAj7ITT823rst3eEdGxBNw/w640-h480/20230425_090533.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dracophyllum in the mist<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpMRnf7o-ppl9Q9ZuVJve-M02hRmhDVLmYGumMZmMMivQJ9tnVgI9NuQ2qcwCBE6IRNQNOq8l4PhiuhVElX-cb77-5pg0H89J39MzKaYBLWPt2isauUqWmrkMc3TtIxUFCgm3z_mqRflLRR1mm6h5bTkIu46cfq7cxy9E0uUM2_CN-P0gdx4Oj9eY8A/s4032/20230425_091635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpMRnf7o-ppl9Q9ZuVJve-M02hRmhDVLmYGumMZmMMivQJ9tnVgI9NuQ2qcwCBE6IRNQNOq8l4PhiuhVElX-cb77-5pg0H89J39MzKaYBLWPt2isauUqWmrkMc3TtIxUFCgm3z_mqRflLRR1mm6h5bTkIu46cfq7cxy9E0uUM2_CN-P0gdx4Oj9eY8A/w640-h480/20230425_091635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77ld1W2SPUZilkUi2xL1hY6AcNm7TR4QG_5C7oEDurj1ezvc1LPMwC3zfxr-d3TwgCF2sVd7dpHocI3Z0mr4ln-a4vfVHlqzZipiD62BBKqE0J7DNMrj0cnIepGSFAM2VT6ZiiRTr8vfseUT-Y1Zoz3OH4CVicNSr9D2xj7yMEcqXah6dHp2bMH01Lw/s4032/20230425_093021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77ld1W2SPUZilkUi2xL1hY6AcNm7TR4QG_5C7oEDurj1ezvc1LPMwC3zfxr-d3TwgCF2sVd7dpHocI3Z0mr4ln-a4vfVHlqzZipiD62BBKqE0J7DNMrj0cnIepGSFAM2VT6ZiiRTr8vfseUT-Y1Zoz3OH4CVicNSr9D2xj7yMEcqXah6dHp2bMH01Lw/w480-h640/20230425_093021.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ralph Wood memorial cross<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhua2nTih5aAbxtiLxCLVtYb7lJuZFWHQ2Li_fyJl1xaHsZJEsCJfZMyFLSr3QSV1MACQAXMp-0YW_o0PQ1_6dJl3T1ctH5WHaZU0cD5uERYFuk831tL8EXkSOA9kyn0heIHCZtt1ZSNMN9xixyqQTqi2bOzopyN71F212AXNaTJxiCdU_c7em5OQxNCQ/s4032/20230425_093258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhua2nTih5aAbxtiLxCLVtYb7lJuZFWHQ2Li_fyJl1xaHsZJEsCJfZMyFLSr3QSV1MACQAXMp-0YW_o0PQ1_6dJl3T1ctH5WHaZU0cD5uERYFuk831tL8EXkSOA9kyn0heIHCZtt1ZSNMN9xixyqQTqi2bOzopyN71F212AXNaTJxiCdU_c7em5OQxNCQ/w640-h480/20230425_093258.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NL8MKCCdV9Wf6LsTAzej0IjUvymOO6E7K6y-ku2uYcuKhp6zmcS1UUPM8TuRXzmJPkUffHAJgbdZ7GjySiTq702ddIeVHG01tpfgO5_KXi0hCEn2U7z9as_5q-cI0pdQTcPiO-v6qm8l2duz1PWw18HZomIq3WBey-O6FqFKiuoZr-ZCiOsCNTa9BQ/s4032/20230425_093329.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NL8MKCCdV9Wf6LsTAzej0IjUvymOO6E7K6y-ku2uYcuKhp6zmcS1UUPM8TuRXzmJPkUffHAJgbdZ7GjySiTq702ddIeVHG01tpfgO5_KXi0hCEn2U7z9as_5q-cI0pdQTcPiO-v6qm8l2duz1PWw18HZomIq3WBey-O6FqFKiuoZr-ZCiOsCNTa9BQ/w480-h640/20230425_093329.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trig with 2nd Ralph Wood cross<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There's a trig station and memorial cross on twin peak, and it's pretty much exactly 1km from the hut. Alas the cloud prevented any of the foretold views, but it was a worthy enough diversion.<br />By the time I returned to the hut to grab my pack, the low cloud was starting to burn of and I considered that had I left for the peaks now, I would most likely have seen the views. Ah well, a good excuse to come back I suppose.</p><p> The return walk is quite a bit quicker than coming in, and passed by uneventfully with the exception of multiple near-falls and one surprisingly graceful slide onto my rump.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY9y8F7idOuvltG3PBW7dquUwff61B-sz0qUmFw92Vvw6Hr0a9AOdm2zOtVN-oE7EWnv3oH43A0dvjwWM5vzzRADAEqyZB6T9pCQxrEKQ-qMwcqL-XV2b4gGUlN1PX7UTEA0iw5j9C0_-gz9ghgLJjpWq8aT6mt_6Bl21xH3MlkzmxL9JaIyqSHlgmg/s4608/20230425_095217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY9y8F7idOuvltG3PBW7dquUwff61B-sz0qUmFw92Vvw6Hr0a9AOdm2zOtVN-oE7EWnv3oH43A0dvjwWM5vzzRADAEqyZB6T9pCQxrEKQ-qMwcqL-XV2b4gGUlN1PX7UTEA0iw5j9C0_-gz9ghgLJjpWq8aT6mt_6Bl21xH3MlkzmxL9JaIyqSHlgmg/w640-h480/20230425_095217.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tUcmXadilcTasipKbw0Kl_NseiJKpvbb6d4Ws1dZ2owHxdaer66iUg84yMmDsbQI8SvlKT6XpFJMPHY8Zpkv5GZyeMBwCjPBxqyuuE3Nw6caKBBywSAIyao57s3mG-zKKstOIec-CBh5k8aYF1-ntXEzC-qUANbBHZYH2B8P-g3nxqlHT8jihLPGlw/s4032/20230425_095440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tUcmXadilcTasipKbw0Kl_NseiJKpvbb6d4Ws1dZ2owHxdaer66iUg84yMmDsbQI8SvlKT6XpFJMPHY8Zpkv5GZyeMBwCjPBxqyuuE3Nw6caKBBywSAIyao57s3mG-zKKstOIec-CBh5k8aYF1-ntXEzC-qUANbBHZYH2B8P-g3nxqlHT8jihLPGlw/w640-h480/20230425_095440.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkv6nB5RW89g9eUldmhczvzbkqvvbbrwBEjWRinoQci37Km-ihcCpgDuTUF-ijve5TQwHNAr76p7ADXbBQ6VmJNCMwq6Z8OPyjed-vOYN_6NCY1BpS2G0O7_BZ2O8L12njHf1fofZW-ci5qub5_iQH63TQL9uY5HJUBhHRp-cxubcHtauBIMgsHnUOw/s4032/20230425_095848.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjungnsjWvGttrCBEcm7XitAxW-YrJIm9i_w17fT-yNLbZU8qBROz-EKB1NvWuxrBnzvehBx3iy5WmshkjpxyXO92HY_Pih2WaDHZ-BvV2K6m6fqx2JDeCtwpNFwTIPGMSwDimxcKLBQUMI8G6K4gcfWdnyvmVwnAHnf8-yCEFg7xbFm66HXHm0CkWjeA/w640-h480/20230425_115345.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJKXBh8UHDyID58Ix2xKnuM78l95NTpV93G0ygnichIp4manOcNtNh462dLMivlV-l5djbz0ADOSO3vXXp2QBDxNGGPGxzTIt3_xi7s5hVnTadzk6F7n9S1Xe6THBIrOr0uAo-hY7QmGBjY3bBClN7xUL47slnFkHyj5KzYcjRt-CK7sPNaj6nqBvBg/s4032/20230425_123103.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJKXBh8UHDyID58Ix2xKnuM78l95NTpV93G0ygnichIp4manOcNtNh462dLMivlV-l5djbz0ADOSO3vXXp2QBDxNGGPGxzTIt3_xi7s5hVnTadzk6F7n9S1Xe6THBIrOr0uAo-hY7QmGBjY3bBClN7xUL47slnFkHyj5KzYcjRt-CK7sPNaj6nqBvBg/w480-h640/20230425_123103.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN67a6F4Xuiiq86jA7JUEvE4s-r3QeI9g2gYBfVpCwzAlHW5SYFnrSQsNwtOv5ZJKJgVaUInd3AYi9p99YxXeGkUCcjRA4B45XITkBNUfrHAzrn8kN-t_UIxSQ4XNLFWFvD7e6JalkfMGGIV575iXaf-Rn6BcdSo2-Adprn3shXsyGSn20b-LRD_u7A/s4608/20230425_131208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN67a6F4Xuiiq86jA7JUEvE4s-r3QeI9g2gYBfVpCwzAlHW5SYFnrSQsNwtOv5ZJKJgVaUInd3AYi9p99YxXeGkUCcjRA4B45XITkBNUfrHAzrn8kN-t_UIxSQ4XNLFWFvD7e6JalkfMGGIV575iXaf-Rn6BcdSo2-Adprn3shXsyGSn20b-LRD_u7A/w480-h640/20230425_131208.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funky tree hole<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTmybuG6gW2CPOIHC7ANMg7jeTB2NeXM58wYoyGVveh2o05mbajK7MTebl9Fm1uucC2VvlAL2vnNW22DOrQpD0ZfdLF0G_ACptGBHlw7ZlQB5oOcWRL4CKuHlMQQR1N_qiMUg7Kei0VdleqhsPaGQo1sMvJaCGOJTzm4DLkF51mTghfjVmaASV3Ky_A/s4608/20230425_134123.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTmybuG6gW2CPOIHC7ANMg7jeTB2NeXM58wYoyGVveh2o05mbajK7MTebl9Fm1uucC2VvlAL2vnNW22DOrQpD0ZfdLF0G_ACptGBHlw7ZlQB5oOcWRL4CKuHlMQQR1N_qiMUg7Kei0VdleqhsPaGQo1sMvJaCGOJTzm4DLkF51mTghfjVmaASV3Ky_A/w640-h480/20230425_134123.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boulder</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I made good time, reaching the carpark about 3hr40 after leaving the hut.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Times & Distances</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Inbound:</b><br />Carpark to Forest Park boundary/Ohau Gorge junction: 1.10km, 14 min<br />FP boundary to Six Discs junction: 2.47km, 1 hr 14 min<br />Six Discs to Waiopehu Hut: 6.63km, 3 hr 11 min.<br />Total: 10.2 km, 4:39.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Outbound:<br /></b>Waiopehu Hut to Peak: 480m, to Twin Peak: 1 km (2.01 km return trip).<br />Waiopehu Hut to Six Discs junction: 6.63km, 2 hr 23 min<br />Six Discs to Carpark: 3.47km, 1 hr 12 min.<br />Total: 10.2 km, 3:35 (12.21km including side trip to peaks).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;">Map</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxFdBJPXn0cTvKCdrTHbWmJlb5bQSHZBIgeb3BDoCpffkiWdfqOk71YyxOv58Oc0S7c1YepbRMlxD_AKWYv-T1X2HdB09Gq-oHaUwTNSaKFN8GGkHq0Z3_yeGdx3jCXtP_Kkvog8uRhOTgYkR6bb9yZILIZQvp9xXMMCx9pO2T2QAfxMkb0n4r42W3g/s1559/map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1559" data-original-width="980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxFdBJPXn0cTvKCdrTHbWmJlb5bQSHZBIgeb3BDoCpffkiWdfqOk71YyxOv58Oc0S7c1YepbRMlxD_AKWYv-T1X2HdB09Gq-oHaUwTNSaKFN8GGkHq0Z3_yeGdx3jCXtP_Kkvog8uRhOTgYkR6bb9yZILIZQvp9xXMMCx9pO2T2QAfxMkb0n4r42W3g/w402-h640/map.png" width="402" /></a></div>Elevation Profile:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3H0lo4G_vowWCUHEny1i1ukZT7TfU-Rc_tAB39FlBeMuSaxJhqyL_5-PPUZFccMkFeLxc3j8Yj-TxuhdEsWt0yovbK7bEjcMLAtpXyrLlA2e6dTEbctLuVHMOXUG5Zp3WKqgB3vpbA_HLo-zHNBilj-j8aF85iQXh7LiiU35xAcsE54uYRug3Q1O62Q/s1640/elev%20profile.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="1640" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3H0lo4G_vowWCUHEny1i1ukZT7TfU-Rc_tAB39FlBeMuSaxJhqyL_5-PPUZFccMkFeLxc3j8Yj-TxuhdEsWt0yovbK7bEjcMLAtpXyrLlA2e6dTEbctLuVHMOXUG5Zp3WKqgB3vpbA_HLo-zHNBilj-j8aF85iQXh7LiiU35xAcsE54uYRug3Q1O62Q/w640-h166/elev%20profile.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </div>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-2165936809641285232023-03-20T22:32:00.003+13:002023-03-20T23:58:50.664+13:00Pouakai Hut via Mangorei Track<p><i><b>Overview:</b> a quick overnight blat up the hill to Pouakai Hut with the hope of finding some top-notch views...</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMbXaqeCM2zX9_zJh0ZdzPtdXXl3WfnCh1ILRWr4oe3joxqDwTEg8d_Y8gdegwtv8yLOW5zzV84s9LDTxOMoxCTupSvDPD2Vis9aSyrmD_4zCsnWf3WnP4fzXRIqvSHR5SEhjAAn3Tu_Iy6WUEQXcXe2-sPbQZeWBYCYAeMXo2-e4qySsHSA94eYmEQ/s5472/IMG_5542.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMbXaqeCM2zX9_zJh0ZdzPtdXXl3WfnCh1ILRWr4oe3joxqDwTEg8d_Y8gdegwtv8yLOW5zzV84s9LDTxOMoxCTupSvDPD2Vis9aSyrmD_4zCsnWf3WnP4fzXRIqvSHR5SEhjAAn3Tu_Iy6WUEQXcXe2-sPbQZeWBYCYAeMXo2-e4qySsHSA94eYmEQ/w400-h266/IMG_5542.JPG" width="400"></a></div>The two or three people who read this blog on anything approaching a regular basis may recall about two-and-a-half years ago when Cody and myself <a href="http://tararuatramping.blogspot.com/2020/09/pouakai-circuit.html">tramped the Pouakai Circuit</a>, but found views only of rain and mist atop the Pouakai Range.<br>Hoping that the typically more settled March weather would increase the likelihood of capturing the elusive peak of Taranaki Mounga reflected in the Pouakai Tarns, I plotted my return. Of course by deciding to make this an overnight trip to assuage the amount of travel required, I was somewhat hamstrung by having to book my place at the hut well in advance.<p></p><p>A smattering of cloud surrounded the mountain as I drove through the south Taranaki countryside, but the generally sunny weather and a settled forecast gave me some semblance of hope.<br>Arriving at a fairly full carpark near the end of Mangorei Road, a brief section of road must be walked before entering a private graveled driveway that doubles as the first section of track.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT0v0nnlHglVK_0ApklB1TARRUc9POpDpHdGjhzvDlkBR-kgbwT3bW96aTF3sLOYNLaIpM6Ti2Hr7iJF2H25oPL993yGGJtT2KW3N5BUP77U_dIoWIt_UA8MBx4tyObpXKTg0EtLeFflqAPIIc3lXEf9DzOe_3hq9WTPGQ8IT4UFZ8jxRSY3chp5OHA/s5472/IMG_5420.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT0v0nnlHglVK_0ApklB1TARRUc9POpDpHdGjhzvDlkBR-kgbwT3bW96aTF3sLOYNLaIpM6Ti2Hr7iJF2H25oPL993yGGJtT2KW3N5BUP77U_dIoWIt_UA8MBx4tyObpXKTg0EtLeFflqAPIIc3lXEf9DzOe_3hq9WTPGQ8IT4UFZ8jxRSY3chp5OHA/w426-h640/IMG_5420.JPG" width="426"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybMnfMX4aW6XCajBZW8xWOIY140JTm0pYpgwYGQYPWgaVUanGnxfA8dqKYgaCnFaXu6wGGyGNlDLdZv0VTOW8pUwS9QN6wcZwN-QDum1pqquH5iM4mDI2A4-HcMV2LSXkZQkLiahq3mGwv042hjR4Nm1btb_vF7-egMorMwwOmDDWQ4tyGxwJQyLeQQ/s5472/IMG_5422.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybMnfMX4aW6XCajBZW8xWOIY140JTm0pYpgwYGQYPWgaVUanGnxfA8dqKYgaCnFaXu6wGGyGNlDLdZv0VTOW8pUwS9QN6wcZwN-QDum1pqquH5iM4mDI2A4-HcMV2LSXkZQkLiahq3mGwv042hjR4Nm1btb_vF7-egMorMwwOmDDWQ4tyGxwJQyLeQQ/w400-h266/IMG_5422.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYjvp2Xy1ZskRMSG6Ystg6NGJWN3iAr9tNI_NOKzOKNnrDUOQl1qEbz_dshO5jWLHWAP-9DvLmG_3YW50KKVHyCfiAIvRu3J-QQERXqgidLgh7RNKPbhpDudNPCYx4abPxx0sdKFQHBgDb46xBeEIqT4KeiaYJseSjXvOUFcCR0w0RIJ1v5xrf9Q7tQ/s5472/IMG_5425.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYjvp2Xy1ZskRMSG6Ystg6NGJWN3iAr9tNI_NOKzOKNnrDUOQl1qEbz_dshO5jWLHWAP-9DvLmG_3YW50KKVHyCfiAIvRu3J-QQERXqgidLgh7RNKPbhpDudNPCYx4abPxx0sdKFQHBgDb46xBeEIqT4KeiaYJseSjXvOUFcCR0w0RIJ1v5xrf9Q7tQ/w640-h426/IMG_5425.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>A sign at the park boundary alleges a time of 2.5 hours to Pouakai Hut. Some 660 vertical metres are gained along the tracks 5.3 km length. The gradient is steady and the climb constant, though never especially steep. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSDGqFyV71KYZyLiq89xsSCY2EMs8tIx0wbuSBz7lrlWziwykcW1ojD6-X6nsAJPw6-lR_oes3jY7Sxv_Y9P6XbhZeXBvnji-BtDjgQyFEdRlKLcw95dqcMRETHp3K0svJcghAcO8B5HHfAHCC_b951J1esKv0xVqPLEdKIU1iEoInY8_-TXrznP0Dw/s4032/20230319_165343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSDGqFyV71KYZyLiq89xsSCY2EMs8tIx0wbuSBz7lrlWziwykcW1ojD6-X6nsAJPw6-lR_oes3jY7Sxv_Y9P6XbhZeXBvnji-BtDjgQyFEdRlKLcw95dqcMRETHp3K0svJcghAcO8B5HHfAHCC_b951J1esKv0xVqPLEdKIU1iEoInY8_-TXrznP0Dw/w480-h640/20230319_165343.jpg" width="480"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny7WSjvsZDDBAGYnjd6qt5nLvfM8WjvJvgKcDfqR6h0Rh4mtC46vJj5dxkGWXFkf577iZXHkQWz7vD7f5D3AtpmR-7fyRLxGWQnuBoUCgFGJ3P4vz54SQ5Vr8K0yYOKNL7_HgqvQu12Q43gHpw8BAL4NJNGlEgoFSv2_rA6QtDxhFQVIiBgDC85I4mQ/s5472/IMG_5440.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny7WSjvsZDDBAGYnjd6qt5nLvfM8WjvJvgKcDfqR6h0Rh4mtC46vJj5dxkGWXFkf577iZXHkQWz7vD7f5D3AtpmR-7fyRLxGWQnuBoUCgFGJ3P4vz54SQ5Vr8K0yYOKNL7_HgqvQu12Q43gHpw8BAL4NJNGlEgoFSv2_rA6QtDxhFQVIiBgDC85I4mQ/w640-h426/IMG_5440.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>The track is almost entirely boardwalk, a measure taken to mitigate the trampling effects of the huge amount of use the track gets. As I understand it, the track was prone to being very muddy before boardwalks were put in place. Whilst I appreciate being spared the mud, the sheer magnitude of boardwalk had the affect of making the track seem almost too tame.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NOZvnlg6nhTAiQeOdTPXs03TzK4FzMFV_6tO7KDYqvJuaLuR5gq-E08AZSHReh-FmUuve2z6lK-0pa8XCP_63AXcdPV9oDP_FMGWPR3vRH-hDckEtXUJYPGURDg9jdimyCVKDP7oNlhd6iS0GbcHe-OqsefaE_Ohf6q0WOkqhGseNY08D1r03uvBdg/s5472/IMG_5446.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NOZvnlg6nhTAiQeOdTPXs03TzK4FzMFV_6tO7KDYqvJuaLuR5gq-E08AZSHReh-FmUuve2z6lK-0pa8XCP_63AXcdPV9oDP_FMGWPR3vRH-hDckEtXUJYPGURDg9jdimyCVKDP7oNlhd6iS0GbcHe-OqsefaE_Ohf6q0WOkqhGseNY08D1r03uvBdg/w426-h640/IMG_5446.JPG" width="426"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmzJyaWpEhzgkUbwyTRl0kEj9ydIG0CtZDhes7SqVc0AkXxfdS0C-6kg-HMcqChA7gHAJX6FJqVjiMsdYoxqaAdO9QeRUcZHbLo02nH1egfRmHrMa6b7UlrRlgtg5rYq8hi2nZy5wX_UfX10yE45uO0kA25Qz6xNYGe0XxEPzU3sY9tgy8mhCcRTrqA/s5472/IMG_5447.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmzJyaWpEhzgkUbwyTRl0kEj9ydIG0CtZDhes7SqVc0AkXxfdS0C-6kg-HMcqChA7gHAJX6FJqVjiMsdYoxqaAdO9QeRUcZHbLo02nH1egfRmHrMa6b7UlrRlgtg5rYq8hi2nZy5wX_UfX10yE45uO0kA25Qz6xNYGe0XxEPzU3sY9tgy8mhCcRTrqA/w640-h426/IMG_5447.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtXdCJBs95_3XaBFkAHN1Bg9NeEWoIzkGBSY9wQ6rOfyBG98eyauY_x0X411gA1N6GkwCFdm7P3tD603Gtwos54UzekMAqC-7QJMpEGxB8_xniINwoXDUbrMgUjvmSuYEC5yAVXbMpK8iLIobK1kiRpsGFdjHM2jZjdDMk51mroWWHmek2T15BRjYFA/s5472/IMG_5450.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtXdCJBs95_3XaBFkAHN1Bg9NeEWoIzkGBSY9wQ6rOfyBG98eyauY_x0X411gA1N6GkwCFdm7P3tD603Gtwos54UzekMAqC-7QJMpEGxB8_xniINwoXDUbrMgUjvmSuYEC5yAVXbMpK8iLIobK1kiRpsGFdjHM2jZjdDMk51mroWWHmek2T15BRjYFA/w640-h426/IMG_5450.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9OMnokPYepmhx8xMX_UQSJAcV_C3P-KtozT9ykBMfHD_qhGrSePKd0_Qj0Wto-5FPpwYU3kg7dOVobjigmkLpnfcwouCMCRPvEqA3HEhu3TfUhggRatCNVkze9hA3Fa430LQauKJKZjld3U0pqXjP3Xhzg56Qo8IWFdTidoMqYMyugM16zaEGax64g/s5472/IMG_5453.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9OMnokPYepmhx8xMX_UQSJAcV_C3P-KtozT9ykBMfHD_qhGrSePKd0_Qj0Wto-5FPpwYU3kg7dOVobjigmkLpnfcwouCMCRPvEqA3HEhu3TfUhggRatCNVkze9hA3Fa430LQauKJKZjld3U0pqXjP3Xhzg56Qo8IWFdTidoMqYMyugM16zaEGax64g/w426-h640/IMG_5453.JPG" width="426"></a></div><p>Just over 3km from the start, as the altitude approaches 1000m, the
trees become more stunted and visually shaped by the prevailing wind. At
one point, the trees form a sort of tunnel over the track before it
emerges onto a flat, exposed section of spur.</p><p>At the top of the spur, the track swings east to sidle around an unnamed peak marked as Pt 1238 on Topo50 maps. On the way, an area named Greyling's Clearing is passed, where a small opening in the trees affords views over the Taranaki region toward New Plymouth. <br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiulZ74roFWAlNmPgIXvJyYqYwEb0Ka35vIqE7tpjr-5BxdNBxvQPG4j898L0J237N3UOBPd2tih_WMKXhgm7wMGyPPRdxlgtwpHRV0TR-eBU1dOWWVD14-UPZ2HJ8wr9mm6YtNVvP228UeSonM2Ewm6XOUefKTi7Nmi8JTz6XxnFxRy5howaykq5a5A/s5472/IMG_5457.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiulZ74roFWAlNmPgIXvJyYqYwEb0Ka35vIqE7tpjr-5BxdNBxvQPG4j898L0J237N3UOBPd2tih_WMKXhgm7wMGyPPRdxlgtwpHRV0TR-eBU1dOWWVD14-UPZ2HJ8wr9mm6YtNVvP228UeSonM2Ewm6XOUefKTi7Nmi8JTz6XxnFxRy5howaykq5a5A/w640-h426/IMG_5457.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoXvM-s0cWPzUcTY84GZfXxWbzdzJIMsr7i7jtJux2aUpwNHuyoFvRF_03Tn2YoYjXIOla0MU_A3oml5El8Hh2ezWsWUGEAZ6F_q7uX4GlnTvvX_dkk3mnQhkd2_C0pK4x4iwblAwWSPqZPLipgkNIBkAx1MsakJR0aY75qHnBOQBVH8CT5T0Uhnj1w/s5472/IMG_5462.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoXvM-s0cWPzUcTY84GZfXxWbzdzJIMsr7i7jtJux2aUpwNHuyoFvRF_03Tn2YoYjXIOla0MU_A3oml5El8Hh2ezWsWUGEAZ6F_q7uX4GlnTvvX_dkk3mnQhkd2_C0pK4x4iwblAwWSPqZPLipgkNIBkAx1MsakJR0aY75qHnBOQBVH8CT5T0Uhnj1w/w400-h266/IMG_5462.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JB8LFvwSlmDhxVE_cOnHCQayhfGKrGmNnJNsgkx8hF1ugORN2MGb0EARFHgcVDzGarSOjPtNf2BBcGjkFiS146Edl2_e0nuzCwslu4Br4bQrJBf4nStVy7dSrFOYA-xyAy8lqkHgXTVk6gGO_iA4JIM0OI7k5TkTs_cLmktyhOgH5tkQqphSpTrtBA/s5472/IMG_5466.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JB8LFvwSlmDhxVE_cOnHCQayhfGKrGmNnJNsgkx8hF1ugORN2MGb0EARFHgcVDzGarSOjPtNf2BBcGjkFiS146Edl2_e0nuzCwslu4Br4bQrJBf4nStVy7dSrFOYA-xyAy8lqkHgXTVk6gGO_iA4JIM0OI7k5TkTs_cLmktyhOgH5tkQqphSpTrtBA/w640-h426/IMG_5466.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvdWhvRHcvdpTKLGDyGDK5IxvUXm7ffgyUi3WMSqTzMUdpGUglef98Bmn2e708xauh2NRCj4JW-qH7sF9yqGA3raUUsVER3IRIGtNtV6f7CFAKjq3oPH6n1jCf-Q5q2YBLvyC0yigH7kgC86FByw6146mmc4i8ZGwXmXvb3t8DAK_dYrfthKHJYmifg/s5472/IMG_5470.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvdWhvRHcvdpTKLGDyGDK5IxvUXm7ffgyUi3WMSqTzMUdpGUglef98Bmn2e708xauh2NRCj4JW-qH7sF9yqGA3raUUsVER3IRIGtNtV6f7CFAKjq3oPH6n1jCf-Q5q2YBLvyC0yigH7kgC86FByw6146mmc4i8ZGwXmXvb3t8DAK_dYrfthKHJYmifg/w640-h426/IMG_5470.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>The track continues through alpine scrub with a slightly more rugged appearance than the pedestrian boardwalk the track starts off as. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdQF8ORaBeoiFMdnhOBk1WcIZTcQWE3tO5ZO2-FntzcP4lfOz1HiT7TiQ2cPnwS_1W2_vCHG9ah0J4WW90XcS55rVBRl_kFjO2Sj-rXBQzHDc_FSJBoaYZ3oYbiv660C5LSwMC3yIHjDS2qAFxwdvKDI7hD-r4lS6TyZ81bW0ChReQkcoSyfpbQPwlw/s5472/IMG_5479.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdQF8ORaBeoiFMdnhOBk1WcIZTcQWE3tO5ZO2-FntzcP4lfOz1HiT7TiQ2cPnwS_1W2_vCHG9ah0J4WW90XcS55rVBRl_kFjO2Sj-rXBQzHDc_FSJBoaYZ3oYbiv660C5LSwMC3yIHjDS2qAFxwdvKDI7hD-r4lS6TyZ81bW0ChReQkcoSyfpbQPwlw/w640-h426/IMG_5479.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y1sre_ywcBE8z9dfGJypS7S9z8rG9boavfUORBo34I4exEyUe7D_iuAmNZp9FMEgNeM5WhSjmJQBljHxQZKR1NZp4o6h1HcyadToP_UyjaB6dBytScxJxPDoC4F-_-VzhzLdkuPdUXdv9zfPAn6-6CFH7BvitQqBidL4JSdE28H3Kza3TSbA00BzdQ/s5472/IMG_5481.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y1sre_ywcBE8z9dfGJypS7S9z8rG9boavfUORBo34I4exEyUe7D_iuAmNZp9FMEgNeM5WhSjmJQBljHxQZKR1NZp4o6h1HcyadToP_UyjaB6dBytScxJxPDoC4F-_-VzhzLdkuPdUXdv9zfPAn6-6CFH7BvitQqBidL4JSdE28H3Kza3TSbA00BzdQ/w640-h426/IMG_5481.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonjpg1hyGRazW2atkGFb07twyd6Jxxn-LpV-pWMwejzHStpfpjxdMyf7SVwSWk4PNAAlGdh8V-ErhrBd5Vj67Omo9_nr9U7T3cYyHRfLo0F5xgxOW7C5uLboHQysMEouC65Jk_1xuT9L97n79iVLLH2HLH-9Gc1iamZuoCfQbSD4dtXZsvENDhkrnag/s5472/IMG_5482.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonjpg1hyGRazW2atkGFb07twyd6Jxxn-LpV-pWMwejzHStpfpjxdMyf7SVwSWk4PNAAlGdh8V-ErhrBd5Vj67Omo9_nr9U7T3cYyHRfLo0F5xgxOW7C5uLboHQysMEouC65Jk_1xuT9L97n79iVLLH2HLH-9Gc1iamZuoCfQbSD4dtXZsvENDhkrnag/w640-h426/IMG_5482.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>The hut can be seen shortly before it is reached, and excellent views extend in pretty much every direction. A shade over 2 hours after starting, I arrived at the hut to find the other 15 occupants already in residence and the log burner creating a cosy environment.</p><p>After dropping my pack and claiming the one remaining bunk, I headed up the track onto the tops of the Pouakai Range toward the famed tarns. The tarns lies a short walk of about 10 minutes/1 km from the hut.<br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2foXXtiZO5lR0T8GSXGEiiyeMKBeFEoyiz0EI1oE-T16vpIxfYusd1PqSycJCzK1gMVGgyIIDopc3XtR4qd2XDVaFV7JlgaTVJF1T-e4yzY-QynCiW4qIveHSw8ofWSLbrOcNQNLIpv4LT2zEHc4ASJptTVcVOzk9FEvRBchmCHZeSeFgLIN7Z8eBw/s5472/IMG_5492.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2foXXtiZO5lR0T8GSXGEiiyeMKBeFEoyiz0EI1oE-T16vpIxfYusd1PqSycJCzK1gMVGgyIIDopc3XtR4qd2XDVaFV7JlgaTVJF1T-e4yzY-QynCiW4qIveHSw8ofWSLbrOcNQNLIpv4LT2zEHc4ASJptTVcVOzk9FEvRBchmCHZeSeFgLIN7Z8eBw/w640-h426/IMG_5492.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-UFZmv3k0O_QhOK0U4rWLvk3d33G_5fUH3EOCmI74OvwTVVrYW2xvVR2JmV5Rbmhj885o1zsqgbnLeBNkHmQilTUCevLVbv9_sxppI1YSexA1nauJrXsBfaiPnZ5FahKqe5Kb2kGcgVR5PcfXRIi4p0dnLxVU1TvZgIJUt5ULVF7OeCCODlZCoTn4g/s5472/IMG_5497.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-UFZmv3k0O_QhOK0U4rWLvk3d33G_5fUH3EOCmI74OvwTVVrYW2xvVR2JmV5Rbmhj885o1zsqgbnLeBNkHmQilTUCevLVbv9_sxppI1YSexA1nauJrXsBfaiPnZ5FahKqe5Kb2kGcgVR5PcfXRIi4p0dnLxVU1TvZgIJUt5ULVF7OeCCODlZCoTn4g/w640-h426/IMG_5497.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYknRRu8R5Tn28wmOKBqrar4aVum0apn4rxgkn01MnkL-x7IiTMZ-obKyoYYyNQC72vX_EqzjG8-vDI4vss3gTP1uTnYLFFYhnVZ88oOooG3wtlFnZeh599BzHW1WcUCMqCvmdyfZXiWjoKtlJF6AJwQjFiibShQNS2ZRuTNqq1IdTQD-PNR_nhU1Sw/s5472/IMG_5501.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYknRRu8R5Tn28wmOKBqrar4aVum0apn4rxgkn01MnkL-x7IiTMZ-obKyoYYyNQC72vX_EqzjG8-vDI4vss3gTP1uTnYLFFYhnVZ88oOooG3wtlFnZeh599BzHW1WcUCMqCvmdyfZXiWjoKtlJF6AJwQjFiibShQNS2ZRuTNqq1IdTQD-PNR_nhU1Sw/w640-h426/IMG_5501.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFBQfdH2FRgyjiz-bSFC26cSvwPzpEWNkxBUml34QKaTVsjebVxDvav-HMlsDHTlrGwJgINTF3jbFknA399uJAM9oTFbr_ICsfSK99VUaeJ7KdnBmC4K0vqjE32-C9LDUP1y7cvkK9PAvA72Q41r4tFuQ-0Kh1-yZ2TTPVVq6-XAQY4eQZaBr0dwtYQ/w640-h426/IMG_5536.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvA_PNsSZv8a8TDo3-OxCHfwBHbxx5G6zMopW5MJ0sqv-qecKdYMeRJImki630kuUIqLJ52NhYO-TKe9ZIo7e31wrE0pvbD4GJjOIC_cXJG_dtRApwOT04WwpqQ6SSWxGE_WrxwMj1MoSszgvu830MyWDjhselp-1rjfRlwAf-eIozK8HdX986PHLrIg/s5472/IMG_5541.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvA_PNsSZv8a8TDo3-OxCHfwBHbxx5G6zMopW5MJ0sqv-qecKdYMeRJImki630kuUIqLJ52NhYO-TKe9ZIo7e31wrE0pvbD4GJjOIC_cXJG_dtRApwOT04WwpqQ6SSWxGE_WrxwMj1MoSszgvu830MyWDjhselp-1rjfRlwAf-eIozK8HdX986PHLrIg/w640-h426/IMG_5541.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p>Despite plenty of late evening sun and views in most directions, a heavy fug of cloud hung over Mt Taranaki. I waited around in the futile hope the cloud would pass, but eventually gave in and ambled back toward the hut.<br>With good weather and plenty of time on my hands, it was an excellent opportunity to go slow and take in the alpine environment on the short return walk.</p><p>Back at the hut, I decided to drag my mattress out of the crowded bunkroom into a corner of the oddly spacious communal cooking/dining area. Pouakai Hut has a somewhat unusual layout, with one of the two 8-person bunkrooms accessed from from outside. Architectural curiosities aside, the hut was toasty and a good sleep was had.<br>After dark, clear skies afforded expansive views toward New Plymouth.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4sEfeenYPM3DlWRGLn4GgZPHMdMykoQLKNGPutctXxj4T48WdTbbqWgEvKWxF-Ul11IquOvYaeYNDHOG8zQ4q_pbZigrLzgxf92_ZUNtxSTrxw0BXrQoO5OPQRZAzeAepTgYMDUb8OWKHmSrxXJkHdZqukowYQ27rNF2Uq46wnoVyfknDc0AaOqGKQ/s5472/IMG_5547.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4sEfeenYPM3DlWRGLn4GgZPHMdMykoQLKNGPutctXxj4T48WdTbbqWgEvKWxF-Ul11IquOvYaeYNDHOG8zQ4q_pbZigrLzgxf92_ZUNtxSTrxw0BXrQoO5OPQRZAzeAepTgYMDUb8OWKHmSrxXJkHdZqukowYQ27rNF2Uq46wnoVyfknDc0AaOqGKQ/w640-h426/IMG_5547.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0qKASHE0rdh9uR_FG7cA04ir3IZ62xS-3G4BtKaKUhmHjlMA6itI3CkDFXdTpYeA27QHXDCdnsrQEgTSw5l1-63rCuexFu0VnXUbofGxFnfgtYv-IUAZb7LYp8WxyNowtTamEUVnQ4LNQavE9thc4tqWYFB6OPwhma4bqHPjz2qBMjKdskvFTQtStg/s5472/IMG_5550.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0qKASHE0rdh9uR_FG7cA04ir3IZ62xS-3G4BtKaKUhmHjlMA6itI3CkDFXdTpYeA27QHXDCdnsrQEgTSw5l1-63rCuexFu0VnXUbofGxFnfgtYv-IUAZb7LYp8WxyNowtTamEUVnQ4LNQavE9thc4tqWYFB6OPwhma4bqHPjz2qBMjKdskvFTQtStg/w640-h426/IMG_5550.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6r7lUM-Uun0NSVtJiirZafrfNaABaA_dmpsd-aj_E9ON4uvwOFbIiXjl92C8hiHlyInv4gy4BaX2WgFWFizxlu5fayou5JpW0s1ZNd-8icHv5Knv3AMY_GYapxSatDD_w1dRyLucVcrdY2WX6ggK0yRHQIXECFmU4BbM5wsfVYTYJS5upZ_-1jHUEg/s5472/IMG_5554.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6r7lUM-Uun0NSVtJiirZafrfNaABaA_dmpsd-aj_E9ON4uvwOFbIiXjl92C8hiHlyInv4gy4BaX2WgFWFizxlu5fayou5JpW0s1ZNd-8icHv5Knv3AMY_GYapxSatDD_w1dRyLucVcrdY2WX6ggK0yRHQIXECFmU4BbM5wsfVYTYJS5upZ_-1jHUEg/w640-h426/IMG_5554.JPG" width="640"></a></div> The next morning, the heavy mist told that I would have even less luck seeing the mountain than yesterday. A few peeks of blue sky were enough to send me back up to the tarn. Alas, the fog never cleared but the absence of wind created a peaceful, almost eerie environment that had its own charm.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVc3WxcY9SlwlE8HqLq4hUFHEF37pCoB4IdrCQO15YpYsHWRQ_Taga9JUN4Q00sVW7JaCRDww1QtKA1EvFA5dsyxI8MCpUbXBHh2v554TV9Jim_TMbvT8MlKuqRogJGtahwSe59n3FUT9VIuydUpRMaGDCxKPPXMHqb4hMagSXLPgHs0w7eYkUO-8Jw/s5472/IMG_5558.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVc3WxcY9SlwlE8HqLq4hUFHEF37pCoB4IdrCQO15YpYsHWRQ_Taga9JUN4Q00sVW7JaCRDww1QtKA1EvFA5dsyxI8MCpUbXBHh2v554TV9Jim_TMbvT8MlKuqRogJGtahwSe59n3FUT9VIuydUpRMaGDCxKPPXMHqb4hMagSXLPgHs0w7eYkUO-8Jw/w640-h426/IMG_5558.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyd3VWJ7raS6ncIeAsC6EAYN31O2bkmAsQ4ew7yLtzaalhP0W5fythMmg7oX3rCkSbl-mapAgFK9oGyUe-NgH94-b4iOWE4k217TTvsjgx-QUytnevZhC3taZHZvwmiNuca8GRjb6S3O8tAWrtVkpOhj3YmLW0w1F3p70fhAzLMncRkleyQBqoGTqYw/s5472/IMG_5562.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yP1-l5txS4LW0kYK9iIPI9IbhS_TFQ3T4BX9ZlcOqw9krs2EWX4ZX25ztxGoa5lakUWPV8p2CsmD07RfiVrEM2K2RS6brLiroiO5f9lW7OzHtGTQSeOagd4UCsfObz9PpHkLFc4Xqn8w5SvDAmgQykXgCUg5FaGbSRe0IMERo0qUTRQjXRTVwvEX3g/s5472/IMG_5592.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yP1-l5txS4LW0kYK9iIPI9IbhS_TFQ3T4BX9ZlcOqw9krs2EWX4ZX25ztxGoa5lakUWPV8p2CsmD07RfiVrEM2K2RS6brLiroiO5f9lW7OzHtGTQSeOagd4UCsfObz9PpHkLFc4Xqn8w5SvDAmgQykXgCUg5FaGbSRe0IMERo0qUTRQjXRTVwvEX3g/w640-h426/IMG_5592.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br> Returning to the hut, I picked up my pack and began the quick blast back down to the carpark. Being downhill all the way over an easy going track, I'd reached the carpark 1 hour and 20 minutes after leaving the hut.<p></p><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8leqRtqsuvAdKmnLn-KKGUBwpczV5UIRR3RyYX0MRnWb_h0lisKRFBcOpmAp1gcg5GAs6r97-XLp5C0BhZRG_IgT7mnLrjpzhBY3mRsb9yr4YTPcQR9saTzgtwL23xOIB4SOskwfQs8Xl7ohvmte40XRfXZ-exPjcyZUx3qO2kKH3kig8DEUx3z82w/s5472/IMG_5596.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8leqRtqsuvAdKmnLn-KKGUBwpczV5UIRR3RyYX0MRnWb_h0lisKRFBcOpmAp1gcg5GAs6r97-XLp5C0BhZRG_IgT7mnLrjpzhBY3mRsb9yr4YTPcQR9saTzgtwL23xOIB4SOskwfQs8Xl7ohvmte40XRfXZ-exPjcyZUx3qO2kKH3kig8DEUx3z82w/w266-h400/IMG_5596.JPG" width="266"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItjl6wyVdDT5-JDRunh9xz3Mtg3GdDT0eOzjFvI7DSB0hyxQVUtOcKbo-I_jhvMJdrut-4zpkDf4uGseBkPCgVZ5CLnzCkE4A4v1pDdqV_JXUnjhDCIO-6K-qKixZ5jqYHH1geCJ9mXiC4ST8e075Sb4xOzio60LY_-jaG2c7ICvvh80U_gU3AjGw9w/s5472/IMG_5597.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0X0WBqjwLntfL06vheVlyraCu-hgwIPqMjs5OEh7NgEuWTY5v6aqlKM1kcHRbXog1Qv8601GgMu_UURW8WukQEUZlVcHSv0qHm_4NJ1JDmfxLchzhTQ6F-u8KqXRWsIPDnjLAHgjxsvnW6PVr0ETjg2lDCAfSQU_UQ_GHdDJK_AbwqFm7yKyHYTggw/s5472/IMG_5606.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0X0WBqjwLntfL06vheVlyraCu-hgwIPqMjs5OEh7NgEuWTY5v6aqlKM1kcHRbXog1Qv8601GgMu_UURW8WukQEUZlVcHSv0qHm_4NJ1JDmfxLchzhTQ6F-u8KqXRWsIPDnjLAHgjxsvnW6PVr0ETjg2lDCAfSQU_UQ_GHdDJK_AbwqFm7yKyHYTggw/w400-h266/IMG_5606.JPG" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14O03_Ey53ouMBdlZ-7vs95sqNhkT6Z0oGMapF4TZjw1aKzGhIl4QR3ESByM6vjijoqW7zf1gCTHGI8m0gtnUqkDCMCpdGNAhw2XMh4BErJt3D3FLdCyqQl1AqOzyVjikOK9oObcTV9QAvjtsEe6Z5pR3jh3yqLcnBP-w_fH7IgW8EnwiF85DsfASmQ/s5472/IMG_5608.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14O03_Ey53ouMBdlZ-7vs95sqNhkT6Z0oGMapF4TZjw1aKzGhIl4QR3ESByM6vjijoqW7zf1gCTHGI8m0gtnUqkDCMCpdGNAhw2XMh4BErJt3D3FLdCyqQl1AqOzyVjikOK9oObcTV9QAvjtsEe6Z5pR3jh3yqLcnBP-w_fH7IgW8EnwiF85DsfASmQ/w400-h266/IMG_5608.JPG" width="400"></a></div>Overall a quick, easy tramp for when you want an excellent overnight destination a short walk from the road end. This also makes a great day walk if you've got more time in the day for walking and no inclination to stay in a hut.<br><h3 style="text-align: left;">Map, etc.</h3><p style="text-align: left;">Distances: to Pouakai Hut, 5.28 km. Pouakai Hut to Tarn, 1.10 km (each way).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxqxFD32txq-cFtSiI5WJiHRD32qfldpFb8BuEjb9O2H7NF3Le4AYxxGJwe8NZNsy061P9AgBv4eQ6ONsOlulHfe-3vuLeJ8LdIUkzrMRFpTO4FPIKGM4Lkp8t6USlw1IztlS94NvvLxvLvjHWapL1pWOPFDG3F3i_wEZcITJQavkmq6dVFbkFKFr8w/s1006/Map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1006" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxqxFD32txq-cFtSiI5WJiHRD32qfldpFb8BuEjb9O2H7NF3Le4AYxxGJwe8NZNsy061P9AgBv4eQ6ONsOlulHfe-3vuLeJ8LdIUkzrMRFpTO4FPIKGM4Lkp8t6USlw1IztlS94NvvLxvLvjHWapL1pWOPFDG3F3i_wEZcITJQavkmq6dVFbkFKFr8w/w640-h482/Map.png" width="640"></a></div><br><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-73890295526780545752023-02-21T13:53:00.002+13:002023-02-21T13:53:34.931+13:00A note on distances<p> This is as much a note to myself as anything else. This has been nagging at me for years so now that I got around to finding an answer, I shall record it here lest I need to look it up again.</p><p>For a long time, I was finding that the distance of a track recorded on my GPS (a Garmin GPSMap 64s) would come out significantly lower when downloaded onto my computer and opened in Memory-Map. My theory was that this was something to do with how Memory-Map opens the GPX file, maybe losing detail that the GOS unit recorded. As an example, on my recent Tutuwai tramp, my GPS showed 16.2 km when I arrived at the hut. Imported into Memory Map, the distance became 14.5km.<br /></p><p>A track, in the form of a GPX file is essentially a list of recorded waypoints. The GPS records a point at certain intervals, stringing them together for a track. The GPX file can them be downloaded and imported into various bits of mapping software. The recording interval can be set on most GPS units - Garmin offer the options of manually specified time intervals (e.g. every 5 seconds), distance intervals (e.g. every 50 m), and an Auto mode with options to record more or less data. These option determine how many points will be in the GPX file. Most software will calculate the total distance by drawing straight lines between the points.<br /></p><p>Eventually I determined that no information was being lost when I imported the GPX file, so the discrepancies I was getting must be due to something the GPS was doing. Today I stumbled upon what that was: the GPS is doing something along the lines of recording the same trip in two ways. The GPX file is recorded at the specified interval, and this is the distance that shows up when the GPX file is imported. The GPS is also recording the trip at 1 second intervals and this is the distance that shows up on the trip odometer and when reviewing the trip file on the GPS itself. More data points = more detail = longer distances. Fewer data points in the GPX = less detail = shorter distances.<br />Why the GPS unit operates like this I do not know. Whether one method is more objectively accurate is a mystery to me. That being said, 1s is very very frequent, to the point where it may be capturing a lot of positional jitter from the GPS, potentially over-estimating distance. And setting the GPS to record points at a lower frequency can under-estimate distance by smoothing out small meanderings etc.</p><p>A few forums I read seemed to like using the "Most often" option of the "Auto" track recording setting for Garmin units, so I'll suppose I'll do that from now on. And if nothing else, maybe someone else will stumble upon this and answer there own questions about GPX anomalies.</p><p><a href="https://www.walklakes.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=571">https://www.walklakes.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=571</a><br /></p>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-23260945770164422062023-02-20T23:53:00.004+13:002023-03-08T15:01:08.874+13:00Tutuwai Hut via Smith Creek<p></p><p></p><p>Not for the first time, I found myself cursing my decision to not wear full length gaiters. On this occasion, it was due largely to biblical plague-level amount of hook grass I had to wade through on the way to Tutuwai Hut.<br /></p><p> Some time earlier, I was strapping on my pack and heading off from the Kiwi Ranch Road carpark. The track initially passes though forest adjacent to a YMCA camp, zig-zagging upwards into lower-growing scrub. After about 15 minutes, a seemingly needless sign points the way onward, or back to the carpark. Checking the map later, I presume this is where the track from the old Marchant Rd carpark would've joined.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aLzxLD4V3DHh6CCFZGFtVZsSm_uy7_vtl3YR6E_GXPpLzmifN1_AJEMWh5bamFeWKK9v26L2u2K8Q8UbNA29zz2UtC-LOTQx-Vlf-VeG42IGxceoemoJGrJRBNEZdymxO5XM4c7ShbmMGiyzhdnMQBd8lcuqfuyChcP0CS6fOcnl_0aNlBHBqeK7nw/s4032/20230219_104110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aLzxLD4V3DHh6CCFZGFtVZsSm_uy7_vtl3YR6E_GXPpLzmifN1_AJEMWh5bamFeWKK9v26L2u2K8Q8UbNA29zz2UtC-LOTQx-Vlf-VeG42IGxceoemoJGrJRBNEZdymxO5XM4c7ShbmMGiyzhdnMQBd8lcuqfuyChcP0CS6fOcnl_0aNlBHBqeK7nw/w480-h640/20230219_104110.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfs39a1WK3mJ6qI9jJpNaTiFvYQW5WejHjApDAxdXlaTMebUiiOAd67yKpcLhjWAubzXFxF5EOblLdVn_ukxJz0yTQs-gBCYgUFu7JaK7A6wiGJTVd7KesPiw7H4xkX-BA5izJgrlTr_YIXRNPdMwifEudFTCTxkFtwR_AjmToJA8x56a-NbBa8F-18Q/s4032/20230219_104553.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfs39a1WK3mJ6qI9jJpNaTiFvYQW5WejHjApDAxdXlaTMebUiiOAd67yKpcLhjWAubzXFxF5EOblLdVn_ukxJz0yTQs-gBCYgUFu7JaK7A6wiGJTVd7KesPiw7H4xkX-BA5izJgrlTr_YIXRNPdMwifEudFTCTxkFtwR_AjmToJA8x56a-NbBa8F-18Q/w480-h640/20230219_104553.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRc26WsfssAZ3XLcJBzgyTpx-u9bAD7HYv0i_xuxwspe_LRM7t1KirvAryoyKi6mWKde7Gb0zVSfc0abxEVXEzLaoOOa9z0eElAg01EHRvfk2A0BsVwRTJf_yInxqRV7v19lu7Yl1lPnMvKV2qwhNHyOHkXKbyhE19HXwAwgMA_HmCbogvVIFGSzJdQ/s4608/20230219_110000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRc26WsfssAZ3XLcJBzgyTpx-u9bAD7HYv0i_xuxwspe_LRM7t1KirvAryoyKi6mWKde7Gb0zVSfc0abxEVXEzLaoOOa9z0eElAg01EHRvfk2A0BsVwRTJf_yInxqRV7v19lu7Yl1lPnMvKV2qwhNHyOHkXKbyhE19HXwAwgMA_HmCbogvVIFGSzJdQ/w640-h480/20230219_110000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1EQ-o7fLzx_FJF9C1HsgsOGwk41b883VzeIkZ2ZK_H4d_6xvugsnTo8C71PYzljlybeIWSLZ2dbb_kOpGOuwYFh-v-Dhp1HiUBnkTof35AMJtRpWIR163R-co8-9C1X_EQPBvU4k60n1EshyS59kjBqmyiYoZuJx-8ak3xrnflg26kNB4XEvl5-B0Q/s4032/20230219_110137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1EQ-o7fLzx_FJF9C1HsgsOGwk41b883VzeIkZ2ZK_H4d_6xvugsnTo8C71PYzljlybeIWSLZ2dbb_kOpGOuwYFh-v-Dhp1HiUBnkTof35AMJtRpWIR163R-co8-9C1X_EQPBvU4k60n1EshyS59kjBqmyiYoZuJx-8ak3xrnflg26kNB4XEvl5-B0Q/w640-h480/20230219_110137.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The track dips in and out of patches of forest on the way to Puffer Saddle. A further 15 minutes from the first sign is another - this one serving an actual purpose, pointing the way to Smith Creek or Alpha Hut. </p><p>Taking the right path, the track continues toward Puffer Saddle. Many parts of the track surface were a horrible slippery clay stuff. It's another 15 minutes (for a total of 45 min/2.4km) to the saddle. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29Sw6p1vR-sTXZs0eNzrEaGeYBJr9FB5HThhLKft8Yg2GO4XdqbhWQb0Pr0mkipHjaxiHJXtD37FjtEwonm-sFxrkedJLsDM2WYWnhBY2dlXMfHRL4fl2BZ86XOtMWKQp7hC5gLQRnYnUFeOkuAjYl96q266bopSA8cZTzLENnwD4WZ05oogoyGZhlA/s4032/20230219_110405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29Sw6p1vR-sTXZs0eNzrEaGeYBJr9FB5HThhLKft8Yg2GO4XdqbhWQb0Pr0mkipHjaxiHJXtD37FjtEwonm-sFxrkedJLsDM2WYWnhBY2dlXMfHRL4fl2BZ86XOtMWKQp7hC5gLQRnYnUFeOkuAjYl96q266bopSA8cZTzLENnwD4WZ05oogoyGZhlA/w640-h480/20230219_110405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2weOwRskAhPIV2vmSvfWtrljfNcWcaTfMbxxHvdgyW3eFAdgd2_vtvIfRhLAc6ZZK_zZR_XFWRWjV1n2eeM6KvjRINXeADsd5yDR-a2jvQSye_ddGCXr6Agstu2z8zA__VEmgnFuS1RlbrwjTVFJsvyhAkFUoKfTNMxdM20Pjgu0zlBAgFANpiRqjg/s4032/20230219_110812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2weOwRskAhPIV2vmSvfWtrljfNcWcaTfMbxxHvdgyW3eFAdgd2_vtvIfRhLAc6ZZK_zZR_XFWRWjV1n2eeM6KvjRINXeADsd5yDR-a2jvQSye_ddGCXr6Agstu2z8zA__VEmgnFuS1RlbrwjTVFJsvyhAkFUoKfTNMxdM20Pjgu0zlBAgFANpiRqjg/w480-h640/20230219_110812.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysMN05ZdmcOL18Y7nYjvw29PIkFMyuaf8Jo5Bax8xrq68F3h-pUnVGiPvDgvtaV2f2faOjDIaClKeDQz9EUrzuPQQngdUePJ3PDgG9ri9rxy6wa1ZOE0dAksYbLhW00EyrnqOOQE4A4nxd6hZDllyC_QBw7Djs2SvN72g1lfAb12OIdMh9l22yFFvOA/s4032/20230219_111545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysMN05ZdmcOL18Y7nYjvw29PIkFMyuaf8Jo5Bax8xrq68F3h-pUnVGiPvDgvtaV2f2faOjDIaClKeDQz9EUrzuPQQngdUePJ3PDgG9ri9rxy6wa1ZOE0dAksYbLhW00EyrnqOOQE4A4nxd6hZDllyC_QBw7Djs2SvN72g1lfAb12OIdMh9l22yFFvOA/w640-h480/20230219_111545.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_VQnlCcmHcx5mRUxb73FRS_b9hseVqrp5Rm7nZ7gh7MaBQDLhYlOfv_rKw6y5pxcy4ZlpnRLk4zTyTWvS4gKRXsxKEX4qt-v2LUr7bNAGh0kZ_n3EPb2hcyX4aDpYM5lkqIQ_-JkyBFRUysAJJ1yd87v4Bpi8BolUNPN-fEdJ40a3wFdeZdfM5X5Sg/s4032/20230219_113912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_VQnlCcmHcx5mRUxb73FRS_b9hseVqrp5Rm7nZ7gh7MaBQDLhYlOfv_rKw6y5pxcy4ZlpnRLk4zTyTWvS4gKRXsxKEX4qt-v2LUr7bNAGh0kZ_n3EPb2hcyX4aDpYM5lkqIQ_-JkyBFRUysAJJ1yd87v4Bpi8BolUNPN-fEdJ40a3wFdeZdfM5X5Sg/w640-h480/20230219_113912.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Shortly after the saddle, the track drops steeply down toward Smith Creek. At the bottom, there's a great spot for a break next to pleasant stream. From here, the track is mostly well graded and easy-going, but with plenty of side streams to cross. Closer to Smith Creek, a couple of areas affect by slips are traversed. Some of the slips are pretty major but the track only has a few places that are in any way hairy. About 2 hours/6.75km after starting, Smith Creek shelter is reached.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYiL7PwTt7qvXmQKbIXGiNnj-A8ifOM60UHv5hg2Dh2b964JV-yL9nQKSYABPi-OxOHU5PliLTNLT3r5X0IyPccabMELTEuBHTTWLMpO2vvLFPmsn33gEhqsYy6SR1L5oRTP9w87Dpra1NoxGa6Z3F0cFASyeai3qJVxAvPRADr7s5GCOsda7yyGMpw/s4608/20230219_114742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYiL7PwTt7qvXmQKbIXGiNnj-A8ifOM60UHv5hg2Dh2b964JV-yL9nQKSYABPi-OxOHU5PliLTNLT3r5X0IyPccabMELTEuBHTTWLMpO2vvLFPmsn33gEhqsYy6SR1L5oRTP9w87Dpra1NoxGa6Z3F0cFASyeai3qJVxAvPRADr7s5GCOsda7yyGMpw/w640-h480/20230219_114742.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjt3ippyrWPu_UUwhhT5nNnCuKGgEensImxJthJXdbBTIAyugyxsGUssSSW__lTMvD6t1q1FkRezDQb1NFZJrN6BGNqkdHulnZ12AtymcwSWQsA8KSnPxku8VeDkLF6uiTQqJtgLT4P3sZskGXdvWBZuIVodB_r-iYe6W672UXIU32szacFBNdKJ-OQ/s4608/20230219_114918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjt3ippyrWPu_UUwhhT5nNnCuKGgEensImxJthJXdbBTIAyugyxsGUssSSW__lTMvD6t1q1FkRezDQb1NFZJrN6BGNqkdHulnZ12AtymcwSWQsA8KSnPxku8VeDkLF6uiTQqJtgLT4P3sZskGXdvWBZuIVodB_r-iYe6W672UXIU32szacFBNdKJ-OQ/w480-h640/20230219_114918.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvt73vbqH0zVQSNY6BnxpvXE2vX58fMY06qRy7O33s2_hpB49AM2bPVAflxYN_ECarCoWLt9k6orkuxzM0pGMazz602rhzZ9VUa_Cphr6dA9D6-jicwCDMpa7slofUUnFCRfxwGbQCBjDYb8lN5u9RugWw0e_xXfF0N-fiEqx84w7VS3It5WZRjRBAQQ/s4608/20230219_115546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvt73vbqH0zVQSNY6BnxpvXE2vX58fMY06qRy7O33s2_hpB49AM2bPVAflxYN_ECarCoWLt9k6orkuxzM0pGMazz602rhzZ9VUa_Cphr6dA9D6-jicwCDMpa7slofUUnFCRfxwGbQCBjDYb8lN5u9RugWw0e_xXfF0N-fiEqx84w7VS3It5WZRjRBAQQ/w640-h480/20230219_115546.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>After crossing what would turn out to be the last bit of slip-damaged track, I encountered a sign warning that the track was closed and indicating a detour. The sign seemed to be intended for people heading the other direction, and I hadn't seen another at the southern end of the slip zone. Perhaps it got landslid-ed away. Regardless, I couldn't see much of a detour, and the lower closed track seemed fine. The sign looked relatively old so I imagine the slips have settled somewhat.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijf0IAqfEjzNGPfCrr52nkQZyvH6Eg0yHgA8osFsG1mpW4lBOjZNDbJp0yrSWEy7JctVciQBXFEPC2ZyygmJOEnutq1tuhDUCnLUfpJXRTpxBZP8DxLL0I9npwWYtUU2J1lhb_HcvaATKtgNSPYMPUzOK7Ey7pEIpnMe92XMAP3bpSUNlU7bE4h-cisg/s4032/20230219_115725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijf0IAqfEjzNGPfCrr52nkQZyvH6Eg0yHgA8osFsG1mpW4lBOjZNDbJp0yrSWEy7JctVciQBXFEPC2ZyygmJOEnutq1tuhDUCnLUfpJXRTpxBZP8DxLL0I9npwWYtUU2J1lhb_HcvaATKtgNSPYMPUzOK7Ey7pEIpnMe92XMAP3bpSUNlU7bE4h-cisg/w480-h640/20230219_115725.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7_kSBYCUeaCt4Jh0VCQ5X4s9QrXrZI6zproqb9k3lVfbNI82t8aCpdhh_CVq0FzVvQJrnsHgeDcHakaUTlCg1CsGlTKTu91K8ay-uNO3clQqrmSJVssz8ArSBJQvAe16DQ-v2fM46ZshVlqW7Rlz6Grx4VJEDfIBRK_70OiJzFdykQwveYwvxWjLNw/s4032/20230219_122812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7_kSBYCUeaCt4Jh0VCQ5X4s9QrXrZI6zproqb9k3lVfbNI82t8aCpdhh_CVq0FzVvQJrnsHgeDcHakaUTlCg1CsGlTKTu91K8ay-uNO3clQqrmSJVssz8ArSBJQvAe16DQ-v2fM46ZshVlqW7Rlz6Grx4VJEDfIBRK_70OiJzFdykQwveYwvxWjLNw/w480-h640/20230219_122812.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Smith Creek shelter is a dingy, uninviting place so I opted to take my rest stop slightly further down the track. From the shelter, the track follows the Tauherenikau river up stream, passing gorse-invested flats and swampy patches. A quick 1.2km later, Marchant Stream is reached. Marchant is one of the side streams to watch out for during heavy and/or prolonged rain - it drains a significant portion of the eastern side of Marchant Ridge. A guide wire stretches between banks, to lend support to trampers during high flows. Today though, it just helped me keep my feet dry. A few minutes later, the lower Tauherenikau bridge is reached.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAiKFxL0cnbksLqbzmKmiTcl3V1HJI716PKyWuNu45T4tOarTIV7kIw_4qEl8jZZ5bHI8gjqXOOV-x3Fj2KPg13qSQXiyM3xBs65k3LkJofpErPn7wniDACTO8PcHvQliXPGekDEsUcrvrMJa2IaCfqhN8WIob80e0ZzsdMwJEa-CMBkES6q_nUCUTA/s4032/20230219_122948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAiKFxL0cnbksLqbzmKmiTcl3V1HJI716PKyWuNu45T4tOarTIV7kIw_4qEl8jZZ5bHI8gjqXOOV-x3Fj2KPg13qSQXiyM3xBs65k3LkJofpErPn7wniDACTO8PcHvQliXPGekDEsUcrvrMJa2IaCfqhN8WIob80e0ZzsdMwJEa-CMBkES6q_nUCUTA/w400-h300/20230219_122948.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7sUrAM4XXbdhgimzF2b4GMRJ7Wq8TL7qTCcBIp-_jvwKWZVfuAMkI0b_St1uQX6tJThhamRJLEDyOPlg5-RMPen3CMLAoSc65c9r75thOn9lqaLMxTDH8zyBzuVtJRzbr6rZtC_s6h6H_Pg0HsL8xwsRHMJnok3XX95AWSrmD3RXbCgLZbVlBV4_SQ/s4032/20230219_123014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7sUrAM4XXbdhgimzF2b4GMRJ7Wq8TL7qTCcBIp-_jvwKWZVfuAMkI0b_St1uQX6tJThhamRJLEDyOPlg5-RMPen3CMLAoSc65c9r75thOn9lqaLMxTDH8zyBzuVtJRzbr6rZtC_s6h6H_Pg0HsL8xwsRHMJnok3XX95AWSrmD3RXbCgLZbVlBV4_SQ/w400-h300/20230219_123014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQgMlS0Scox8vciZWs5PT5CAbUuBmFejqs61G2JSyaHVYvsQASXaSpe83wtYFNr_h9r9PheYO9eDHmCcwC1dFnWpYhB8U85EI8vZp7IKm56b_P4Z9PsrgsiGH6xbZxl9OaaPZydsX6MhPhMZQlJx1mgRgEOwszdF4Gwu6Jm1f5epaymj6TAbFBbCaWQ/s4032/20230219_125747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQgMlS0Scox8vciZWs5PT5CAbUuBmFejqs61G2JSyaHVYvsQASXaSpe83wtYFNr_h9r9PheYO9eDHmCcwC1dFnWpYhB8U85EI8vZp7IKm56b_P4Z9PsrgsiGH6xbZxl9OaaPZydsX6MhPhMZQlJx1mgRgEOwszdF4Gwu6Jm1f5epaymj6TAbFBbCaWQ/w640-h480/20230219_125747.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtd0MWdongyHpiRjpedC9Etx3MjESr_aeWr-A83cLvCpn-KgrBcJN60MY0WvqPRH1zHw2SL2wgLjCWnf9dG6srW15h0kqCfoGwKTgximc0hPguJd0gzP3EZ3fGn1gar6EM3Ceo0OV-99Fmt0r9MPDyjIB9rNbTPkxYuMydVEVE3PWSZmD3WJPGgogCQ/w640-h480/20230219_130211.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKoQ9xCYbnG2aDHHOcPCSkioy6MEF5hYuZla_uWR_kuDZqpR7Zasexl_8wrO8001h3X5ZvhKj3ygogGBkLeQ9E-WMYl1Ewbw8855YHS0KJ4fN9-_cfcd5NmLMfgA45vkKBN5BwlQ0nbd5MCq5IHcsJfJMptgrjEXlnriKDsstDV4pkMtIKw17KIJltA/s4032/20230219_130226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKoQ9xCYbnG2aDHHOcPCSkioy6MEF5hYuZla_uWR_kuDZqpR7Zasexl_8wrO8001h3X5ZvhKj3ygogGBkLeQ9E-WMYl1Ewbw8855YHS0KJ4fN9-_cfcd5NmLMfgA45vkKBN5BwlQ0nbd5MCq5IHcsJfJMptgrjEXlnriKDsstDV4pkMtIKw17KIJltA/w480-h640/20230219_130226.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsPUV8t4jbgQhEXlH20-babADpclkCkrcQOSa8_HoJtruMw1LXM6UsMl9X5ljcr-ur16O6pRNo7NEj8HVm78F6oz3ItI1OmJvN4m-Ef3ogslk6dYmfawxaL-LahV--7zkkJxzv51aTI3aXglYK2mfTHEQc7TLY4YsVeobPyhBifW1gi66FzKPm7GkKw/s4032/20230219_130251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsPUV8t4jbgQhEXlH20-babADpclkCkrcQOSa8_HoJtruMw1LXM6UsMl9X5ljcr-ur16O6pRNo7NEj8HVm78F6oz3ItI1OmJvN4m-Ef3ogslk6dYmfawxaL-LahV--7zkkJxzv51aTI3aXglYK2mfTHEQc7TLY4YsVeobPyhBifW1gi66FzKPm7GkKw/w640-h480/20230219_130251.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGiNnXGOc8fDaXZozGUUpB8dGRS_kCrvpNSZetzcFWZQ7VnMmWRCaZ22BKToJqAfP_K99prggtVopP-yjoIcqrmEcHXknWlnvb5L8GRs8VMzJaLiiYjoHmaaDbHRulPIG5iLgEd_GP2eexyYbGGQ7v27M-z0qqfNLoN_Gh3mbJn75i8PEL1OB8K2d4A/s4032/20230219_130253.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGiNnXGOc8fDaXZozGUUpB8dGRS_kCrvpNSZetzcFWZQ7VnMmWRCaZ22BKToJqAfP_K99prggtVopP-yjoIcqrmEcHXknWlnvb5L8GRs8VMzJaLiiYjoHmaaDbHRulPIG5iLgEd_GP2eexyYbGGQ7v27M-z0qqfNLoN_Gh3mbJn75i8PEL1OB8K2d4A/w640-h480/20230219_130253.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>As I was crossing the sturdy suspension bridge, I saw a couple of guys crossing the river. Where they were going I don't know, I never saw them again. From here, the track is a bit rougher. Soon after the bridge, there's a brief rooty scramble onto a terrace above the river.</p><p>There's an absence of undergrowth here that makes it easy to see a ground trail where none exists, so keep an eye on the track markers. The track meanders on terraces of varying height above the river, occasionally dropping or climbing into or out of side streams or onto different levels of terrace. There's a lot of tree fall and far too much hook grass. Occasionally landslides of varying age are encountered, none seem particularly recent so any potentially sketchy bits of track are pretty well bedded in, although there are a few slightly more scrambly patches. Some kind soul has strung up a rope at one such scramble.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkX_L1CGXB838cw9tM-n59uVUm8ynX_Au-_lItAsPuDld_foefQ6wPz4RP_ApVMIZGEsKZW9OCe-hUasECGk1TbDD5Obb1iAKzoghcCMt8yUVjPiRTqYSwrQSs0JFi0MVZltMJxyxMyE9aZXlziO9gHd-6GTRebSCgcZRcr7OriSpxKR-nCjH_MdGA4Q/s4032/20230219_144812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkX_L1CGXB838cw9tM-n59uVUm8ynX_Au-_lItAsPuDld_foefQ6wPz4RP_ApVMIZGEsKZW9OCe-hUasECGk1TbDD5Obb1iAKzoghcCMt8yUVjPiRTqYSwrQSs0JFi0MVZltMJxyxMyE9aZXlziO9gHd-6GTRebSCgcZRcr7OriSpxKR-nCjH_MdGA4Q/w400-h300/20230219_144812.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrf3VfUqdUU8lgPRR8w1iHpsUbu422jxD3YGYH-CLecD3UJcErh5zmAPQQ83uQQYQqDrT-vVrtdKJUiwiGicmTbRGULQDQoc3lSUpf8icnhB0EPzukT8XZ1O8yc-ZokOmtxo4td4hcFmyPbr_GrVLT0nQRQZxYs9e6gUrue4781vK9fVNUbe_7hN5UA/s4032/20230219_130911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEpAryfDMiiLaWI34dxhEpWiIzz41V9YNnHb3FcGX5OxFCXu2o3I4AHfT5qcNj8e18bPcki6NmL0m-9PpiSQKlVXgMTMcM35povlO5AI45QS8qPvcg3J-HUhQP24-xHM-ollQ3kYUnecJfpwoN2nSYd15Em48S4UAhXJuEp867vLjFdAc4EHjTMx5ww/w640-h480/20230219_135002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzS5H4jboH7SmDRuXLChWDJnGWyScMfywegE0QSpdRvR1LBlUDvVsmiPtf33Di1vPQZRzJR5yUHFBTMdETzVr_rT8uHUaXy_UWkQw83c4e-8iXt-1aCAND1iZ2jRldGybGpBDb_OztVL_MdY-jZsRnJrAsYU21qehCdHJXQ1oP_yS1UDfHRfqIvoyuw/s4032/20230219_140426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzS5H4jboH7SmDRuXLChWDJnGWyScMfywegE0QSpdRvR1LBlUDvVsmiPtf33Di1vPQZRzJR5yUHFBTMdETzVr_rT8uHUaXy_UWkQw83c4e-8iXt-1aCAND1iZ2jRldGybGpBDb_OztVL_MdY-jZsRnJrAsYU21qehCdHJXQ1oP_yS1UDfHRfqIvoyuw/w480-h640/20230219_140426.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv0KG4AG0II85WUXRvRpaFU2Cp7MVZbuyi_I_FQKIZB9KKFT-BxUTWYzA5otno4qz_IMSujCyzIup4sLhy-WDqbpLOJdIGKvgmvb6cuY1v4oo8AfxoGakCxzQU3IlFNuvJt52__sAj9gwGwCQrpByv--yekEPbjC5Jc1TDcYaZ5NC4DMEzh_4hc_1Dw/w640-h480/20230219_141947.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4XmcVhtwGj3khjMsK0IXbtrA8ds3ux4VoobOBTRQRSWac7gIEEg8OEjotaBOi9NZ9IXRXsWKhj3GuMPlGVA71RgJLMU5lUGTGO36s1xWwj4EMtBiIv6lSVldZG-L7NMrd5QQy--bbZx6Z1KlQMaE_l1DRP8CQHssPCI2eLrr7tASPx5Rs1l7ZrzTXw/s4032/20230219_142325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4XmcVhtwGj3khjMsK0IXbtrA8ds3ux4VoobOBTRQRSWac7gIEEg8OEjotaBOi9NZ9IXRXsWKhj3GuMPlGVA71RgJLMU5lUGTGO36s1xWwj4EMtBiIv6lSVldZG-L7NMrd5QQy--bbZx6Z1KlQMaE_l1DRP8CQHssPCI2eLrr7tASPx5Rs1l7ZrzTXw/w640-h480/20230219_142325.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Closer to the hut, a few flats covered in manuka and/or kanuka scrub are crossed. By this point, the sun was glaring overhead. There's a lot of boggy patches and plenty of mud. More cut up fallen trees, more hook grass. At one point, an old swing bridge abutment is passed. </p><p>Just before the hut is grassy flat strewn with boulders. Further along is a good camping spot with a picnic table. There were also some large sack thing presumably dropped off by the helicopter I heard heading down the valley and containing supplies (such as firewood) for the hut. <br />The map makes it seem like the hut is approached directly from the south, so I expected to find it shortly after the flat. Instead, at a sign post, the track swings to the right. After a section of boardwalk and some stairs, Tutuwai Hut is reached on the edge of a terrace above the camping flat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZkDKb8hmvoJnbhZFoEgfIhwcooCSVxXKCt1HFF5VmH1i0powUP6Z2Wswy3fmsRrDgvp7p_GnQeZDGOxv70-aZW8_UOL4peX2lJVq2BKri3p781t-Sl9to_x-rr56yR3uC1vQE-fUFLHXrWB5rGfjCalb5f_ESKlt05IEO8BHHcl8MFdr03AW6XOu0w/s4032/20230219_145811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZkDKb8hmvoJnbhZFoEgfIhwcooCSVxXKCt1HFF5VmH1i0powUP6Z2Wswy3fmsRrDgvp7p_GnQeZDGOxv70-aZW8_UOL4peX2lJVq2BKri3p781t-Sl9to_x-rr56yR3uC1vQE-fUFLHXrWB5rGfjCalb5f_ESKlt05IEO8BHHcl8MFdr03AW6XOu0w/w480-h640/20230219_145811.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_373RabYCwlCNu5T-RoP1cdVDHn7EOEhSiEDDNzfWe7Du32ZHrHvk4OiHv9m0S-ITA-8y016uox-xxjPNL2r-LGCqoGxx321LikUNRGBKwRpkUyhP-_zsaWOY4d3JoErtiCwOi93LhGc_TLfDPgfV67ekxwS4EjVNcQYvvAlgAa-BJF0xbRlFuqH0yQ/s4032/20230219_152821.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_373RabYCwlCNu5T-RoP1cdVDHn7EOEhSiEDDNzfWe7Du32ZHrHvk4OiHv9m0S-ITA-8y016uox-xxjPNL2r-LGCqoGxx321LikUNRGBKwRpkUyhP-_zsaWOY4d3JoErtiCwOi93LhGc_TLfDPgfV67ekxwS4EjVNcQYvvAlgAa-BJF0xbRlFuqH0yQ/w640-h480/20230219_152821.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helicopter delivery<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GtdzSYed9sVbQzdUio5fvipi4HWJhotfxlRXYgDeiEYmOEtcuF9rkB63NDI6qeytxX8YSmegis0yc4kgVwMHEWF1BjfGm7wLvaNeIMlLIW534fg7CAtTXgnzi2nVoSHMHP2QuBFyaZBvXfHBiVOPAv2M64b39INMwWUxFhza7XbkCt-9F4roPCDypA/s4032/20230219_152825.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GtdzSYed9sVbQzdUio5fvipi4HWJhotfxlRXYgDeiEYmOEtcuF9rkB63NDI6qeytxX8YSmegis0yc4kgVwMHEWF1BjfGm7wLvaNeIMlLIW534fg7CAtTXgnzi2nVoSHMHP2QuBFyaZBvXfHBiVOPAv2M64b39INMwWUxFhza7XbkCt-9F4roPCDypA/w640-h480/20230219_152825.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sign of hope<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktS9QzgMHnwhwkJRfwOBpcWlzfbfNlanxAKYY4m8wG5_JreKRjzoIYidVDFGzFXffnQIbEA6o2gZ8jkUqaChjnNU5XQuF2M4weQ1UOaT64D6ZzVt9UpVTjXP6cwaiHrNg3pyKJMjOXYeFc8hWMsuRltaWTJd0uq9se4Pen3s9PW_asqEoVt7RO2OCMA/s4032/20230219_152907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktS9QzgMHnwhwkJRfwOBpcWlzfbfNlanxAKYY4m8wG5_JreKRjzoIYidVDFGzFXffnQIbEA6o2gZ8jkUqaChjnNU5XQuF2M4weQ1UOaT64D6ZzVt9UpVTjXP6cwaiHrNg3pyKJMjOXYeFc8hWMsuRltaWTJd0uq9se4Pen3s9PW_asqEoVt7RO2OCMA/w640-h480/20230219_152907.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIARchDBaiS3EUPWCePaPCIpIGiuOYTtgTHwhgIsJA9Egvt4qwgKmzeD-QTzAunEfxm6zH594wrtKK_Qe6IlYFN4MYiIkCv7K2croWBQwAX42uNGq40kdU4HuxTk3N8c5-z5dP01YaktK4vngRznk2C6RRZ_sEijq9_EVUBxJG5s-zpCUSi4lA5KcHg/s4032/20230219_153049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIARchDBaiS3EUPWCePaPCIpIGiuOYTtgTHwhgIsJA9Egvt4qwgKmzeD-QTzAunEfxm6zH594wrtKK_Qe6IlYFN4MYiIkCv7K2croWBQwAX42uNGq40kdU4HuxTk3N8c5-z5dP01YaktK4vngRznk2C6RRZ_sEijq9_EVUBxJG5s-zpCUSi4lA5KcHg/w480-h640/20230219_153049.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6SzEiUBcUp4mYShmYtQQMUmwuO0N7a42wepO2m6A2XslDoJ4227U1u8FFAgw43Cfd0L-6syAQX8kt0IiiG2DbV2gfdWAE8S3c-FIXBPTLfXPatrHK7x_x7NQBtL9hYAkLSDcOCfNXdT52ie5SU_Jr44haesaOI6skOThg6disB1sWGjlUpw13CP5jw/s4032/20230219_153113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6SzEiUBcUp4mYShmYtQQMUmwuO0N7a42wepO2m6A2XslDoJ4227U1u8FFAgw43Cfd0L-6syAQX8kt0IiiG2DbV2gfdWAE8S3c-FIXBPTLfXPatrHK7x_x7NQBtL9hYAkLSDcOCfNXdT52ie5SU_Jr44haesaOI6skOThg6disB1sWGjlUpw13CP5jw/w640-h480/20230219_153113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGaQSdmEuFUrvtgK1licDEr7PELg5SZYZo7r5shbgsmvPmQuDFAZm-4CLNxIL_3dbuGf-ONuNNpQrszzXRZR2uYSl7gnEtqLHUpCw5_KtbAPiT1dTc6kfyyU4O82zWLb03rZZH54bFElbyy4DK8TzzPMpQpsg9hApf_hv82NL5qoKQFwggnuHowLsQA/s4608/20230219_154833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGaQSdmEuFUrvtgK1licDEr7PELg5SZYZo7r5shbgsmvPmQuDFAZm-4CLNxIL_3dbuGf-ONuNNpQrszzXRZR2uYSl7gnEtqLHUpCw5_KtbAPiT1dTc6kfyyU4O82zWLb03rZZH54bFElbyy4DK8TzzPMpQpsg9hApf_hv82NL5qoKQFwggnuHowLsQA/w640-h480/20230219_154833.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCEUZUJ2OIk4ZWzMbeUUkE7O7_y03mFyzmPePyji2uekmqYo0JnQhhCMemu0f8GJmXNzEP-UNMPzgIioZdPf_GVUkeyoGlyG94tHs-a8asa0k9w5XLfmELZcea2HDYD66jsdM3pepA5JmjoBA-4uh4gXSQ_GUTpRECfnjlhh9tog4GAOmCYbslCj1mA/s4608/20230219_172022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCEUZUJ2OIk4ZWzMbeUUkE7O7_y03mFyzmPePyji2uekmqYo0JnQhhCMemu0f8GJmXNzEP-UNMPzgIioZdPf_GVUkeyoGlyG94tHs-a8asa0k9w5XLfmELZcea2HDYD66jsdM3pepA5JmjoBA-4uh4gXSQ_GUTpRECfnjlhh9tog4GAOmCYbslCj1mA/w640-h480/20230219_172022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh7pFWNty0636MjfoQ-fSUrGiYMyCj9ta2z_GT-Mw737UwNM-nmRfhOUeoAAK-P4smaqR7iZwtWXVs8KEHHBzMESSLDsmlgWGO047erwJCntz5QSCkxFGqwGIxSknjxvdoTyIfdWryShAPtHBtKzIpkFnIDcfiNGwW3raaaWqBqfzdaPwh19atMka_A/s4608/20230219_172040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh7pFWNty0636MjfoQ-fSUrGiYMyCj9ta2z_GT-Mw737UwNM-nmRfhOUeoAAK-P4smaqR7iZwtWXVs8KEHHBzMESSLDsmlgWGO047erwJCntz5QSCkxFGqwGIxSknjxvdoTyIfdWryShAPtHBtKzIpkFnIDcfiNGwW3raaaWqBqfzdaPwh19atMka_A/w640-h480/20230219_172040.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1P__-whFXKS-ArYsxU9mxsgZb1_LJFPmshXaY8MHRzZfGCmlJ2_AZ3xWzwv9Qmysx5Yu1UZWJDWzoteZHUzRWiFwe_yTAsDRzpOvm3EZGT9vDKeaQpr4DuvIaoxxYkaQdbQ-j8DJnRgOew4iI36FblCsL8yEBV7PEBN8QliRolYo1JDClTEV-aPljMw/s4032/20230219_172104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1P__-whFXKS-ArYsxU9mxsgZb1_LJFPmshXaY8MHRzZfGCmlJ2_AZ3xWzwv9Qmysx5Yu1UZWJDWzoteZHUzRWiFwe_yTAsDRzpOvm3EZGT9vDKeaQpr4DuvIaoxxYkaQdbQ-j8DJnRgOew4iI36FblCsL8yEBV7PEBN8QliRolYo1JDClTEV-aPljMw/w640-h480/20230219_172104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>It took me 5 hours to cover the 15.2 km to the hut. The hut is tidy, and has the luxury of two (two!) inside sinks. No one else was present, so it was peaceful evening reading and relaxing. Once again I found myself ruing my gear choices upon realising I had packed my power bank, but not my phones charging cable. Hopefully 24% charge would survive long enough for photos tomorrow.</p><p>I had a surprisingly good sleep and surprisingly few aches and/or pains in the morning. I left just after 9am, the sun not yet high enough to bring the temperature to uncomfortable levels.</p><p>The walk out brought no surprises, and I was back at my car in 5:24.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5ySjZBu4BWJQ0u9KwHh-vyUL6L0vwWYvYCFfoNLfSg8k8APHMRX9xKjRhOaQJXcDZ6feotDOCB7LTSDiMfn51bfePmyitEsXaMJYf8rU5c3ZTpm_S-O9ixsLwASm0_JUz5kLXkfdrgCb_hVedQdbnuqrqZ_iiCb81JpFAu6qDo2uFmfnrVLBVO1EPw/s4032/20230220_090638.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5ySjZBu4BWJQ0u9KwHh-vyUL6L0vwWYvYCFfoNLfSg8k8APHMRX9xKjRhOaQJXcDZ6feotDOCB7LTSDiMfn51bfePmyitEsXaMJYf8rU5c3ZTpm_S-O9ixsLwASm0_JUz5kLXkfdrgCb_hVedQdbnuqrqZ_iiCb81JpFAu6qDo2uFmfnrVLBVO1EPw/w640-h480/20230220_090638.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hut above the grassy river flats.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKfWC7I3x7tCHbQkocEVgWxyRwnbQZlEnuShTGYXMZBJk_Zm1uI4aM0PB98YI2KiMTjV9fekJTIBQbfgD_lYO2FF4Hk1SjItkLAll8TA73h_fzG5X5NbK950fl0wX7ttFZmVScpaXlhG84UV8mC19w0OkNAL1BdhypugFmh_jgNSs4a13SNa7GEzS_g/s4032/20230220_091221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKfWC7I3x7tCHbQkocEVgWxyRwnbQZlEnuShTGYXMZBJk_Zm1uI4aM0PB98YI2KiMTjV9fekJTIBQbfgD_lYO2FF4Hk1SjItkLAll8TA73h_fzG5X5NbK950fl0wX7ttFZmVScpaXlhG84UV8mC19w0OkNAL1BdhypugFmh_jgNSs4a13SNa7GEzS_g/w480-h640/20230220_091221.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcOUeyz8OdH9oN3irN7hpkIoWfq6DZTXuLba-qUyaTDh5dUhbcrwUGCwpBTguMgiuGEGreOBJ49npx7zBdEIkIdbOuXmkWrt0zQNSguxKyOsslp7593ujjz6j37LIFHHrK-92y2UDJR0u3QD3buHiJYSDmXAlapli-u5aKUU5O-6O5MdlHtR6Rs0zTg/s4032/20230220_091755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcOUeyz8OdH9oN3irN7hpkIoWfq6DZTXuLba-qUyaTDh5dUhbcrwUGCwpBTguMgiuGEGreOBJ49npx7zBdEIkIdbOuXmkWrt0zQNSguxKyOsslp7593ujjz6j37LIFHHrK-92y2UDJR0u3QD3buHiJYSDmXAlapli-u5aKUU5O-6O5MdlHtR6Rs0zTg/w480-h640/20230220_091755.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Bmt8_5f8yEHfpVmiI8kGwUpl5xoduRh7LBicsHaEer0KRFc_yEHnqHz6MKNqPoJfkVfG6EqS2w-liNkYQYvPVqqV6ZCo2e_KHLFwTNiKVqCyAaqnAkB0Nd1ps9dLcGmBMUV4e2lFo2MV4ZuAe-3k-IhS1Y1T31nw6FYCXMDcc3TTIW8KpMnJ3X8ZnQ/s4608/20230220_092225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Bmt8_5f8yEHfpVmiI8kGwUpl5xoduRh7LBicsHaEer0KRFc_yEHnqHz6MKNqPoJfkVfG6EqS2w-liNkYQYvPVqqV6ZCo2e_KHLFwTNiKVqCyAaqnAkB0Nd1ps9dLcGmBMUV4e2lFo2MV4ZuAe-3k-IhS1Y1T31nw6FYCXMDcc3TTIW8KpMnJ3X8ZnQ/w640-h480/20230220_092225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZi64-Q6Ly9Y_rH99KX9eyW_oeyNDPE9MBQue98hh_rFLtoFopIoCUHFrzJMdN-MV_ih3GXmpkBaGN3vtNrmq2l3ene1h2U1AN6GeQoiPEiXsvZT3Cl3-HkPUXqbmyD1tTnF9tL1CTyR5ZTM2TYjbcSt7iRfKl9kwust9AS3hwE5yjSyZyUalzj1Odg/w640-h480/20230220_093842.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFasutPJtrxn0UQCjCBm8uBqRTeoCccQCtPmSUgvpTWpKFIFPrihTEs_yANU1oNOdMVTvu3SMvawmOmefudBFwZaOTbWmXFzDkMXADD-ezFr3I0JuaRWq4XfHMvltIeMlzy6XoG8o9YfM9jkjoOx0XwrexGsmTb25f6oXqMsKwOe4LyhsemEbGvRB7JA/s4032/20230220_095450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFasutPJtrxn0UQCjCBm8uBqRTeoCccQCtPmSUgvpTWpKFIFPrihTEs_yANU1oNOdMVTvu3SMvawmOmefudBFwZaOTbWmXFzDkMXADD-ezFr3I0JuaRWq4XfHMvltIeMlzy6XoG8o9YfM9jkjoOx0XwrexGsmTb25f6oXqMsKwOe4LyhsemEbGvRB7JA/w640-h480/20230220_095450.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwQvbVfbjt2xx4LCo1HZECTSmaOF3hpkgGbelrpTN0e5gjFMLFQklp2fZQ1n8WCA9T-8qjPsZQT1MiaH_SUx-KyNb-ldfk1Q9SzueHtC62qOaVxKC-OZHNuJLgegxLOhsvsVWjvlNiau1o3f2AFOxvOv5YBR-3HspS0zZhqd8CfRq8diC8REI2l-CCw/s4032/20230220_095920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwQvbVfbjt2xx4LCo1HZECTSmaOF3hpkgGbelrpTN0e5gjFMLFQklp2fZQ1n8WCA9T-8qjPsZQT1MiaH_SUx-KyNb-ldfk1Q9SzueHtC62qOaVxKC-OZHNuJLgegxLOhsvsVWjvlNiau1o3f2AFOxvOv5YBR-3HspS0zZhqd8CfRq8diC8REI2l-CCw/w640-h480/20230220_095920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpQrMv2tu6o2sp44lyquFX_Nz0BS1QuqtwJLO8HJYNhqSN7Vz0um0f9nSuv3he45VcpzPm0XkBr-tWeqTZZ8ifeRm0A3a30dvx2TH1idwE2AatvQ2QP36zG3AZNqSWlzC1Of3ffqIYmeT21x1bnsXlHaA7AV6evR2aLcc9FSkj6gEH8byPdygLyURUQ/s4608/20230220_104048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpQrMv2tu6o2sp44lyquFX_Nz0BS1QuqtwJLO8HJYNhqSN7Vz0um0f9nSuv3he45VcpzPm0XkBr-tWeqTZZ8ifeRm0A3a30dvx2TH1idwE2AatvQ2QP36zG3AZNqSWlzC1Of3ffqIYmeT21x1bnsXlHaA7AV6evR2aLcc9FSkj6gEH8byPdygLyURUQ/w640-h480/20230220_104048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3bum-cMARTSWms6xZ9IfwxMpw5RH0zHTXPCYAtd8G0ievrfXCdFmCzk3bYiuhb5e8P1sQa7_jP7-KvFAB-4opqMhPXYUuo42JmJM__XacboRKlnJ7Fv1OYLPUku79l7OUVsBwvEFgxsNUKRtddfSACxkKMfxS8IFpAI_5AaY7I3IKXaDzsGvwlL0Pg/s4032/20230220_105857.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3bum-cMARTSWms6xZ9IfwxMpw5RH0zHTXPCYAtd8G0ievrfXCdFmCzk3bYiuhb5e8P1sQa7_jP7-KvFAB-4opqMhPXYUuo42JmJM__XacboRKlnJ7Fv1OYLPUku79l7OUVsBwvEFgxsNUKRtddfSACxkKMfxS8IFpAI_5AaY7I3IKXaDzsGvwlL0Pg/w480-h640/20230220_105857.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the rope slope<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNGNpBzLW4qvSKBYMaufe838vRQR_gkmrTfw8SGCACC2cAfgwo3N_ZTZeYNEQwOZAWPAFmkK-Xp5afiWOHxpU5yhZcFdBwEvngp3TyTyZyvSBmzMv0apQGizJ6Ry7zNIQsBwXy6xwfN-ds4xqyCCp58roikuVl5xYFz7l9sI-YCR0Kaq5L-VvwRjjBw/s4032/20230220_110117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNGNpBzLW4qvSKBYMaufe838vRQR_gkmrTfw8SGCACC2cAfgwo3N_ZTZeYNEQwOZAWPAFmkK-Xp5afiWOHxpU5yhZcFdBwEvngp3TyTyZyvSBmzMv0apQGizJ6Ry7zNIQsBwXy6xwfN-ds4xqyCCp58roikuVl5xYFz7l9sI-YCR0Kaq5L-VvwRjjBw/w640-h480/20230220_110117.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExfmlSCIwsKZ8p5vcNqBep69sYcZvNbEi5o8-KDLBCqymQRiV8HsTL3lnijgl1ecmQYHWnok_cBsocYpXGLNxA1U3RWjQhBtRjz6MVg5SWJuiZDqREr1_4-IM2Y_qhVIfP5iSH6Kbizz6_R3nFxs4WfYQ8lmg3FlwRYzurdkRfuZTMsmcsYLWjL0v-Q/s4032/20230220_111053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExfmlSCIwsKZ8p5vcNqBep69sYcZvNbEi5o8-KDLBCqymQRiV8HsTL3lnijgl1ecmQYHWnok_cBsocYpXGLNxA1U3RWjQhBtRjz6MVg5SWJuiZDqREr1_4-IM2Y_qhVIfP5iSH6Kbizz6_R3nFxs4WfYQ8lmg3FlwRYzurdkRfuZTMsmcsYLWjL0v-Q/w480-h640/20230220_111053.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZjXggAhZezFpoHxh375Hv0Yl07lVsAMErF9qURlrswBDv7yxNvdKeKf5spo5WG9x1CG71FLljnLLyPR1wQj3jR4-PqnBKZTpcUCmfQrAIImdGQIV5eFDDtl0vjiL-Jg333KK9N4igi6s7ZoF3TwFzN0Mr-uvCVcPGwpAnxUIMCity3up1rTT_DXMIg/s4032/20230220_111405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZjXggAhZezFpoHxh375Hv0Yl07lVsAMErF9qURlrswBDv7yxNvdKeKf5spo5WG9x1CG71FLljnLLyPR1wQj3jR4-PqnBKZTpcUCmfQrAIImdGQIV5eFDDtl0vjiL-Jg333KK9N4igi6s7ZoF3TwFzN0Mr-uvCVcPGwpAnxUIMCity3up1rTT_DXMIg/w640-h480/20230220_111405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tMvyzFQQPFQV3YRSLR7UEIEYsORVnel83KI16S2N-hs6NGFlY-pYcAz1nNYw-gfmHg6wFHziFYxrxRpr5zy6MQiB5Ob77pdMKzo7l3oOD9R4GqXAdsPFXIEECUc7VW8U6mlgmhSU9Z1kK1BzrqwpW1hdiypVPcHLwgOIoeXVucjC6jbR2gKzn9kSaQ/s4032/20230220_112347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tMvyzFQQPFQV3YRSLR7UEIEYsORVnel83KI16S2N-hs6NGFlY-pYcAz1nNYw-gfmHg6wFHziFYxrxRpr5zy6MQiB5Ob77pdMKzo7l3oOD9R4GqXAdsPFXIEECUc7VW8U6mlgmhSU9Z1kK1BzrqwpW1hdiypVPcHLwgOIoeXVucjC6jbR2gKzn9kSaQ/w400-h300/20230220_112347.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3t5A-oopCIjMoM3I0etV91MBMZfnkfIfa1eOcfMVNCyN2iJOCqQ_5-OSxmsYXPLT7AfY1a0ySOlpAML4AkwqZ71Ydy2rcJCTeIpMEGmsK-N_GZVi5uVP7XGkuc3TFQQKy8Kpodta0YhgdbNy7hcuD8e4KQ6RC2C1sHI1fMAjSrezk8r4cE9QpqI54A/s4032/20230220_114821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3t5A-oopCIjMoM3I0etV91MBMZfnkfIfa1eOcfMVNCyN2iJOCqQ_5-OSxmsYXPLT7AfY1a0ySOlpAML4AkwqZ71Ydy2rcJCTeIpMEGmsK-N_GZVi5uVP7XGkuc3TFQQKy8Kpodta0YhgdbNy7hcuD8e4KQ6RC2C1sHI1fMAjSrezk8r4cE9QpqI54A/w300-h400/20230220_114821.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkgNiNAbOWLEU5Oi3dcBdx2H0hZFHbzH3WN8t-QiZMRc4pKcyUjryYPkRJtIepfcciCT2DJE3DzDBwAjvkoEbZaPD5zX1bE-LNgk0T44ncFoECYgITcwSqCFIWigY40hiiI5nUXbwppNvU0AaMrhchuu9J6JDDHunXC4FZfMdmZ4EOSutoX7j8wuK1g/s4608/20230220_115537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkgNiNAbOWLEU5Oi3dcBdx2H0hZFHbzH3WN8t-QiZMRc4pKcyUjryYPkRJtIepfcciCT2DJE3DzDBwAjvkoEbZaPD5zX1bE-LNgk0T44ncFoECYgITcwSqCFIWigY40hiiI5nUXbwppNvU0AaMrhchuu9J6JDDHunXC4FZfMdmZ4EOSutoX7j8wuK1g/w400-h300/20230220_115537.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeej0tx9k3_wll7TsJsQVLY7I0lvZUomq4rcRHpkQqtV-xO8fdf1F4ftyiVMHcGasF6lZUEg88th68RqubgPlufXdxUZYY9pqiIzul-8qwI3y-AJ1V81ZckiXbwNwsqba49LAbLSGrQembO0BSNO3dUTKq7dXo3kQHmPJROxQLhYgc0_bMGb29LHFwDw/s4032/20230220_124127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeej0tx9k3_wll7TsJsQVLY7I0lvZUomq4rcRHpkQqtV-xO8fdf1F4ftyiVMHcGasF6lZUEg88th68RqubgPlufXdxUZYY9pqiIzul-8qwI3y-AJ1V81ZckiXbwNwsqba49LAbLSGrQembO0BSNO3dUTKq7dXo3kQHmPJROxQLhYgc0_bMGb29LHFwDw/w640-h480/20230220_124127.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2sZbCkRjfOxhp5VgMxeaHJTsdB4hde4h402WJ6ozakZswA755r2nAS_wQq93can0eHZ3UVZ_E01_1beBkT2U7VAzz5SXygpheiOxYeV_T82S-EGbBYI8a7zC8jRIcIjMJ-RnQfleqVT5pnxk588NFLsk2cBUaJjI5Iv798yDbh4jov-JQ0AMZBjfEw/s4032/20230220_124451.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2sZbCkRjfOxhp5VgMxeaHJTsdB4hde4h402WJ6ozakZswA755r2nAS_wQq93can0eHZ3UVZ_E01_1beBkT2U7VAzz5SXygpheiOxYeV_T82S-EGbBYI8a7zC8jRIcIjMJ-RnQfleqVT5pnxk588NFLsk2cBUaJjI5Iv798yDbh4jov-JQ0AMZBjfEw/w640-h480/20230220_124451.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good rest spot at the bottom of puffer saddle.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Map, etc.</h3><p></p><p>Distance: 14.5 km each way. Time: 5:01 in, 5:24 out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5fGLZTU7K8vL-tur4a7Ra1GwpCAI5BQXCz64itVmLa2qGOmIxLcZAdm-pHSS7p-qipmZQwEB4EQXMOp2iZJAdfKLNJrJxmBjUcQg7aTYKGb7w3VQaPPd3YmnifiWYucg7KfFkn7HY5OF43NN7c5s8jJ8P0-G9msO0FnRvkIgB9Qkeg6fHRP5RUuYxQ/s724/map1024_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="724" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5fGLZTU7K8vL-tur4a7Ra1GwpCAI5BQXCz64itVmLa2qGOmIxLcZAdm-pHSS7p-qipmZQwEB4EQXMOp2iZJAdfKLNJrJxmBjUcQg7aTYKGb7w3VQaPPd3YmnifiWYucg7KfFkn7HY5OF43NN7c5s8jJ8P0-G9msO0FnRvkIgB9Qkeg6fHRP5RUuYxQ/w640-h620/map1024_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP01DEAS0aURe7RO4r2O6arRLmRcyxP7Q_QyUt8E_LptIrm7P0KYFKlg9Jpe6j3uZ1_m0ioQH18vcQuDhTbf-vEV9O7Sd58uuDqQWhOvxiVKHo3h0i352pQ0SSQuSDZZNynEvKRGgpRdYO3hf0ZBw7xqtnTC0nlkKwuxQcpbcZo9fcAQ9_3D_wCpkDQ/s1297/Screenshot%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1297" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP01DEAS0aURe7RO4r2O6arRLmRcyxP7Q_QyUt8E_LptIrm7P0KYFKlg9Jpe6j3uZ1_m0ioQH18vcQuDhTbf-vEV9O7Sd58uuDqQWhOvxiVKHo3h0i352pQ0SSQuSDZZNynEvKRGgpRdYO3hf0ZBw7xqtnTC0nlkKwuxQcpbcZo9fcAQ9_3D_wCpkDQ/w640-h384/Screenshot%20(2).png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-65849772314619712742023-02-14T11:36:00.001+13:002023-02-16T19:12:46.498+13:00Raukawa Lodge<p> "Make 2023 your year of walking" implored the cover of one of many issues of Wilderness magazine scattered around my house. With this missive in mind, I decided on another quick jaunt into the Orongorongo.</p><p>It was dry and relatively warm when I set off just before 11am, despite ex-tropical cyclone Gabrielle making landfall in the upper North Island. </p><p>It was a pleasant walk in, and about an hour later I arrived at the Orongorongo River.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p>The river was even lower and more sedate than last time I was here, so the idea of seeking out Raukawa Lodge popped into my head. Raukawa Lodge can be reached by crossing the river and heading up the washed out bed of Browns Creek and heading downstream just past TTC's Waerenga Hut. I'd also heard that the hut was visible from the river just downstream of Browns Creek.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p>After a quick refreshment break, I slowly wandered down the river bed, crossing the channels of water wherever it seemed the most opportune. Sure enough, a couple of minutes later I saw signs of a building and track markers just beyond the edge of the forest.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p>Raukawa is a cosy looking hut, one of the bookable sole-occupancy DOC huts in the Orongorongo valley. It's locked to those without a booking. There's also no accessible long drop - the (flush) toilet is inside, so if you find yourself in need of the facilities you'll be shit out of luck (pun intended).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p>By this point, ominous clouds were gathering over the valley, and wind was picking up. Thankfully it never came to anything, and the return walk passed by uneventfully.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Map:</b></h3><p></p><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></b></div><div>Distance: 11.02 km (return)</div>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-54786200272322199292023-01-30T22:39:00.001+13:002023-01-31T18:27:02.887+13:00Orongorongo Wanderings<p> Despite living in Lower Hutt for almost 6 years, it wasn't until late last year that I finally paid a visit to the Catchpool/Orongorongo area of the Remutaka Forest Park (a mere half hours drive from my house).</p><p>So on the 9th of January I decided to head out to the Orongorongo River with a view to bagging some of the many huts in the area.<br />Leaving the carpark, the track climbs briefly through gorse-infested scrub before entering native forest. <br />Starting in floor of the Catchpool Valley, the Orongorongo Track follows the path of the Catchpool stream on the true left up the valley. A few of turn-offs to other tracks are passed, but ample signage should keep even the most inept of trampers on the right path. The track is wide and well maintained with a mostly very gentle gradient, despite a net gain in elevation until its highest point (at a shade over 200m) shortly before dropping down to the Orongorongo River<br />After about 2.5km (~1/2 hour), the aptly named Midway bridge is reached.<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnwCHc1-A2dRkj6g6-JNREik3M603cRGIBb0lFn3_qIGBKK666-BbwhuHYr88oR1lkz-G7LSXc-sREq_k2KO6LE9R45A7l0t1ogFn4Ns0syPjHexA8eU1em9o4m8QX2MGI65vhicv4_X3kZKdDUtAqhqAxsGDkM7HRCCUTK025ZWFVMtSKY9jTQRLWg/s4032/20230109_125620%201.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnwCHc1-A2dRkj6g6-JNREik3M603cRGIBb0lFn3_qIGBKK666-BbwhuHYr88oR1lkz-G7LSXc-sREq_k2KO6LE9R45A7l0t1ogFn4Ns0syPjHexA8eU1em9o4m8QX2MGI65vhicv4_X3kZKdDUtAqhqAxsGDkM7HRCCUTK025ZWFVMtSKY9jTQRLWg/w480-h640/20230109_125620%201.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's a pleasant amble through lush forest for another half hour or so before dropping relatively steeply down to the end of the Orongorongo Track at the confluence of the Turere Stream and Orongorongo River. A striking footbridge arches over the Turere Stream to the start of the Big Bend track.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrUU0vbwp9ebFd_e5zu7FAYwbUpTSrgSYu6jskaCiF1_TuGEg05hShCEZSkn9ZZh8mzz2aO_iQsVIiNCDuHff_yW5JN5Mgtpo7r4uOUk14vSu1Q2MSpyhwWnc99A18kC6IFFvngePD0E3dsavi_t6NYdBszdoTZ01YVzMcSYGS1srN0ucT0-hcl5G5g/s4032/20230109_132517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrUU0vbwp9ebFd_e5zu7FAYwbUpTSrgSYu6jskaCiF1_TuGEg05hShCEZSkn9ZZh8mzz2aO_iQsVIiNCDuHff_yW5JN5Mgtpo7r4uOUk14vSu1Q2MSpyhwWnc99A18kC6IFFvngePD0E3dsavi_t6NYdBszdoTZ01YVzMcSYGS1srN0ucT0-hcl5G5g/w480-h640/20230109_132517.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOzoaElkvSR0IbJaRCrSLF3Ng9W6fpb7-L7Ay9yfu1QAOBP0TrjaKXJ0AeGYCDW_ZCquafJG0vpQlXkjj_qBnHYV79PFE8P57NPXf9KN0k9yxvWKWq_SLpVWg73lbbmCYly_SL1EgRdYPoTZRuWPvZJYcDym7ScJfEIObouj7DwXcxqhK73nNqkLonA/s4032/20230109_132945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOzoaElkvSR0IbJaRCrSLF3Ng9W6fpb7-L7Ay9yfu1QAOBP0TrjaKXJ0AeGYCDW_ZCquafJG0vpQlXkjj_qBnHYV79PFE8P57NPXf9KN0k9yxvWKWq_SLpVWg73lbbmCYly_SL1EgRdYPoTZRuWPvZJYcDym7ScJfEIObouj7DwXcxqhK73nNqkLonA/w640-h480/20230109_132945.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I continued along the Big Bend track, which sidles above the true right of the Orongorongo River heading upstream. Turere Lodge is ~1.5 km from the bridge, located a short distance off the main track. Along the way, a private hut is visible across the river. </p><p>The DOC huts in this area are relatively unique in that they are all sole occupancy (or sole occupancy bunk rooms in the case of Turere) and are locked to those without a booking. Turere is a large, modern building with four private bunkrooms and a large communal cooking/eating area. It even feature an outdoor barbecue, which I don't doubt is delightful on a summer evening.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1e8cf662UZMsIQoEmTReD0KfE_p2AAfyV5GRH0HUZCku-h5WAcHsl4L1xeK_HHbnJAMsD66UUbsqUkQTGZTyx93A3q9JMxMmyA6Jn0GnHx41URqrLBQrfBs4OyfW_OCN9JalSn-kKrQNDqkPVzVElnB1QbsZ-RQThdG0pY1kfceRNelII_ca5vckzA/s4608/20230109_134531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttW_nXO4nLIuIPQ6ZfkdML1KCzj0rdqYVwmK-La7Ln1UUZhRMvlue2VQ6fZqyTh2uiuOxbxJZOTRN1uTZ0IrWHZxKSfEo9uTFuFAPsH7A4HxeZTAdFJprdn3wpuIWv212tk_r4jFSm6SHGbyCcfIaGk_NAmZMcGIWnOy1oaD_w5yb6DzTtd2B5yMZFg/s4032/20230109_134126.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttW_nXO4nLIuIPQ6ZfkdML1KCzj0rdqYVwmK-La7Ln1UUZhRMvlue2VQ6fZqyTh2uiuOxbxJZOTRN1uTZ0IrWHZxKSfEo9uTFuFAPsH7A4HxeZTAdFJprdn3wpuIWv212tk_r4jFSm6SHGbyCcfIaGk_NAmZMcGIWnOy1oaD_w5yb6DzTtd2B5yMZFg/w480-h640/20230109_134126.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1e8cf662UZMsIQoEmTReD0KfE_p2AAfyV5GRH0HUZCku-h5WAcHsl4L1xeK_HHbnJAMsD66UUbsqUkQTGZTyx93A3q9JMxMmyA6Jn0GnHx41URqrLBQrfBs4OyfW_OCN9JalSn-kKrQNDqkPVzVElnB1QbsZ-RQThdG0pY1kfceRNelII_ca5vckzA/s4608/20230109_134531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1e8cf662UZMsIQoEmTReD0KfE_p2AAfyV5GRH0HUZCku-h5WAcHsl4L1xeK_HHbnJAMsD66UUbsqUkQTGZTyx93A3q9JMxMmyA6Jn0GnHx41URqrLBQrfBs4OyfW_OCN9JalSn-kKrQNDqkPVzVElnB1QbsZ-RQThdG0pY1kfceRNelII_ca5vckzA/w640-h480/20230109_134531.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIMlMTtem6uO1VDGbJ3aCZBlDJ9w1VHdFScSNx416bMYn6XDJXX7jGAqPWQdOV0SvGjsCpWbc52MyG7DC18nmxHQ0BlYB5_ONv48Pi_0adO_FRwwiOm34HNk-9NmJSriSB93c3m9BUcL0Qvz6U0-3sHEm90vNXeHYbiXAtaep8biKgply5JUmnyXCYg/s4032/20230109_134708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIMlMTtem6uO1VDGbJ3aCZBlDJ9w1VHdFScSNx416bMYn6XDJXX7jGAqPWQdOV0SvGjsCpWbc52MyG7DC18nmxHQ0BlYB5_ONv48Pi_0adO_FRwwiOm34HNk-9NmJSriSB93c3m9BUcL0Qvz6U0-3sHEm90vNXeHYbiXAtaep8biKgply5JUmnyXCYg/w640-h480/20230109_134708.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><p>After a quick lunch, it was back to the Turere Stream area in search of more huts. The specific huts I had in mind were some of other DOC huts in the area: Jan's Hut, Raukawa, and Boar Inn. Unlike Turere Lodge, these are located in the true left side of the river.<br />The Orongorongo river meanders through a large rocky bed, on this occasion forming two channels where I needed to cross to join the trails on the other side. The first channel was clear and very shallow, the main channel on the other hand was wide, fast flowing and impenetrably grey - in short, all the things you're often advised to avoid in a river crossing. There'd been a fair bit of rain recently, and the river was clearly still swollen. I elected to cut my losses, and return to the carpark safe from foolish aquatic mishaps.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZ7TB19aipDtKg-AGLqWIw_5e6ZOOCh8XNBo6KmLPQxwTu_CsINeALB3ste4m1DXlBV031QkiahB0k3h8DsIJCgFidPae_IkYqqUOC1QzWCJcSr965PWZ4Nm7RGIK-SjRaCQnk_MXv7gy0cecrFkuKh2Hrf__D1s75d6-VSFLQGos_vG22j8S5OsHAg/s4032/20230109_141326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZ7TB19aipDtKg-AGLqWIw_5e6ZOOCh8XNBo6KmLPQxwTu_CsINeALB3ste4m1DXlBV031QkiahB0k3h8DsIJCgFidPae_IkYqqUOC1QzWCJcSr965PWZ4Nm7RGIK-SjRaCQnk_MXv7gy0cecrFkuKh2Hrf__D1s75d6-VSFLQGos_vG22j8S5OsHAg/w640-h480/20230109_141326.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OBOozJb9iVC8nuJ9BI3ch9HxQTprYM0nIxEr830WbbCQ3c2EWzTmGv4dUzsq__pBIxpI3B9VHrYVc6OrCX2T9x8FK_fht83nCByyuCeOuVgYaN5oQYe7nt2q_bowSifc8C8aO4UtAc--z5Zf78NdK7jvgkRBrEWs2qArlev6gQEOIdSMesOgsmog0A/w640-h480/20230109_142003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...perhaps not<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OBOozJb9iVC8nuJ9BI3ch9HxQTprYM0nIxEr830WbbCQ3c2EWzTmGv4dUzsq__pBIxpI3B9VHrYVc6OrCX2T9x8FK_fht83nCByyuCeOuVgYaN5oQYe7nt2q_bowSifc8C8aO4UtAc--z5Zf78NdK7jvgkRBrEWs2qArlev6gQEOIdSMesOgsmog0A/s4032/20230109_142003.jpg"> </a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> A few weeks later, I returned, with the possibility of trying again to visit huts in the back of my mind. Also in the back of my mind was the fact it had been raining again this weekend.<br />Luckily enough, the river was a bit more tame this time. The main channel was still flowing fairly fast, but the bottom was reassuringly visible and the water no more than knee deep.</div><div style="text-align: left;">On the other side of the river, a rocky scramble up a washed out creek bed leads to large orange triangle and a sign pointing the way to Jan's Hut. The hut is a 10 minute walk upstream.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rKgvk4niocWCQCKUu50lv7wbtXxQRJ6HMLBWcH07gHExM-jz5SiyUtauGGtU-7OWyNg2LmpsdG0an8K4SF-mniZgMWbdxrefGfv4-55YIHoVAHfVDY5BQFv_lck38mtxsf7IhAkPxJCaNeWRiC5cTElpd5GUkTxpH44-whP0xyqyRyHKxP7spV9brA/s4032/20230130_141713.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rKgvk4niocWCQCKUu50lv7wbtXxQRJ6HMLBWcH07gHExM-jz5SiyUtauGGtU-7OWyNg2LmpsdG0an8K4SF-mniZgMWbdxrefGfv4-55YIHoVAHfVDY5BQFv_lck38mtxsf7IhAkPxJCaNeWRiC5cTElpd5GUkTxpH44-whP0xyqyRyHKxP7spV9brA/w640-h480/20230130_141713.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The undergrowth is sparse in places and the ground trail could be easily lost at times. There are many markers pointing the way however. A concrete foundation and private hut are passed on the way.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dBlsElFNHQElln9ZK1339ZDhyiDhDqSM3VPpuWDoZzDc0PeR_WYoJQ6NNpBgCDQPCK3qZEFWXG9eEVcaPWomw2HjKsrxJZ5MhJxyaecujZDkjPyfgSZflvph29sXKJHNSAZUddYiR66GOKLmAoZm8OaOQ_Z4kzOdKg5MP0NdMVURa4N4Wq4kkwMAMQ/s4032/20230130_141724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dBlsElFNHQElln9ZK1339ZDhyiDhDqSM3VPpuWDoZzDc0PeR_WYoJQ6NNpBgCDQPCK3qZEFWXG9eEVcaPWomw2HjKsrxJZ5MhJxyaecujZDkjPyfgSZflvph29sXKJHNSAZUddYiR66GOKLmAoZm8OaOQ_Z4kzOdKg5MP0NdMVURa4N4Wq4kkwMAMQ/w640-h480/20230130_141724.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHUr9tAvCkKI1wB3zSBo2PAsNZtXv-sSG1y6Cloh7XPrcRsAEEhwOYWM6Zz4_bw1l7T_rG4pRyKODqVNxUL3dQ7qYA4ki9Rb4jlVIYQKJ1u5Sv_v_T4C0g7bI7t3ncLsAPp62VePNRULBrm33Ma3ybJ7vC_8FHwTsj348BZXh5S9Eqp5Z57RnelBMKA/s4032/20230130_141928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHUr9tAvCkKI1wB3zSBo2PAsNZtXv-sSG1y6Cloh7XPrcRsAEEhwOYWM6Zz4_bw1l7T_rG4pRyKODqVNxUL3dQ7qYA4ki9Rb4jlVIYQKJ1u5Sv_v_T4C0g7bI7t3ncLsAPp62VePNRULBrm33Ma3ybJ7vC_8FHwTsj348BZXh5S9Eqp5Z57RnelBMKA/w640-h480/20230130_141928.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlxgMgEkgyRYNYYT9twtuXiWxhCegU-elvv1AF63ok3geAmpBs8kKmTumcEX-St_IPi-4md8aqK_-_HLBEQjovOpDQe0W9wI5_LN6w3ra8RQIPit4fK3QdMjutlKX6qgoq0t1px2N7v-pfUbvjPfOfZ29HtiFtZZzQTMsA3G4MPxz-IntKoxjx45R3w/s4608/20230130_141940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlxgMgEkgyRYNYYT9twtuXiWxhCegU-elvv1AF63ok3geAmpBs8kKmTumcEX-St_IPi-4md8aqK_-_HLBEQjovOpDQe0W9wI5_LN6w3ra8RQIPit4fK3QdMjutlKX6qgoq0t1px2N7v-pfUbvjPfOfZ29HtiFtZZzQTMsA3G4MPxz-IntKoxjx45R3w/w640-h480/20230130_141940.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuN07ljwLZqp-f4XT_lOOl6YrihBy27NKUeZRNU_meRjXfjPBc5kxjJzCwy-tRtX1ztsJE-bDWvigbwwwcFlCe-9N6mj_EwMkuVgaV-rtnDapeVmxgZKeFRWJ6tDwm7kwuxE3CU5wqnOHzLcC2es_cAaLBqkyjPTtwEWxG1hX9reED-TS-EVwlYgSMw/s4608/20230130_142207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuN07ljwLZqp-f4XT_lOOl6YrihBy27NKUeZRNU_meRjXfjPBc5kxjJzCwy-tRtX1ztsJE-bDWvigbwwwcFlCe-9N6mj_EwMkuVgaV-rtnDapeVmxgZKeFRWJ6tDwm7kwuxE3CU5wqnOHzLcC2es_cAaLBqkyjPTtwEWxG1hX9reED-TS-EVwlYgSMw/w640-h480/20230130_142207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Private hut - <a href="https://hutbagger.co.nz/huts/hut-68-2">Johnstones Hut (Hut 74)</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzB_I67oVZbY5yDozcHpkB0vDUmc29VBKu7ptmvGuR2oIwfnSoJC0vS2nkVytnzk52IYOE2wPSrH4bpeQ6iIOso0LaPKjsxFJftJZWczBud-qJ_Q1x_Y2dCqrMGuGz-PJA3DCWB3ZacY8OYsQ0uBs-4v4Z0602aWGsZom8K5dhNakb3AO6kilWvKbVg/s4032/20230130_142505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzB_I67oVZbY5yDozcHpkB0vDUmc29VBKu7ptmvGuR2oIwfnSoJC0vS2nkVytnzk52IYOE2wPSrH4bpeQ6iIOso0LaPKjsxFJftJZWczBud-qJ_Q1x_Y2dCqrMGuGz-PJA3DCWB3ZacY8OYsQ0uBs-4v4Z0602aWGsZom8K5dhNakb3AO6kilWvKbVg/w640-h480/20230130_142505.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp17EXb-hE9XUtbGQW82DWExT2t2tt-6atvay4h9gPnzaGiYY5k40kEC8bvd6MGpLfX2GuSoEn7hfEzzp1qqLBkH3mXbAvAmaRtpMlLOW3WEfB4fLsURxl_JOm47L1pNnEtKCQuyU1NSzW_jA31nKAbjN1GCB8CiisbOytwm9Rn7VGCUuj3pYO5sw9Jw/s4032/20230130_142728.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp17EXb-hE9XUtbGQW82DWExT2t2tt-6atvay4h9gPnzaGiYY5k40kEC8bvd6MGpLfX2GuSoEn7hfEzzp1qqLBkH3mXbAvAmaRtpMlLOW3WEfB4fLsURxl_JOm47L1pNnEtKCQuyU1NSzW_jA31nKAbjN1GCB8CiisbOytwm9Rn7VGCUuj3pYO5sw9Jw/w640-h480/20230130_142728.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jans Hut<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P55ehXMyDy9ecjw9W3CeGw9LtjJH-DbREMvzjqYe01BXYj63MiZdmovYNAR4Fu9hw01FWEkUhMYlYuzdDVJNBV3dzWB6fH06rt6kX0E-Aqpu-vrRRM-ZKVd374d-i8q3SA7wCMrWzdn9m8aOqk-dJ1Tkqv72UV5nB2fHTU-orylK5OnVQoxLbZL1Mg/s4608/20230130_142800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P55ehXMyDy9ecjw9W3CeGw9LtjJH-DbREMvzjqYe01BXYj63MiZdmovYNAR4Fu9hw01FWEkUhMYlYuzdDVJNBV3dzWB6fH06rt6kX0E-Aqpu-vrRRM-ZKVd374d-i8q3SA7wCMrWzdn9m8aOqk-dJ1Tkqv72UV5nB2fHTU-orylK5OnVQoxLbZL1Mg/w640-h480/20230130_142800.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Arriving back at the creek bed, I saw a hut immediately opposite, so naturally I had to check that out too. It turned out to be Waerenga Hut, a private hut owned by the Tararua Tramping Club.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgAMXft9XWFKVS_2lWvn-IxnhpreIoqfOUUi1AsuRgNIWF7YJPp5h5YrHKfwQagdfQAId3Wu72cyyCRtIDheY-EWPoFb7LIxeCFhKm3TGwO6EGUxcSPbffY9BrtbPeFDxMqT3XWZC4sbaEN8-7gVYRrLLNmtAwoomjH40JbhX_AstpUHVd2wpgadsBw/s4032/20230130_143631.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgAMXft9XWFKVS_2lWvn-IxnhpreIoqfOUUi1AsuRgNIWF7YJPp5h5YrHKfwQagdfQAId3Wu72cyyCRtIDheY-EWPoFb7LIxeCFhKm3TGwO6EGUxcSPbffY9BrtbPeFDxMqT3XWZC4sbaEN8-7gVYRrLLNmtAwoomjH40JbhX_AstpUHVd2wpgadsBw/w640-h480/20230130_143631.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjiQjRbE5CALZyeimFWfUuYVMSOWh1cO7tzRg7I0i_6bv7b0ki4n_bQquip5xhGJn27JMaVOiNt3IFjXAAApL8mAdsaIYCP47P2wYKhsC3wMvkJM3B0-NJIDcRWQtFYoVRpHIJ0buCWdZQeaYr0h2tWASjDIYot150792dspYl6muc6PbYBhHGzMR-w/s4032/20230130_143724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjiQjRbE5CALZyeimFWfUuYVMSOWh1cO7tzRg7I0i_6bv7b0ki4n_bQquip5xhGJn27JMaVOiNt3IFjXAAApL8mAdsaIYCP47P2wYKhsC3wMvkJM3B0-NJIDcRWQtFYoVRpHIJ0buCWdZQeaYr0h2tWASjDIYot150792dspYl6muc6PbYBhHGzMR-w/w640-h480/20230130_143724.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-C0f6w79ASIslNLUEs5w73zdhtePyDpnjZE5CR6d_4BtaeGXg-FfYbPyvYHfVzJx2xOY2VLmMOIIu987ksDdFkyJIDYbJ6Dl5jBAgY4VWs4gP5rEQKNK2AFUoMxEyx4D1d6k2hxCa5VaH8AvRMeC07Ehnz30e9VywBB25rHPGu_-nXa7zgFeN_WkvsQ/s4608/20230130_143744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-C0f6w79ASIslNLUEs5w73zdhtePyDpnjZE5CR6d_4BtaeGXg-FfYbPyvYHfVzJx2xOY2VLmMOIIu987ksDdFkyJIDYbJ6Dl5jBAgY4VWs4gP5rEQKNK2AFUoMxEyx4D1d6k2hxCa5VaH8AvRMeC07Ehnz30e9VywBB25rHPGu_-nXa7zgFeN_WkvsQ/w640-h480/20230130_143744.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I was aware that Raukawa Lodge was somewhere nearby, and Boar Inn a little further away. I was also aware my sister was waiting for me back on the other side of the river and I couldn't remember exactly where or how far away they were. <br />Between this and Jan's Hut being further than I thought, I decided to head back across the river.</p><p>Back at the track, it's a bit of steep climb for a short while before the track returns to being a relatively pleasant 5 km walk back to the carpark.</p><p><b>Maps:</b></p><p><b></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFT1qY4WKk_b852e0ZcC3ibWeWN_76P46p9RoCKdA1qKeQph7XRNAVzTkik9qffGEp3K5Nost9RH2b00Yo18DcUFoeBEuh4vYdN1la5_vnIF_gLpV3_pkp-WspOxh8r7-Au_IgDo5CLfI8M0MoV7vHuHRADozS1ltAZCiRR3n2mwktmkEi0DhozcLMA/s1557/map.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1557" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFT1qY4WKk_b852e0ZcC3ibWeWN_76P46p9RoCKdA1qKeQph7XRNAVzTkik9qffGEp3K5Nost9RH2b00Yo18DcUFoeBEuh4vYdN1la5_vnIF_gLpV3_pkp-WspOxh8r7-Au_IgDo5CLfI8M0MoV7vHuHRADozS1ltAZCiRR3n2mwktmkEi0DhozcLMA/w640-h292/map.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turere Lodge<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY4NKVq1t3btbLVM2hfILPzo_0o5Icvm0kW_xBt6GSi_F0p3HzxrfHvfYO0Lq62GSYeD2QGWVF_5HglDCvRW8NStcRePratKnK1jXZfza1y7gHolNfXBVb7JPiqnhFMm_mw4dn_NEXphqcTDmj_ckL1pmUnEfNiklYIxDgMEjeSjdLJXdM8Sf17TswA/s1542/map.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1542" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY4NKVq1t3btbLVM2hfILPzo_0o5Icvm0kW_xBt6GSi_F0p3HzxrfHvfYO0Lq62GSYeD2QGWVF_5HglDCvRW8NStcRePratKnK1jXZfza1y7gHolNfXBVb7JPiqnhFMm_mw4dn_NEXphqcTDmj_ckL1pmUnEfNiklYIxDgMEjeSjdLJXdM8Sf17TswA/w640-h298/map.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jan's Hut<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b><br /><p></p>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-67294991821482342932022-07-31T23:40:00.003+12:002022-07-31T23:40:30.868+12:00Herepai Hut, But Not as You Know It<p> Just when you're thinking "wow, I haven't read a post about Herepai for a while" here comes another entry in which Cody and I plod on up to that hut.</p><p>This time however, there's at least a good reason for it: somehow when lazing around the internet, I stumbled across a picture that made me think "hey that looks like a less shit version of Herepai Hut." As it turned out, that is exactly what it was.<br />Naturally, we had to go check out what had happened to old faithful.</p><p>Huey's benevolence smiled upon us as we started the tramp under slightly cloudy skies on a crisp winters day.<br />An area we once came upon as a fresh landslide was now covered in young m<span lang="mi-NZ" style="mso-ansi-language: #0481; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ā</span><span lang="mi-NZ" style="mso-ansi-language: #0481;"></span>nuka shrubs.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGdWf-kTPbma7UB1eV1iJjs0KZXJOVzBReSbskGpHLvVmpqGivCAn8UgSrdwDtxKQ74uglYAGZl0QXOYd4uXsYpNJaZjMgwXEyHEHHHl7jVB66BRFLZccCmvZkKy7qAmt636zfCX5vUcMCAjLHC2uuqfBGwdhDG88gmneGx_Eh49nbykEOP3lYvU-ew/s4608/20220724_134053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGdWf-kTPbma7UB1eV1iJjs0KZXJOVzBReSbskGpHLvVmpqGivCAn8UgSrdwDtxKQ74uglYAGZl0QXOYd4uXsYpNJaZjMgwXEyHEHHHl7jVB66BRFLZccCmvZkKy7qAmt636zfCX5vUcMCAjLHC2uuqfBGwdhDG88gmneGx_Eh49nbykEOP3lYvU-ew/w640-h480/20220724_134053.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJP9XncfQYD71gMrOUyULmNBdyTbLtRpzW_AK4m0mKzMOYBHO14EBdYP2GGHeFuo0KWr8LAac2svigk-442dNmxdRz7yp_ZmhBYyQS3eOVDsuIqJ5gje2pdOABU9ZhAlgCn0JIM8-Qy2bZPVlSutuJnuPgL8yu3eWO7nMjGKhZeexvyRG7ru7SC033g/s4032/20220724_135206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJP9XncfQYD71gMrOUyULmNBdyTbLtRpzW_AK4m0mKzMOYBHO14EBdYP2GGHeFuo0KWr8LAac2svigk-442dNmxdRz7yp_ZmhBYyQS3eOVDsuIqJ5gje2pdOABU9ZhAlgCn0JIM8-Qy2bZPVlSutuJnuPgL8yu3eWO7nMjGKhZeexvyRG7ru7SC033g/w640-h480/20220724_135206.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just under 2km in, shortly before reaching the forest park sign, the river has been partially blocked by a massive landslide, which would appear to have occurred during recent storms.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaQ76Q8u1cVIcuHhyuvfvASohfTJuY8D8vTxIGdhoCHDtQUjmv0iiHaVvEsSEdYg3yfsVwoqn5zy6Ac_MIRQcVmdjt9SBoQonHqwCEXFzepAvbkeu9Ia5QM98hsiOzX-77OHVsNw7gwfhca6IbCZCj7Zi3Pf-585OuCRBYETrhxLFrT5bywy1X5795w/s4032/20220724_140415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaQ76Q8u1cVIcuHhyuvfvASohfTJuY8D8vTxIGdhoCHDtQUjmv0iiHaVvEsSEdYg3yfsVwoqn5zy6Ac_MIRQcVmdjt9SBoQonHqwCEXFzepAvbkeu9Ia5QM98hsiOzX-77OHVsNw7gwfhca6IbCZCj7Zi3Pf-585OuCRBYETrhxLFrT5bywy1X5795w/w400-h300/20220724_140415.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7GeMw80M2yvkmh66FJpkkSfBwQ0c_vGdiqm21erXORK13QKwCzrvgBWDXVMwu4SWL1q342zDByS8IyxkvkD8OqOoRe74EqnawGH5txLE-op6TGo83tjE8cJ2pVlTbBxSfbP-S3Xf82JyjnjkmxAA256MmeZi33v6u4RGS7RgFandPOV3nOgHJsamBw/s4032/20220724_140614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7GeMw80M2yvkmh66FJpkkSfBwQ0c_vGdiqm21erXORK13QKwCzrvgBWDXVMwu4SWL1q342zDByS8IyxkvkD8OqOoRe74EqnawGH5txLE-op6TGo83tjE8cJ2pVlTbBxSfbP-S3Xf82JyjnjkmxAA256MmeZi33v6u4RGS7RgFandPOV3nOgHJsamBw/w400-h300/20220724_140614.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVFszYJpnE8sF5YDvWC7fKdNSTkyMXhna6zt_dGMfSw4Jc8vwCGyardMqqybQyBnv3Su4rlW_K7DztUFf45btd4O1kw0kC8ax-buO1l5yofocENzsSu0gtYO07msASPVR99bpEuXlytuAAoXODzPH7oLpf1w9F2LXpAgiFEQudKIDKxKoY5JEptTGAQ/s4032/20220724_141022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVFszYJpnE8sF5YDvWC7fKdNSTkyMXhna6zt_dGMfSw4Jc8vwCGyardMqqybQyBnv3Su4rlW_K7DztUFf45btd4O1kw0kC8ax-buO1l5yofocENzsSu0gtYO07msASPVR99bpEuXlytuAAoXODzPH7oLpf1w9F2LXpAgiFEQudKIDKxKoY5JEptTGAQ/w480-h640/20220724_141022.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr0kRteQAwD3MjK8qN_O-2nyclZ19aGcRqDFT8mZRkA4RHPNEHtAYDirkAq5PAHZds27IMA67PXiSquaCkOZFEoN2Vy0rxZaFpFHRUUADCd-V6BwSV2KTPNqSys0oeLbSx3ZQYnwETRJL4U8haBjy5HQLROlU9oj7ZywFaQJ3nmCaYk4knau5yD5B0g/s4032/20220724_142047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr0kRteQAwD3MjK8qN_O-2nyclZ19aGcRqDFT8mZRkA4RHPNEHtAYDirkAq5PAHZds27IMA67PXiSquaCkOZFEoN2Vy0rxZaFpFHRUUADCd-V6BwSV2KTPNqSys0oeLbSx3ZQYnwETRJL4U8haBjy5HQLROlU9oj7ZywFaQJ3nmCaYk4knau5yD5B0g/w640-h480/20220724_142047.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p> The track meanders pleasantly upstream, eventually arriving at a large Forest Service swing bridge.<br />From the bridge, the track climbs steeply over many tree-root staircases. The going is slow for those of us of less-than-desirable fitness, and even for the fit amongst us the gnarled rooty track bed requires attention to avoid falling and looking like a fool.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9WRX3ojIazqmomQYagApG_96PmTWgxAqY4JXTr1-CRa-ZcSYl1LTjW3uhBaYfweDFi_hAGz3czUBcSHpVVphBJ6bNsPPcvbT-Om2TiU6zim9AkLzlgHUUGsKSr1Ms1Mr-7YknuqTg0r99zpITzJ_D-_Oy1Es1VZ7e1CLWTI__x7PXeoz9N3P-7-Zdg/s4032/20220724_152858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9WRX3ojIazqmomQYagApG_96PmTWgxAqY4JXTr1-CRa-ZcSYl1LTjW3uhBaYfweDFi_hAGz3czUBcSHpVVphBJ6bNsPPcvbT-Om2TiU6zim9AkLzlgHUUGsKSr1Ms1Mr-7YknuqTg0r99zpITzJ_D-_Oy1Es1VZ7e1CLWTI__x7PXeoz9N3P-7-Zdg/w640-h480/20220724_152858.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChrs87hxjjetVQOvb3v-UN9LVKnhZM8WBWr7QwK17Jbuo1iGlTbiiSUllTO-deTngtGZ0APWxN2R-Kg4nwA3Bx6QYhyBHqcFDt0E2H0Jqp1HTHLQ1YgBXEqzLQmOUMCtPkrK7x_uZJoxmnrhbogbZND8Y1ilHx0Vo6sR37w_AYsdPuHcBna2OjQu1-w/s4032/20220724_154839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChrs87hxjjetVQOvb3v-UN9LVKnhZM8WBWr7QwK17Jbuo1iGlTbiiSUllTO-deTngtGZ0APWxN2R-Kg4nwA3Bx6QYhyBHqcFDt0E2H0Jqp1HTHLQ1YgBXEqzLQmOUMCtPkrK7x_uZJoxmnrhbogbZND8Y1ilHx0Vo6sR37w_AYsdPuHcBna2OjQu1-w/w480-h640/20220724_154839.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8NtqWeA8RgISWpiq0RNqSstB600dFQFpEc7tK65Dhfe0aaEh8PJPwuPYIjsPaO9kJpOI7Yy2EXUipaqG-Vh5RAXsqPuiSMk9NIYoC80onHu6-Pu4mOyKuS16PbvocaPf4F2sYRoVhKp6gvxGPoy76_aNbwJ_3GFx6ptaIHt1j6EDnt9bEnFkWompTg/s4032/20220724_161610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8NtqWeA8RgISWpiq0RNqSstB600dFQFpEc7tK65Dhfe0aaEh8PJPwuPYIjsPaO9kJpOI7Yy2EXUipaqG-Vh5RAXsqPuiSMk9NIYoC80onHu6-Pu4mOyKuS16PbvocaPf4F2sYRoVhKp6gvxGPoy76_aNbwJ_3GFx6ptaIHt1j6EDnt9bEnFkWompTg/w640-h480/20220724_161610.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Eventually we reached the top of the ridge and the turn-off to Herepai Hut. The less said about the time it took us to get there the better.<br /><p>After taking the Herepai-bound right branch at the junction, the track continues along a somewhat soggy ridge before a brief climb just before the hut is reached.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpH-Onaid7i-cTLKNOe2OsPlCJZzqKghV2DCVwblFS5Wt07AmwkFAgWbseRG5tDoXWyr55IqHCwe4om37G5tx89DM-2qvb7FSiI_mW66QLObwjiDIwMB7ZYu74xKm0hGjcLOfAfTK77iqdSi3fB0dEXDB8lVI03N2TcJcAYIBfOs0bO5CpjhoGFRuvcw/s4032/20220724_164810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpH-Onaid7i-cTLKNOe2OsPlCJZzqKghV2DCVwblFS5Wt07AmwkFAgWbseRG5tDoXWyr55IqHCwe4om37G5tx89DM-2qvb7FSiI_mW66QLObwjiDIwMB7ZYu74xKm0hGjcLOfAfTK77iqdSi3fB0dEXDB8lVI03N2TcJcAYIBfOs0bO5CpjhoGFRuvcw/w480-h640/20220724_164810.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislYbdsCOZMjX_8C7FtjnycmYq_QsbGwKqItQ6NTQuyqxcc5vEcmMk8rfMXt5smg6nz4dGR59M1TwI70Cx5wh5YQCt0BQDRuI690bmxc7pHkg0kQFYiz7Ou2xmUdGEKyADcqKrjk6uemtsjKy-lzVIAtH7sOsoczl4wjWxBA-c0ZCIILvnlsMANlS_jg/s4032/20220724_171835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislYbdsCOZMjX_8C7FtjnycmYq_QsbGwKqItQ6NTQuyqxcc5vEcmMk8rfMXt5smg6nz4dGR59M1TwI70Cx5wh5YQCt0BQDRuI690bmxc7pHkg0kQFYiz7Ou2xmUdGEKyADcqKrjk6uemtsjKy-lzVIAtH7sOsoczl4wjWxBA-c0ZCIILvnlsMANlS_jg/w640-h480/20220724_171835.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMn7Rc2bvwJwduEMe8MQ3OAFFJ-AjHXApovns8oMrzc_dhUIjKCUkNYcUDvCS3NUXu60jzkL9H6HxVqz5HT1q8JYhDtnVMTJLGoXXzVrfsaIq-l91p4r4eMRhqPI7v7iph4oFK-GcUNJtRi2nTsVNLDBptaGIS4de_6aYBAhhY77MyJu9mV_3lh2T-w/s4608/20220724_175238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMn7Rc2bvwJwduEMe8MQ3OAFFJ-AjHXApovns8oMrzc_dhUIjKCUkNYcUDvCS3NUXu60jzkL9H6HxVqz5HT1q8JYhDtnVMTJLGoXXzVrfsaIq-l91p4r4eMRhqPI7v7iph4oFK-GcUNJtRi2nTsVNLDBptaGIS4de_6aYBAhhY77MyJu9mV_3lh2T-w/w640-h480/20220724_175238.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2s_gv1BTO9fD8_dpkvs9ItGHrgcpBbvrytnYfOdWuPLKAgS34VURvt_zD_MZ42Zq8p_d3a291un_DMaBZsuo0rs4wkckIvMElCa5PMQSK2DBEwYtDwgnDP0GQpTFN-SrGyJ3pDjRswYA7tEXZ4K0MdyMza-iLHFkJZIgCqx6Dqw49ZW8HnDAj-6hTg/s4608/20220724_180826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2s_gv1BTO9fD8_dpkvs9ItGHrgcpBbvrytnYfOdWuPLKAgS34VURvt_zD_MZ42Zq8p_d3a291un_DMaBZsuo0rs4wkckIvMElCa5PMQSK2DBEwYtDwgnDP0GQpTFN-SrGyJ3pDjRswYA7tEXZ4K0MdyMza-iLHFkJZIgCqx6Dqw49ZW8HnDAj-6hTg/w640-h480/20220724_180826.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Upon arrival, the hut looked noticeably nicer, with a fresh coat of paint and new flashings on its corrugated iron walls. The roof and front deck and have also been replaced and a woodshed constructed.<br />Inside, the walls have ceiling have been re-lined and painted. The original rafters, once covered with a sheet metal ceiling are now exposed in all their late 70s/early 80s glory. Overall it's now a lot more light and inviting inside now.</p><p>And although it's the same old fire, we managed to get it going well enough for the temperature to reach almost cozy levels.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSFM0_idU0spvoAtL0BhNbLLikGuwmyUw-wWspoSzjpB75YBJwl05jH6JaqCm9kSU36LrFRckX-w3yhBRaLA55OsSMQ_v3T6XI257kO-sPnhZeJy8o5N55ui8TXBKwt1Xg_YyEZ3Ylc3yXVTNAeb_fgH8DqiWYjvCjGzNV1LcBJZX744r6K2ZtsGRIA/s4608/20220725_084955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSFM0_idU0spvoAtL0BhNbLLikGuwmyUw-wWspoSzjpB75YBJwl05jH6JaqCm9kSU36LrFRckX-w3yhBRaLA55OsSMQ_v3T6XI257kO-sPnhZeJy8o5N55ui8TXBKwt1Xg_YyEZ3Ylc3yXVTNAeb_fgH8DqiWYjvCjGzNV1LcBJZX744r6K2ZtsGRIA/w640-h480/20220725_084955.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KIcNTZDkgSxqs8t6XnU-lIpq3IDNqD5KDAF4AMKS3kXSWtKEIbaKbNQKHorZV_BoA2gFH0jLrDGueUwL9ancjdKwhYY9M7giLuZQwp4W8x13wOjDyqD3MIxs1AwmZzkhRaQB0HEesbK_izaInuckOFSvJEy94JKzD2rTVuINZPaxb3KRbVN8-D4DbA/s4608/20220725_085448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KIcNTZDkgSxqs8t6XnU-lIpq3IDNqD5KDAF4AMKS3kXSWtKEIbaKbNQKHorZV_BoA2gFH0jLrDGueUwL9ancjdKwhYY9M7giLuZQwp4W8x13wOjDyqD3MIxs1AwmZzkhRaQB0HEesbK_izaInuckOFSvJEy94JKzD2rTVuINZPaxb3KRbVN8-D4DbA/w640-h480/20220725_085448.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQov4UdjnZJ1OvfhuFhgEYE_oVt0sloDzMtjLDmcz9h3eJjAsREwLkZVxMowhRKFR-wqf0YOHS06m85V5v6nu4O-kMWsRgXOzgCfN7C73PmWNaFuPj_ZkcsCJO3owDL7ALAFuhtwjlIfxfjVD40cuCiG8eN7rXAQ8-omv1uTCChXDr4NMKGTI8Y3a_CA/s4608/20220725_085530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQov4UdjnZJ1OvfhuFhgEYE_oVt0sloDzMtjLDmcz9h3eJjAsREwLkZVxMowhRKFR-wqf0YOHS06m85V5v6nu4O-kMWsRgXOzgCfN7C73PmWNaFuPj_ZkcsCJO3owDL7ALAFuhtwjlIfxfjVD40cuCiG8eN7rXAQ8-omv1uTCChXDr4NMKGTI8Y3a_CA/w640-h480/20220725_085530.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p-L3VVI420GaD6_LN33OrSVvOaRrFaYYOXEyeODmmL_emgheSlcbSVU-rqKDiE-NHwyBP9NmCSjGv_b3hPpXRFmGuO-eJf3p9xoFkp_eALN02bFfZ6zyO8MOYc0sgE2RRlMZdFY7sptmYZZCOggwJjYi9LlaVYkokdz9dnHzy3IxDcIZez8RUhcupw/s4032/20220725_090013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p-L3VVI420GaD6_LN33OrSVvOaRrFaYYOXEyeODmmL_emgheSlcbSVU-rqKDiE-NHwyBP9NmCSjGv_b3hPpXRFmGuO-eJf3p9xoFkp_eALN02bFfZ6zyO8MOYc0sgE2RRlMZdFY7sptmYZZCOggwJjYi9LlaVYkokdz9dnHzy3IxDcIZez8RUhcupw/w480-h640/20220725_090013.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRe3dYLI7W2iQmiKJzUqcDJa1nEni4Kh64hbh3nddrGz-5Jfru4g6RrYO1fz-tnM7oahI7V9QXOVroNkiuH9x0akeZCZKioqzmNy9BZcg5AXkTjCovxv3iXaV0wUvt1T5RA-s8X0e-Sr_aCSt1RTjVpWU-yuzjBixsENGjMTZHJwQDSRfqPMn_Lq8iMA/w640-h480/20220725_133241.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Heading back down to the carpark was much less exhausting than coming up and we somehow managed to avoid much of the knee pain this descent is known for.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTweTECBcJL-TyjL9fJ2KnRaSsJiWB0mDtlJCnb17AZ_OyFDE-IbWK45KetlJcN2Hc2ZyHuusHpOmo7YFLmxqbtFuv1lZn1eHgQD_Sth47zQiYB3LpzG-LZAoVBUneBZyKoMIZKoORh-rQ8o7XVTKkxuXs2zVr06x0SFsu3HttwiymliqSSyCNEew3xw/s4032/20220725_100220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTweTECBcJL-TyjL9fJ2KnRaSsJiWB0mDtlJCnb17AZ_OyFDE-IbWK45KetlJcN2Hc2ZyHuusHpOmo7YFLmxqbtFuv1lZn1eHgQD_Sth47zQiYB3LpzG-LZAoVBUneBZyKoMIZKoORh-rQ8o7XVTKkxuXs2zVr06x0SFsu3HttwiymliqSSyCNEew3xw/w640-h480/20220725_100220.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aH8suuJlCXKGDW3VdYbH4LIVh9A8iJnyM33LtLCjg4jwziyraPCARYtfR03h6y55QNloZjmS7nE8Pq_2H6ysT_a4Ln1eXprS2XEzuVR755v6jM0_hUmkCfTDbqvnqACL7sMYmZmVZDljSdPpn8RuUXBo6J2Sg9xulKBXcGJX8qQD3HbzrsDNpphbmw/s4608/20220725_155406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aH8suuJlCXKGDW3VdYbH4LIVh9A8iJnyM33LtLCjg4jwziyraPCARYtfR03h6y55QNloZjmS7nE8Pq_2H6ysT_a4Ln1eXprS2XEzuVR755v6jM0_hUmkCfTDbqvnqACL7sMYmZmVZDljSdPpn8RuUXBo6J2Sg9xulKBXcGJX8qQD3HbzrsDNpphbmw/w640-h480/20220725_155406.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdTaohHwv6AXAwhkrQjk9fEn3Kx15s3QHBWOlv80e74n4-CjZ8x6UAXrFxAXiD8F78LxL9gEeHj_rVs4k6YiE1IS2MoeFVMgcZillznInPBSiMn8EwD--T0To0F-ICloUJMpHGPIJMsXn5LJgROhxCJoeUyA8L03HB0B2huhQDVC6I3iAUEkNg8iwRA/w640-h480/20220725_161607.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qM7GKQ1Rwa1_497x_k5O1dAQmlNU5RL1VBpPNT8s1QjFxGVUTj8GYPQEQrgn6FeLvt7R7U2Qxllf33SlG26Zkt0XhiR3WgXvAXD1_bIYP9aeIelRI0zPfon2821q4zynx0B_hWugCJdwFN6KBwYyKqcvMHFL8lu1ddZHJo8O1SApbW1B9NU1uEb9SA/s4032/20220725_164902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qM7GKQ1Rwa1_497x_k5O1dAQmlNU5RL1VBpPNT8s1QjFxGVUTj8GYPQEQrgn6FeLvt7R7U2Qxllf33SlG26Zkt0XhiR3WgXvAXD1_bIYP9aeIelRI0zPfon2821q4zynx0B_hWugCJdwFN6KBwYyKqcvMHFL8lu1ddZHJo8O1SApbW1B9NU1uEb9SA/w480-h640/20220725_164902.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Huey was less benevolent on the way out, and persistent rain set in part way down. Luckily we were on the right side of 'being-rained-on-enough-to-not-be-fun-anymore' by the time we reached the car.</p><p> </p><p>The renovation of Herepai Hut was carried out by volunteers supported by the Backcountry Trust and the Tararua Aorangi Huts Comittee. </p><p><b>Vaguely Dangerous Wilderness:<br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9ArjxXCq6bg" width="541" youtube-src-id="9ArjxXCq6bg"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-82771657434266750222022-06-20T16:17:00.004+12:002022-06-20T16:17:57.607+12:00Tongariro Northern Circuit - October 2020<p> <b><i>Overview:</i> </b><i>TNC over 4 days, anti-clockwise. Day 1 Whakapapa to Waihohonu Hut, Day 2 Waihohonu to Otureru Hut, Day 3 Oturere to Mangatepop Hut via Red Crater (Tonagriro Crossing), Day 4 Mangatepopo to Whakapapa.</i></p><p>Cody and myself did this trip almost 2 years ago now (and almost exactly 2 years after I did it the first time). Somehow I never made a post and didn't notice until now. I can't be bothered writing about it any detail, so if it's detail you're after check out<a href="http://tararuatramping.blogspot.com/2018/11/tongariro-northern-circuit.html"> my post from 2018 here</a>.</p><p>If reading isn't your style, or you're craving some quality tramping-based video content, may I humbly suggest <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCMb0GybM3Y"><b>"Vaguely Dangerous Wilderness: The Movie"</b></a> - a high grade documentary made on this trip. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GCMb0GybM3Y" width="481" youtube-src-id="GCMb0GybM3Y"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-22733107923686851402022-06-20T11:15:00.003+12:002022-06-20T16:07:24.209+12:00Mangaehuehu Hut<p><i><b>Overview:</b> overnight tramp to Mangaehuehu Hut from the Ohakune Mountain Road, via Waitonga Falls and the Round the Mountain track. 16-17th June 2022.</i> <br /></p><p>Ominous clouds obscured Mt Ruapehu and a light mist hung in the air as I hoisted on my pack at the <br />Waitonga Falls car park part way up Ohakune Mountain Road.</p><p>The Waitonga Falls track is a well graded, well maintained track that climbs gently through beech forest on the lower slopes of the mountain. 1 km in, a junction with the Old Blyth Track is reached, this is about half way to the falls. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEhR7bI6Zyk1TQVEVzFsQY61Og5Ks322rhMxJpLgsAxKTGpZq-s3kq0hZFrIyfnx4lquslYRGzsxBxiMhbfZ6YqXOBujhlCoFselu9j4ypbl1Am-580VzbVOFNIGg5Ff1K37ri2KeU776FFnj7pX7T-8rzVxF_r0p_bkJN-23OnlsHx1k2aq3nusy8g/s4032/20220616_131351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEhR7bI6Zyk1TQVEVzFsQY61Og5Ks322rhMxJpLgsAxKTGpZq-s3kq0hZFrIyfnx4lquslYRGzsxBxiMhbfZ6YqXOBujhlCoFselu9j4ypbl1Am-580VzbVOFNIGg5Ff1K37ri2KeU776FFnj7pX7T-8rzVxF_r0p_bkJN-23OnlsHx1k2aq3nusy8g/w300-h400/20220616_131351.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMf5YIWNmhiU03F9dlKyA06TsNCrdKVpYirX1--qw5H--Uv00FEV_bm1DxqpLLVTmnl__lgOtsJEqmCPlqqHnwRP6_MfHH3PGEg_zLHhBSic3oXyV_dbP-Jiw3sRjcu6ObvCmewpHezrSTyHkQdxTKe5zQouAlVWW0RCtAC3SkXbrFGSKU2iRkatcvCg/s4032/20220616_132142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMf5YIWNmhiU03F9dlKyA06TsNCrdKVpYirX1--qw5H--Uv00FEV_bm1DxqpLLVTmnl__lgOtsJEqmCPlqqHnwRP6_MfHH3PGEg_zLHhBSic3oXyV_dbP-Jiw3sRjcu6ObvCmewpHezrSTyHkQdxTKe5zQouAlVWW0RCtAC3SkXbrFGSKU2iRkatcvCg/w300-h400/20220616_132142.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><p></p><p>The track levels out, and shortly after leaves the forest for a tussocky wetland.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz0cbjOiViQf8C0cevfVepZUZPssYCex8I4fJSjnTFJXCZMvepJ2oMIYX-ikLLDMYSdFmGbBZG2yKODQyRyfOwj1ZmvO1_JkAAEW0FduGC_LFJhDJhmRzkfMbe26zzSw6_5_60xqLRy3QKePDXOB4ARpfHQrrpUJRYc1uicmSwvWPE4G4oe4YJ7svvg/s4032/20220616_132949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz0cbjOiViQf8C0cevfVepZUZPssYCex8I4fJSjnTFJXCZMvepJ2oMIYX-ikLLDMYSdFmGbBZG2yKODQyRyfOwj1ZmvO1_JkAAEW0FduGC_LFJhDJhmRzkfMbe26zzSw6_5_60xqLRy3QKePDXOB4ARpfHQrrpUJRYc1uicmSwvWPE4G4oe4YJ7svvg/w300-h400/20220616_132949.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyayQE6tgAui5B4FrjXAH8SVoTk39KF1HqXywMMARqTUGLtpQOrrMidmwYxGp5tcwOaEYDMQj9BxInKwjwq9z1LMxcbQhtJIex4d-mvbydeDteMOgy7RR2kdZhtI7mUVKKyYDJakFe00lOKOg3e0kAeyx1_sm4Wsn76VbHm24r5FPW0husFBp_-8ooBw/s4608/20220616_133001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyayQE6tgAui5B4FrjXAH8SVoTk39KF1HqXywMMARqTUGLtpQOrrMidmwYxGp5tcwOaEYDMQj9BxInKwjwq9z1LMxcbQhtJIex4d-mvbydeDteMOgy7RR2kdZhtI7mUVKKyYDJakFe00lOKOg3e0kAeyx1_sm4Wsn76VbHm24r5FPW0husFBp_-8ooBw/w400-h300/20220616_133001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PkSmwgAPHvW3FyYO9b1ax-AXH7BgN-X_wj-WkS3m7oyT-QadJ1jDZAdNpk4Ry0GvTnRv1b_zRMz5BdzipeWQssV6Bk510vL0gb5D9LiFnKAowEe1hWe88awho_XYp5cZjieYkVdnd-wsvmunYwsaLM85fh_AnPp0Gb8lN2DP9-P1EdGeujgVm3q5rQ/s4608/20220616_133018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PkSmwgAPHvW3FyYO9b1ax-AXH7BgN-X_wj-WkS3m7oyT-QadJ1jDZAdNpk4Ry0GvTnRv1b_zRMz5BdzipeWQssV6Bk510vL0gb5D9LiFnKAowEe1hWe88awho_XYp5cZjieYkVdnd-wsvmunYwsaLM85fh_AnPp0Gb8lN2DP9-P1EdGeujgVm3q5rQ/w400-h300/20220616_133018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> A well-made boardwalk snakes through the reddish-brown scrub, punctuated by golden tussock and puddles of water. Rotokawa, a large tarn, sits at the eastern end of the wetland. Apparently on a still, clear day Ruapehu can be reflected in the water. No such luck today.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb9oVpiQpdVKc6NDY4CHN4DaOHYd_Tt_RsG0YmeSU1UwkurHvcBIsH3O3GQKkERl0FgMl-CFXsFpa05IwtpMnKromeFRvRXPFjh2R5PF895Xzjc14BRdOL_F1QI52ELl88M_YN69T-kjlDDcvhYsmAJLqik2HhX41afRjDXY5AMULc2DtTxrSuD-d7Q/s4032/20220616_133054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb9oVpiQpdVKc6NDY4CHN4DaOHYd_Tt_RsG0YmeSU1UwkurHvcBIsH3O3GQKkERl0FgMl-CFXsFpa05IwtpMnKromeFRvRXPFjh2R5PF895Xzjc14BRdOL_F1QI52ELl88M_YN69T-kjlDDcvhYsmAJLqik2HhX41afRjDXY5AMULc2DtTxrSuD-d7Q/w640-h480/20220616_133054.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityXyK9-WCPt81Oksa8JvUkaCFRcdeBCI7ZznewJzdg-Y_BA-0RVfsB6YdghrH_7SLAIwt2vkZFoOwlvXtqgN6szNvy38ByXar5wpQHn-VkznnUtqCO1I3pdOfvs27qP7azgXpILl12yVasGw5mKWbkjE9BZqbTF3hOrvhg-dAiGVJeYK_LA3KRO1I4Q/s4032/20220616_133210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityXyK9-WCPt81Oksa8JvUkaCFRcdeBCI7ZznewJzdg-Y_BA-0RVfsB6YdghrH_7SLAIwt2vkZFoOwlvXtqgN6szNvy38ByXar5wpQHn-VkznnUtqCO1I3pdOfvs27qP7azgXpILl12yVasGw5mKWbkjE9BZqbTF3hOrvhg-dAiGVJeYK_LA3KRO1I4Q/w480-h640/20220616_133210.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiej5RxjZK46tqbs_CIjsH5ffEZPC_CkOp3NhHZ-5woVl-bETqx2mT9lbTXCTwJxgDJLzSge7C-k97UannIMOgzpJYCk1oaVCW7ZvVDos-eibHlCPo7fPsFYcuC1irN207Pg_1cy3FkPduMikQjC3LHy5HykQv3q8D-JIzyuyZaRtIfdM4U8l4Qk2SoWg/s4608/20220616_133216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiej5RxjZK46tqbs_CIjsH5ffEZPC_CkOp3NhHZ-5woVl-bETqx2mT9lbTXCTwJxgDJLzSge7C-k97UannIMOgzpJYCk1oaVCW7ZvVDos-eibHlCPo7fPsFYcuC1irN207Pg_1cy3FkPduMikQjC3LHy5HykQv3q8D-JIzyuyZaRtIfdM4U8l4Qk2SoWg/w400-h300/20220616_133216.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifooD_RVhnoqwP7oAHNqWQNZntyGInGriI3zdDMcGp36uBAkIVcOpAhrLtNSmqkz5b66TsW3umruFcTXugTEfsW0CB04n_6SoPoE2gUY4zWdZjKW2l_LV7V7jdhAXr9KnuUl4arwFbbThzWCOLgTkBgcm6Y-IRk0ailK0CpsFoXYO_CTBlPuuwpJ00kw/s4608/20220616_133218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifooD_RVhnoqwP7oAHNqWQNZntyGInGriI3zdDMcGp36uBAkIVcOpAhrLtNSmqkz5b66TsW3umruFcTXugTEfsW0CB04n_6SoPoE2gUY4zWdZjKW2l_LV7V7jdhAXr9KnuUl4arwFbbThzWCOLgTkBgcm6Y-IRk0ailK0CpsFoXYO_CTBlPuuwpJ00kw/w640-h480/20220616_133218.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOY-XNFQf4rwfwQ-iGZylUHQPF8mibh63yWE_nbJePNvaUnSZN1nZK0a-kfdxXnN0b2Fu_5mjmaKtbkdA4gv-Ebek6WbGvONKWXFaRt4wFRfQpa8tnf7CoLQMMJKYAUf1VwMMWzgONTzqzsxYrL7LvtmOu_vcl4ppy17BLuSBY2EImnK2ZfasoJhYMA/s4608/20220616_133254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOY-XNFQf4rwfwQ-iGZylUHQPF8mibh63yWE_nbJePNvaUnSZN1nZK0a-kfdxXnN0b2Fu_5mjmaKtbkdA4gv-Ebek6WbGvONKWXFaRt4wFRfQpa8tnf7CoLQMMJKYAUf1VwMMWzgONTzqzsxYrL7LvtmOu_vcl4ppy17BLuSBY2EImnK2ZfasoJhYMA/w400-h300/20220616_133254.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Dramatic clouds with the odd patch of blue sky poking through sent mixed messages about the fate of the weather as the track returns to the forest and begins to descent toward the falls. Less than a kilometer later, the track arrives abruptly at a stream. Waitonga Falls are visible a short distance upstream.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipN3pdZLXeU1BVAiWJ_UYstLGlfmMx-WcYf4EKarzy5yohnMlqOoglcN9Lzw3UjBxac03DHiKZcj6U4eaR4zbo2uJrTxXGyKmD_dH5BVZsZgIqxyFHYViIauscviaz9I9pC3_JziT86d7QgBYA9RPZjPHYU32GYBPI325Ar2QHJIB6PPiwnlZq5vCjfw/s4032/20220616_134235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipN3pdZLXeU1BVAiWJ_UYstLGlfmMx-WcYf4EKarzy5yohnMlqOoglcN9Lzw3UjBxac03DHiKZcj6U4eaR4zbo2uJrTxXGyKmD_dH5BVZsZgIqxyFHYViIauscviaz9I9pC3_JziT86d7QgBYA9RPZjPHYU32GYBPI325Ar2QHJIB6PPiwnlZq5vCjfw/w480-h640/20220616_134235.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhks3MxaROQi9y8OLfT-1Ufa-7fje6RShGZAhenImdHEkxt5YP7LUppPiRkxpvNHBmka1Zu-sZzhTMDNrwmRjJ66rtN8jCG6YdHjEKPUwpoVfKrj-4bC6E4vcSk8gS2VJLqCZX5Iai_2K7F1kzGzTKV0zv45Th4FDprA3Frw1sM7M5IaDDoI3vnyX2bDg/s4032/20220616_134315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhks3MxaROQi9y8OLfT-1Ufa-7fje6RShGZAhenImdHEkxt5YP7LUppPiRkxpvNHBmka1Zu-sZzhTMDNrwmRjJ66rtN8jCG6YdHjEKPUwpoVfKrj-4bC6E4vcSk8gS2VJLqCZX5Iai_2K7F1kzGzTKV0zv45Th4FDprA3Frw1sM7M5IaDDoI3vnyX2bDg/w480-h640/20220616_134315.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Leaving the tourist trail, the track heads a short distance downstream before crossing. It's possible to avoid wet feet, and although the track is vague a few large markers keep you heading in the right direction.<br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtxD9eMVMTzdr_GkveMfihMilxgwYe-80IPtwm9oOJZNVAz-SBHtJAZU1CMBp4Q1F97Qd5Na7AeA1EUIMnkm1vcyDo_Gkx4hGHInb-mP8NxSbXMVwEzWcqlkOW7D8TN--pWKjVz2jtkjEvkxKIK9t9yJWwCxbU0E-Z5TzDtMx3VqeI8qmYky9OjfP7w/s4032/20220616_134520.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtxD9eMVMTzdr_GkveMfihMilxgwYe-80IPtwm9oOJZNVAz-SBHtJAZU1CMBp4Q1F97Qd5Na7AeA1EUIMnkm1vcyDo_Gkx4hGHInb-mP8NxSbXMVwEzWcqlkOW7D8TN--pWKjVz2jtkjEvkxKIK9t9yJWwCxbU0E-Z5TzDtMx3VqeI8qmYky9OjfP7w/w400-h300/20220616_134520.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back after crossing<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Almost immediately, another stream (or maybe another branch of the same stream) is crossed, just up from the confluence of the two streams. Again, the track is indistinct at times and there's a few decent spots to cross. The resumption of the track proper on the other side is clearly identified. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1p82Y3PMFfl-d-BU8eC4GtrzA_TmkzevBCuyJtZs5YwP0Q46-WfNKmMsgVOU_EVRn1Hc26CGViJBEI_6WtxijMlnSSm9vKRmy13rAihaUcNgF6fwZXY5PuMiK5O08wBpk6A8znE6Es_CtLhC3VE7QXrQl45c7yBVWMJLMxT-f7eDGzFrS7IQI8UCTA/s4032/20220616_134619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1p82Y3PMFfl-d-BU8eC4GtrzA_TmkzevBCuyJtZs5YwP0Q46-WfNKmMsgVOU_EVRn1Hc26CGViJBEI_6WtxijMlnSSm9vKRmy13rAihaUcNgF6fwZXY5PuMiK5O08wBpk6A8znE6Es_CtLhC3VE7QXrQl45c7yBVWMJLMxT-f7eDGzFrS7IQI8UCTA/w300-h400/20220616_134619.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tVjJODO81HjRBTOZL_h5awJZOzSjVEgR6B3TDkjFNkvX2nb5r5zgiSfw-B59DdzFdRhGtEVxZqoiHsseqNwfM5Aq0vaP6Lbo6L5Ngq5VRb9yRNYsRyxIU-antSoLD2DNm1y9UzJsRHt0mvwt2YGJkYmKUZNBkE9xv-3zAWkT-6VnRu8rYGmJElacnw/s4032/20220616_134640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tVjJODO81HjRBTOZL_h5awJZOzSjVEgR6B3TDkjFNkvX2nb5r5zgiSfw-B59DdzFdRhGtEVxZqoiHsseqNwfM5Aq0vaP6Lbo6L5Ngq5VRb9yRNYsRyxIU-antSoLD2DNm1y9UzJsRHt0mvwt2YGJkYmKUZNBkE9xv-3zAWkT-6VnRu8rYGmJElacnw/w400-h300/20220616_134640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>By now, the clouds were winning the weather battle and a light rain had begun to fall as the track left the stream and headed toward the Blyth track junction.</p><p>The map shows a mess of tracks in this area, suggesting one track crossing slightly up stream and continuing to Blyth Hut and the Round the Mountain track crossing at the confluence and heading to Mangaehuehu. Reality lies somewhere in between, and the Blyth Hut track diverges a short distance from the streams.</p><p>The Round the Mountain track undulates around the 1200m contour for the rest of the journey. There are brief climbs and descents but no substantive gain or loss in altitude is made by the end of the day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJe2AHvHbgZ6NzYVAf7a0XKOJOwR-pchO00EFwV7GjLzODKW-zbywSCyH6wTIrfQA9Bjp6XAoEn3P87WMMB53BuSN9wMgDgMf6o8yGFXkGoNwOkWfOM6KSaKiL8qw_afUxbb47XPXaox2GKLJ5Lb0Lsd4f_2KUQGA5en_LQNL8ZVehSFEDTdmQ2penA/s4032/20220616_141432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJe2AHvHbgZ6NzYVAf7a0XKOJOwR-pchO00EFwV7GjLzODKW-zbywSCyH6wTIrfQA9Bjp6XAoEn3P87WMMB53BuSN9wMgDgMf6o8yGFXkGoNwOkWfOM6KSaKiL8qw_afUxbb47XPXaox2GKLJ5Lb0Lsd4f_2KUQGA5en_LQNL8ZVehSFEDTdmQ2penA/w480-h640/20220616_141432.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS4GemjMEoJwq4AIzJ-A0ZvXAxm8UxY6xQTGx0zEd0pmtd0NEqIy5hlK4hseKzOz1LCXrH3bibJTU0TIXBebPaaol_efhMJsRJPKHsxt63ufBfxmgT1hLU0TsEHS54pnTMvFfi3FsotBWlrjwwNTivBuL-sK57IzzyoR28CcV7gRq_YLtKcEjgLzo2g/s4608/20220616_141938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS4GemjMEoJwq4AIzJ-A0ZvXAxm8UxY6xQTGx0zEd0pmtd0NEqIy5hlK4hseKzOz1LCXrH3bibJTU0TIXBebPaaol_efhMJsRJPKHsxt63ufBfxmgT1hLU0TsEHS54pnTMvFfi3FsotBWlrjwwNTivBuL-sK57IzzyoR28CcV7gRq_YLtKcEjgLzo2g/w640-h480/20220616_141938.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhiVu8gh0TDPZM5maf28bTsB_brmsZTS0i2rX1PQhr2x8ATaAeV24YWmt844FY6EUg9zTnWS2UjYwPXHCZfGBvJwDTkLEfOiOuyh6bllT4w10EqELM4qqJ0RmMkK7nXXp12ndL_XllLD7ktLfwSbR-QXa7buqT_GVnY7J9DAHvDnRBV4gmW9mCrR1wQ/s4608/20220616_142959.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhiVu8gh0TDPZM5maf28bTsB_brmsZTS0i2rX1PQhr2x8ATaAeV24YWmt844FY6EUg9zTnWS2UjYwPXHCZfGBvJwDTkLEfOiOuyh6bllT4w10EqELM4qqJ0RmMkK7nXXp12ndL_XllLD7ktLfwSbR-QXa7buqT_GVnY7J9DAHvDnRBV4gmW9mCrR1wQ/w640-h480/20220616_142959.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Sections of boardwalk cross the swampy parts of the track. The rain, although still light, had set in enough to motivate me to put on my jacket. Patches of mountain beech also provided shelter. A couple of major stream crossings are bridged, one by a old forest service style swing bridge.</p><p>Past about half way, tree cover becomes less frequent and travel is mostly above the bushline.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDR7e71KsYqQwDiFMFYrWBNslbwZdC6V7SMKI2OUuXnhpP4toyGzjfmMmFOcEVyBuZHYsUHMYlLEo2XMYk359SYDuokTyzhEKlr0yOLfxbEnjMOx6ZW6TZ3pItysvxokySeE9o8cZrVLrvWiDcVFbMSeiGSTPWty00k2LlBwu0NXCQ5MJ8JF41SW8VA/s4608/20220616_145225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDR7e71KsYqQwDiFMFYrWBNslbwZdC6V7SMKI2OUuXnhpP4toyGzjfmMmFOcEVyBuZHYsUHMYlLEo2XMYk359SYDuokTyzhEKlr0yOLfxbEnjMOx6ZW6TZ3pItysvxokySeE9o8cZrVLrvWiDcVFbMSeiGSTPWty00k2LlBwu0NXCQ5MJ8JF41SW8VA/w400-h300/20220616_145225.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckNrsZF0DjGAK7g2uc4qdGuVA2d0RGzjHcN9vpBdgcB3VCv3E7tQhCspx8wdK7B71mIT0VoWoBtU7y_WGJjZL9tXxF05DV-cEBsnaIWLzqYiyHAeKO9_oBsNSmzppA51J4bXVAex4Fic3ezgXX_MDDirAtnWKvcwAjF0i4JzhDZmWUb2cUOq_iNUtpA/s4032/20220616_145429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckNrsZF0DjGAK7g2uc4qdGuVA2d0RGzjHcN9vpBdgcB3VCv3E7tQhCspx8wdK7B71mIT0VoWoBtU7y_WGJjZL9tXxF05DV-cEBsnaIWLzqYiyHAeKO9_oBsNSmzppA51J4bXVAex4Fic3ezgXX_MDDirAtnWKvcwAjF0i4JzhDZmWUb2cUOq_iNUtpA/w400-h300/20220616_145429.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7pp87tV2lJh9TDYR9vweLyKXA5g-RtDqY75uM8bYzGz7ajVcyF149m3oKaITpSp-v7woHuNsZ47gcJw2H-yMcdUvUwvFUkJmMNdpv4LADvWad4MW__RwJvDpn_RDmKaktuSEOqWptjWcEB9Pf-3cEEOr3Inn5_-PaLLvOcgGg76qUQN7d052tKocxA/s4032/20220616_145432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGLjuANknc1njyEwbQdcwQe4SZ1KxJg-e4rIahb-u3Dzv9ClKo7JnI7YkJoCbvjBfT9M5drusy08WyZcZRONZ2XFRVZT5uCWaUWrcSh7vKym_DaIgoNhjx6WRsDmFFxW6HtVm3Pn-Mi7wMbzZyapDrBzjeXAMVspqMO2tl_c0rZcoVF4f-kgu5boThw/w400-h300/20220616_152004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWWUzEVRJo3UYvMgWpXtUBaeRr5o8sgfo7HhXew6FOnd-itIcB2pglwD-eHZAuqC1dSfOBmZiGmLM2E6UHA9-bqnNuxEW2HalkGWB166Yhwr6jp82kyplosDwBRdYoqCFLvKi_jsLekAT69YPz6Gaqg3d03poDWR1ry8Umda0vPdanIrqTJol4Wb_OQ/s4032/20220616_153513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWWUzEVRJo3UYvMgWpXtUBaeRr5o8sgfo7HhXew6FOnd-itIcB2pglwD-eHZAuqC1dSfOBmZiGmLM2E6UHA9-bqnNuxEW2HalkGWB166Yhwr6jp82kyplosDwBRdYoqCFLvKi_jsLekAT69YPz6Gaqg3d03poDWR1ry8Umda0vPdanIrqTJol4Wb_OQ/w400-h300/20220616_153513.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWe_EeSAxZVC7lhNPCm6AYlEpDX5uyA8_LKxeXdgS5TfVQTwVx2ONbZb09xt-FvYaiw488ihtbvto7u-WXhcrPMnBixwGie1W4jWBS7BB6pCNSA0hPJhiGLEcLVFE6xynh2lkFnc6nd4mwLfZBgYWAsAPeKqLtanZ_idi6SLS8PGQYdTijFzTWcL3Qw/s4608/20220616_154445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWe_EeSAxZVC7lhNPCm6AYlEpDX5uyA8_LKxeXdgS5TfVQTwVx2ONbZb09xt-FvYaiw488ihtbvto7u-WXhcrPMnBixwGie1W4jWBS7BB6pCNSA0hPJhiGLEcLVFE6xynh2lkFnc6nd4mwLfZBgYWAsAPeKqLtanZ_idi6SLS8PGQYdTijFzTWcL3Qw/w400-h300/20220616_154445.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>There are a few un-bridged stream crossings, none are particularly large or concerning but they tend be fast flowing with a few shin-deep patches (at least in this weather). To my relief, I managed to keep my feet dry though. Parts of the track were heavily eroded and there was quite a bit of surface water.</p><p>The hut is reached after about 7 km, which took me just over 2.5 hours. Mangaehuehu Hut is 1960s (?) lockwood structure, typical of Tongariro National park, with a layout not dissimilar to Oturere Hut.</p><p>In the first of what would become a series of good timings, the rain started falling heavily about 5 minutes after I arrived. An ample supply of firewood meant I had a roaring fire to keep me company while the frigid wind and rain swirled aggressively outside. In fact, later that night I suffered from the most bourgeoisie of tramping problems: getting too warm. But is there anything better than being in a cosy hut with a hot drink while the weather rages impotently outside?<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbAAdqW5ZV0gBjc_980lcIayhJvO94uWndveqxe0T3engu4Gc-5ePsDWYIZETrCmiXgpXclpbYrDIK99Dz_HICvqQjHG766KWWVHK3z01qnKo1-wYC7a-1PJuEcvckFubSKuaeZXEJvFFKSSvLBjLAAsrTy2wDYkj4Ah9vDT7WuWD_yFDtiHqz12iQA/s4608/20220616_162803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbAAdqW5ZV0gBjc_980lcIayhJvO94uWndveqxe0T3engu4Gc-5ePsDWYIZETrCmiXgpXclpbYrDIK99Dz_HICvqQjHG766KWWVHK3z01qnKo1-wYC7a-1PJuEcvckFubSKuaeZXEJvFFKSSvLBjLAAsrTy2wDYkj4Ah9vDT7WuWD_yFDtiHqz12iQA/w400-h300/20220616_162803.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagqNMvVKKC-3hfdYUshotejLrVd-NkyHF2zs79iWlJ9QHUMk-l34J7OrThVKZ_vQo9nSncii2GC-vSdL6ZgvGKFSoaT58VEnzERcPAriv-XqKGi6u9XYHnh1ebmdscnl7QHgG-qGXf9GVB1Dr6P-nahX9J1xJThkngOk2x6Q2YFScAvZjP8RQNWvtIw/s4608/20220616_161215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagqNMvVKKC-3hfdYUshotejLrVd-NkyHF2zs79iWlJ9QHUMk-l34J7OrThVKZ_vQo9nSncii2GC-vSdL6ZgvGKFSoaT58VEnzERcPAriv-XqKGi6u9XYHnh1ebmdscnl7QHgG-qGXf9GVB1Dr6P-nahX9J1xJThkngOk2x6Q2YFScAvZjP8RQNWvtIw/w400-h300/20220616_161215.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFUluvoLe1Y-ck2KEqemzUYErbfAOFLOXL7w5zT8KuCaFeTqnNtT5ZcRW7xhBxmDje20-zlNLq_Dh35LHDrVMP5Xw6y-VdLE3eRicn3dkn0n3B5kBz_Zm_-uVKfquLNjF5aqYLmME-U6B-jCMMvjzquXFgcb7A_H0YpWRZHMMlTpQvsvhA7NMBv8Lug/s4608/20220616_160032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFUluvoLe1Y-ck2KEqemzUYErbfAOFLOXL7w5zT8KuCaFeTqnNtT5ZcRW7xhBxmDje20-zlNLq_Dh35LHDrVMP5Xw6y-VdLE3eRicn3dkn0n3B5kBz_Zm_-uVKfquLNjF5aqYLmME-U6B-jCMMvjzquXFgcb7A_H0YpWRZHMMlTpQvsvhA7NMBv8Lug/w400-h300/20220616_160032.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The next morning the rain was still coming down heavily, although the forecast raised some hope of a let-up later in the morning. By 10am there was still a light but persistent drizzle but regardless I set off back toward the car park after giving the hut a quick clean, chopping some kindling and stacking a bit of wood inside.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcpqgkbdSuH9lQiVuHuUrXI7deuE2U0bC4W_rXXa6ke-BMqsNTXHmWE1O-UoEathD7JN-iaEn3asa7jUKEXeR0e6hnfXk9XdRYXZ1wE5GEP6TGiafeH3ZDVq_Bi9GE9JdvQ-COKImAeZ2aiX4IhwytiGn7fJdDFTz1XTJG1AF18BjW1VbYGL7XoLhqw/s4032/20220617_100657.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcpqgkbdSuH9lQiVuHuUrXI7deuE2U0bC4W_rXXa6ke-BMqsNTXHmWE1O-UoEathD7JN-iaEn3asa7jUKEXeR0e6hnfXk9XdRYXZ1wE5GEP6TGiafeH3ZDVq_Bi9GE9JdvQ-COKImAeZ2aiX4IhwytiGn7fJdDFTz1XTJG1AF18BjW1VbYGL7XoLhqw/w400-h300/20220617_100657.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsUW5MkNrMX2EnHAoepVysdFduRYHeJElxfyBDe-VyaJbjwph0Tmv5NT98CHM-CecEWOs-Kau0JJq8TazdU5s9ZKnVp7HQe-rsV5kCkNzQSlu3_Wx2gJGg8A1CPtNQMHHzk7vC1tot2paKssbzZW8Ub28usrw1JDlyGAarIe3wCI8Uz6d9N3m_pH3mg/w300-h400/20220617_100905.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY4QBscQiUdLwPcM3a6mdHnqwjzvPFWDVT8bpc0cNNrQ_tW-OQf8t0vDadLBdW0X_mgPZdgYq1Uh4cgV4o4yBKavcMUEePdJcV6ZfISI0-IDoaqpPxKvHEhKP4OJxWuRMEyI7IQN7sbiRzXD9m1Lb33RolOPzMh82R04AooQVoOCj9DjaK7LGpg46jQ/s4032/20220617_100943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY4QBscQiUdLwPcM3a6mdHnqwjzvPFWDVT8bpc0cNNrQ_tW-OQf8t0vDadLBdW0X_mgPZdgYq1Uh4cgV4o4yBKavcMUEePdJcV6ZfISI0-IDoaqpPxKvHEhKP4OJxWuRMEyI7IQN7sbiRzXD9m1Lb33RolOPzMh82R04AooQVoOCj9DjaK7LGpg46jQ/w400-h300/20220617_100943.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfXcVONonSjrZzIpHNqkGxCZ9I5q6gchcpwsH8G5TpDjHcyN9w6897Shee7blAJEaHUNpu9UvUI6N-ax-W2oMDRX3B-LTR4a_fiyH6CIgSkhx5WGoyPYre7wCmRQ0XXJoPvxAzp8zoYtez5RLeCbG7_VhHQ7H0YWbkxFMlJgLyObmw-cT7jk5UursyA/w300-h400/20220617_101958.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>In the next bit of luck, the rain stopped within half an hour of leaving the hut.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKGaCsnhIOhgCJYY5GuU20jMmepev4iPiFmIhAPY3_pe4cBw4bxtmIG2GoVoNuhinqL3bi6m69JdEhsWf7FceS3xuCGQhDErlDffejjDVpI0kGkoYUYEbqQvcCj3uhGoBNS8HQt32iLDRp9mLbJgP24Tajzuheqt92cORVNEYfXw1atHguYooqSYHeQ/s4032/20220617_102054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKGaCsnhIOhgCJYY5GuU20jMmepev4iPiFmIhAPY3_pe4cBw4bxtmIG2GoVoNuhinqL3bi6m69JdEhsWf7FceS3xuCGQhDErlDffejjDVpI0kGkoYUYEbqQvcCj3uhGoBNS8HQt32iLDRp9mLbJgP24Tajzuheqt92cORVNEYfXw1atHguYooqSYHeQ/w300-h400/20220617_102054.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5ofJ98ZlhFjrLyau2vy4dg3pnwtvC9Ko-bHf5tV_nzApwhEfi-wPT_NXWr5YzOpSN2OMFfDycb2P5_8QF8vgi7Ikat9kK_dUoQ70NvRmWAufsWt-2vHZYav-jgeu2VaNrqmXjO73TEOuvNb88G7xK-POgsAOQCnIOefVQ1OVemrw_YzMMWAAKxcy5g/w400-h300/20220617_104228.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRyS-AP3GEPmgAzo881Wm4MQQQl_C87gLvV-WLDfvrtDg1Pq9eBtuzqA90hwbBawBR05kEbPjb4JVDbpFtfomHnl4u2WVfDJHTPciTawkC0w9Avv01VY3JjxZci4YYFjHALvS3l1_zZGX8OfeWLgsiZwHjInLKjO8dtS0-7LRKpID3XAzn5Vq2Dep2w/s4032/20220617_104543.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRyS-AP3GEPmgAzo881Wm4MQQQl_C87gLvV-WLDfvrtDg1Pq9eBtuzqA90hwbBawBR05kEbPjb4JVDbpFtfomHnl4u2WVfDJHTPciTawkC0w9Avv01VY3JjxZci4YYFjHALvS3l1_zZGX8OfeWLgsiZwHjInLKjO8dtS0-7LRKpID3XAzn5Vq2Dep2w/w400-h300/20220617_104543.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaEgC1MSebwr_5kC1wlLdjJjYyfXF42hRMgwPqPLQ0JekBZaesCjhmMRhHqSgwlz_BEaMn0FNGzta451M9R4tfHEXRDN55GW4_GtlOKPSofy8ZJJuEFLhzfg3TDusnAi8GifnG_PNkLN8lK0OrdX5l_-UI3qlS5BXgSakOfdRslIed-iZXOhPb-OhaQ/w300-h400/20220617_105958.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgAYhL61jyv9r0aojMmGcmiQusbogsUepCL3g5omgg6Qs-VzIj1WDPScFIP0LxwLWKyPYFQz7or4BoRSFMY2bxgDDv4VvkvgGK89ckkz-uDXb2pK8xyf7q-A6QF-ZswdZSzmZupFFEbCdnYH4h4jDCOsEbKEW1m66yk-DJbBG_iJANoS-eXOVM9EG8w/s4032/20220617_110935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgAYhL61jyv9r0aojMmGcmiQusbogsUepCL3g5omgg6Qs-VzIj1WDPScFIP0LxwLWKyPYFQz7or4BoRSFMY2bxgDDv4VvkvgGK89ckkz-uDXb2pK8xyf7q-A6QF-ZswdZSzmZupFFEbCdnYH4h4jDCOsEbKEW1m66yk-DJbBG_iJANoS-eXOVM9EG8w/w300-h400/20220617_110935.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dqqy5Qu93e8onck405JpwbWG_39VIIBSVjVXSHgVcraT5i8nXTLY9MEeWNKBMYNz5WlSr0tlMZYP0ohK0QRNTn4ZfMkikwnNu0Whx5k2esAQxP9iHNo8QOSshbN1U7Bp6KKUYbXrOgLyWjujJlLnM6z6QARzjGVV0BZfhHzwxQHA-gcEXeYXbSvJ5w/s4032/20220617_111016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dqqy5Qu93e8onck405JpwbWG_39VIIBSVjVXSHgVcraT5i8nXTLY9MEeWNKBMYNz5WlSr0tlMZYP0ohK0QRNTn4ZfMkikwnNu0Whx5k2esAQxP9iHNo8QOSshbN1U7Bp6KKUYbXrOgLyWjujJlLnM6z6QARzjGVV0BZfhHzwxQHA-gcEXeYXbSvJ5w/w400-h300/20220617_111016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The sub-alpine landscape is stunning, the topography and flora refreshingly different to the Tararuas. The track is easy enough that the environment is easily enjoyed without the distraction of drawn-out uphill slogs and fat-guy exhaustion.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA54K2_Sd0btwwH5i3Xp0HJYJ488AqBINCKCk7-JTBx3OrwYiYUvGw4-TVRFvJp4morSylf9sANck3cTy1pSAWEBY_iCt-5E6X0C4egz1nT_sjUD3QSISeKVTO49OnI-ybEZ5lR_IPID8ipUPJJAwV7gjI4-9EQEo6mcbPQPE7Gnhj94rV3T9RoCRWKw/s4032/20220617_111022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA54K2_Sd0btwwH5i3Xp0HJYJ488AqBINCKCk7-JTBx3OrwYiYUvGw4-TVRFvJp4morSylf9sANck3cTy1pSAWEBY_iCt-5E6X0C4egz1nT_sjUD3QSISeKVTO49OnI-ybEZ5lR_IPID8ipUPJJAwV7gjI4-9EQEo6mcbPQPE7Gnhj94rV3T9RoCRWKw/w400-h300/20220617_111022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSIt6pE0_D0t0sBckXEjZYqR5NyAIyV8lQqxOef09RLNcJSWL9Ta2Wz3kDvTFBv3UFKI6mUSv0VdaZXkq3HHbCRccuTYf58ei980sBRpi5M0Wx365h0OEUVMPDhDrXRiAlauEFHHQKOx_0lFyV_cAcmzlDjAbxEG4kBLRIE0Xr5HKUxZtrvsvRhPHiQ/s4608/20220617_111120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSIt6pE0_D0t0sBckXEjZYqR5NyAIyV8lQqxOef09RLNcJSWL9Ta2Wz3kDvTFBv3UFKI6mUSv0VdaZXkq3HHbCRccuTYf58ei980sBRpi5M0Wx365h0OEUVMPDhDrXRiAlauEFHHQKOx_0lFyV_cAcmzlDjAbxEG4kBLRIE0Xr5HKUxZtrvsvRhPHiQ/w400-h300/20220617_111120.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXA-5HIyzzfQMgs4IMtsJuoMsF7ApY6e7gAFl_ESxfmehLfceCsxT6_rkuP74ScJ4NOo1H1x2e7-kQQEtgZ-JPZTy89CfCWVo86VAjd8A_V4EA_m7nYl9ig-nxhk4sRhTp5i6WtK4J_hQ3LwN_5QP27JTptIOeXjoBqgvP2dPzNmUl8jQAFUSbO-Z5Rw/s4032/20220617_112642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXA-5HIyzzfQMgs4IMtsJuoMsF7ApY6e7gAFl_ESxfmehLfceCsxT6_rkuP74ScJ4NOo1H1x2e7-kQQEtgZ-JPZTy89CfCWVo86VAjd8A_V4EA_m7nYl9ig-nxhk4sRhTp5i6WtK4J_hQ3LwN_5QP27JTptIOeXjoBqgvP2dPzNmUl8jQAFUSbO-Z5Rw/w400-h300/20220617_112642.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw6k8qMdGfxxdh9KnynXpz5w_B_dknHg8Vi4CzVzVjfy_IumHvNpIF4JDMcE5Yjl-5GfKgAZa6PqOSXHV6uBkQWAOfG-Lwg5xQBf48FUrD_JX8B0_nkv8YaTIx03EL1lGzKcCT_aSoQnFW3xdEmwXqzIjAiLg8ooobhEKxJ-bvAzo2xYdYp5IpKzJ1w/s4032/20220617_114558.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw6k8qMdGfxxdh9KnynXpz5w_B_dknHg8Vi4CzVzVjfy_IumHvNpIF4JDMcE5Yjl-5GfKgAZa6PqOSXHV6uBkQWAOfG-Lwg5xQBf48FUrD_JX8B0_nkv8YaTIx03EL1lGzKcCT_aSoQnFW3xdEmwXqzIjAiLg8ooobhEKxJ-bvAzo2xYdYp5IpKzJ1w/w300-h400/20220617_114558.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFxQyQZUPTimT1FF24hthrWnKeb4hq2EqqsUW0F-i_56negV-AJqWE7PnHnX-z9071m5v_zdNbK5OudpYs1RiNGcF5BeDrulNIM3yTl8ChVoKq3YlT0dT4vMOK5Hwjpa2FjqPU6yltZQY0HfiW05PL2XC4drlEPXkUHKgoWtxkfdvONTnhmm38qDnJQ/s4032/20220617_114810.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1fVsOxD83BlnCuhVTICZPAbH-I7xJxmUMMkQR8YcKbFrR3c9SS8d0tE-0Mo8i9pDIzv62b9HaLOS_EEhJzD32g4zQK5vve25x7c7Ccg9RXOcFwpqvBdAWIB9WdI1NpzMRDfqGM90c_-E_uMrFW0HTckxx9DTB4d1kfGSM3p8TDFkorzVY67XJc1YJw/s4032/20220617_120224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1fVsOxD83BlnCuhVTICZPAbH-I7xJxmUMMkQR8YcKbFrR3c9SS8d0tE-0Mo8i9pDIzv62b9HaLOS_EEhJzD32g4zQK5vve25x7c7Ccg9RXOcFwpqvBdAWIB9WdI1NpzMRDfqGM90c_-E_uMrFW0HTckxx9DTB4d1kfGSM3p8TDFkorzVY67XJc1YJw/w400-h300/20220617_120224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSlOshl25awEJ5EdqBXEZ4Rm1gjgnPzR922ynojjnF3nsEPbxp5du77TVe7xU4tBcCgtoSwLRlWEKw3pPYSXzRsEUrUq56YWgrKW9ql3uLNzhO1vm6mnNDP2g2T61Z12WjG_uwi8GO-dpELNEW45PRRavl8diMlT3dR_BROcnJvUMigfzGb_UocDBxg/s4608/20220617_120342.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSlOshl25awEJ5EdqBXEZ4Rm1gjgnPzR922ynojjnF3nsEPbxp5du77TVe7xU4tBcCgtoSwLRlWEKw3pPYSXzRsEUrUq56YWgrKW9ql3uLNzhO1vm6mnNDP2g2T61Z12WjG_uwi8GO-dpELNEW45PRRavl8diMlT3dR_BROcnJvUMigfzGb_UocDBxg/w400-h300/20220617_120342.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stream crossing below Waitonga Falls<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkigJE-FoBoWKIBlgXJznPsFuajstssfG3PoM6oi_Xd3rgMy1-pfieJoVKZjzeUFpPrQgPFTv6_a8GrJFwmsfKBtNqC7hMiZDxrSz9y_P8n4k4GXN7nH9P2_kvqqj18uxNf8BcfKEGymoVkSWW362-PFBu8l2faWAM4clR-SDI9OF4mOyagd-L-Sohw/s4608/20220617_120649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkigJE-FoBoWKIBlgXJznPsFuajstssfG3PoM6oi_Xd3rgMy1-pfieJoVKZjzeUFpPrQgPFTv6_a8GrJFwmsfKBtNqC7hMiZDxrSz9y_P8n4k4GXN7nH9P2_kvqqj18uxNf8BcfKEGymoVkSWW362-PFBu8l2faWAM4clR-SDI9OF4mOyagd-L-Sohw/w300-h400/20220617_120649.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMotVCGqE64-IzYucbn8gO28CrOQXVIko0Jwl4pUwhc7WWMFosVvSynDnEAlFIh8stEKOJgvncd10K2-dplvMl7tv0I4uDZGg3oC7jDelrw3ioCdoFXkuu-I4JKf5NZAs9cKQhYZPOiRv5bDpWcwnczyasvzkMzrcz1IfB74oKVSnNVswT1GzxjQQVg/w400-h300/20220617_122541.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GmgeQJB8YCshtuE3gxCxdXvy6tHdQRpCAXSVZh8ekNBtqNOsxDgVgN87dLGo1t9txQPYEnnpcQutrLo3Ka3VmDCxExI8ANiI8_LM0KfiTup0alcP-72LVbs43Vf0BWvMkNlbAMfzEzuJSr1xq6ElAxAHJ4WDDu2A0cIpHHvwsJJHTjBm9yRubX4E6Q/s4032/20220617_123325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GmgeQJB8YCshtuE3gxCxdXvy6tHdQRpCAXSVZh8ekNBtqNOsxDgVgN87dLGo1t9txQPYEnnpcQutrLo3Ka3VmDCxExI8ANiI8_LM0KfiTup0alcP-72LVbs43Vf0BWvMkNlbAMfzEzuJSr1xq6ElAxAHJ4WDDu2A0cIpHHvwsJJHTjBm9yRubX4E6Q/w300-h400/20220617_123325.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzU-q9at2RUgfdgbYoDxdYPvPfCpMnB7njWtKmF-9bFisKCK177q6NqwH1p4sDQ7Sbdh_y2XFHJ5SThXggPnSCVDh0hnaeGNy92uPBSpI5h_gj5RthDru34atq7A8XL9LF-_ioSa0F3F02hSUx4dbP3gRvZ8NXjR2jmlMLFJbUcisoLc-4KszdzMbzg/s4032/20220617_124038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzU-q9at2RUgfdgbYoDxdYPvPfCpMnB7njWtKmF-9bFisKCK177q6NqwH1p4sDQ7Sbdh_y2XFHJ5SThXggPnSCVDh0hnaeGNy92uPBSpI5h_gj5RthDru34atq7A8XL9LF-_ioSa0F3F02hSUx4dbP3gRvZ8NXjR2jmlMLFJbUcisoLc-4KszdzMbzg/w400-h300/20220617_124038.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXW-Tuv3J7-MRPX4E638dKMZLUbFWWJBXO7Xneb3rg13EmzBQeKpvkRnq25j0wZikgz1iPb3nH8j13NhiUawZ-fWlKqYsMFolwUXJlGxJj8MLaQqYwmpw4nnq4fUbUwchC32A27YN1Ph5X0BSXFRSiVbm78uBi0QUwe_e9YL1OoTCXBeEL2TKKLVAFMg/s4032/20220617_124135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXW-Tuv3J7-MRPX4E638dKMZLUbFWWJBXO7Xneb3rg13EmzBQeKpvkRnq25j0wZikgz1iPb3nH8j13NhiUawZ-fWlKqYsMFolwUXJlGxJj8MLaQqYwmpw4nnq4fUbUwchC32A27YN1Ph5X0BSXFRSiVbm78uBi0QUwe_e9YL1OoTCXBeEL2TKKLVAFMg/w400-h300/20220617_124135.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It wasn't that long until I was back at the car park. A quicker tramp than I'd expected, but just the right level of challenge after a long period of not tramping. And I'll never complain about spending time in Tongariro National Park.</p><p><b>Map:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnprRz5tdZGMJ6sLB9LV99sj4ZLWD5c6xLe-vG6J1uh9dwF1FrcKGM19LQ7vEv1ob6caDSmQfhIJg0XeY-HzxCuUw63QEwcLMmEkVCY-GImFj0sxSGEW9yFEszbuJqpohfEGfDLh-vVpraWoMK9CAq3Xug4aNqePcpA9iEDJvIRh-2s4YGD6lXFlOw3w/s1608/Screenshot%202022-06-20%20091343.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1608" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnprRz5tdZGMJ6sLB9LV99sj4ZLWD5c6xLe-vG6J1uh9dwF1FrcKGM19LQ7vEv1ob6caDSmQfhIJg0XeY-HzxCuUw63QEwcLMmEkVCY-GImFj0sxSGEW9yFEszbuJqpohfEGfDLh-vVpraWoMK9CAq3Xug4aNqePcpA9iEDJvIRh-2s4YGD6lXFlOw3w/w640-h352/Screenshot%202022-06-20%20091343.png" width="640" /></a></b></div>Distance: 6.94 km. Time: 2h33m in, 2h40m out. <br /><p></p>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-18541211337753076022021-04-22T00:25:00.003+12:002022-07-10T08:17:39.854+12:00Totara Flats via Waiohine Gorge<p> Having roped in a co-worker for an overnight tramp, I elected to find one requiring minimal uphill travel. Such options being limited, the obvious choice was Totara Flats Hut via the Waiohine Gorge Track.<br />Despite being regarded as an excellent destination for beginners and families, my memories of the track were tainted by a particularly soggy weekend as an 11-year-old in Scouts carrying a pack far too big and full of far too many things for such a sedentary child. I remembered trudging for hours on end, scrambling in and out of stream beds, stumbling over roots and rocks, and generally not having a good time.</p><p>Thankfully, adult Braden has the sense to realise that reality need not be so grim, and thus I headed out across the iconic Waiohine Gorge suspension bridge, following a colleague eagerly bounding across the bridge. <br />The bridge is a fantastic piece of current-era DOC infrastructure, (I think) one of the highest and longest, if not the highest and longest, bridges of it's type in country, or at least in the Tararuas. It replaced an old Forest Service swing bridge that flapped merrily in the frequent gusts blowing their way down the gorge.</p><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEIVtkU64R3omv84MY5Hj9Wewd4SWZSq8DIWZXpt_Xxy8H2oiF4QM7G9MzB8bePYwmckIHZYH5exkhIWlfOepwMVi-iO_xqbaSes_7PXXTYRtqLwbj18FxpmuRQDuIAc-LyQ6BJtNTrUC/s2048/20210419_141814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEIVtkU64R3omv84MY5Hj9Wewd4SWZSq8DIWZXpt_Xxy8H2oiF4QM7G9MzB8bePYwmckIHZYH5exkhIWlfOepwMVi-iO_xqbaSes_7PXXTYRtqLwbj18FxpmuRQDuIAc-LyQ6BJtNTrUC/w640-h480/20210419_141814.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOfkNbnr7Niuc2u1EmE2YY6jb50yASYKcEKSNH5NmQJKFwU-R5-cPluScX9qexwVeJvFQQZVB4nxTgByJdzYZOfHGcHmfXSyJgB_AkXZ2PjJF-WFGZbmTrvIhg5bihf5r3Dw1SsGv3XUU/s2048/20210419_142207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOfkNbnr7Niuc2u1EmE2YY6jb50yASYKcEKSNH5NmQJKFwU-R5-cPluScX9qexwVeJvFQQZVB4nxTgByJdzYZOfHGcHmfXSyJgB_AkXZ2PjJF-WFGZbmTrvIhg5bihf5r3Dw1SsGv3XUU/w640-h480/20210419_142207.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The track heads up river above the true right bank of the Waiohine River over hillside and bluffs, with occasional ups and downs. After about an hour, the first major stream crossing is reached. My childhood recollections tell me that this swing bridge, and others like it on the track, weren't around 15 years ago, and judging by how old it appears to be that may well be the case. Regardless, at the northern side of the bridge, a rough leads down to the bank of the picturesque Clem Creek, which makes a great spot for a break amongst the boulders and lush surrounds.<p></p><p>The track climbs steeply up from Clem Creek, resuming its meanders above the Waiohine. It is perhaps worth noting that although there is little change in altitude, the track is otherwise standard Tararua fare - frequently rough, muddy and uneven. Not particularly challenging, but nevertheless draining and hard to maintain a good pace on (for a klutz like me at least).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq6ykVtE7z77BeivCls21K6-_Fss9mOl5xZLgHxuiOYJlV2Z3hIuYDdR9OFibWDIZ4JJv3d9I1yDt76LIRocFVlKVs-fjablky9mHARUaVC3YpoGnWUqHDadF7DgomzjTrCWDeV-q4MCz/s2048/20210419_144716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq6ykVtE7z77BeivCls21K6-_Fss9mOl5xZLgHxuiOYJlV2Z3hIuYDdR9OFibWDIZ4JJv3d9I1yDt76LIRocFVlKVs-fjablky9mHARUaVC3YpoGnWUqHDadF7DgomzjTrCWDeV-q4MCz/w640-h480/20210419_144716.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfruWLL0hortX04Xsej-KEWLgMskiSUIlHLguyMogPSJlCAg3BzsB_W0mxTKWMBXt09EMCdw0l_KACcL-sKketVrLCRJn1r3UVxSlaCmNfX7cb8fRWdomPAcdr5MCxURVkTS6X6Vd2qct/s2048/20210419_151440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfruWLL0hortX04Xsej-KEWLgMskiSUIlHLguyMogPSJlCAg3BzsB_W0mxTKWMBXt09EMCdw0l_KACcL-sKketVrLCRJn1r3UVxSlaCmNfX7cb8fRWdomPAcdr5MCxURVkTS6X6Vd2qct/w640-h480/20210419_151440.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Nikau palms lend a nearly tropical flavour to the forest, and there are a few clearings offering views over the valley.<br />Nearing the half-way point, the intersection with the Cone Saddle track is reached. A signpost informs you that Totara Flats Hut is 4.5km/2 hours away. Immediately after the junction, the track again descents steeply to the next major stream crossing, also bridged.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mHdcWDtDnux3zb1VmBtP2zpVU-NjtveTOXDuOPYTVDq1wO1x8-FdxL7ejsk74aySZM9m2n75uwZgySi3MbHwKXYBLQf3FG5-h7Dfjd8IO2xbIL4qnutzBmEKLTajOLkVafjzpW2HCWRX/s2048/20210419_151729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mHdcWDtDnux3zb1VmBtP2zpVU-NjtveTOXDuOPYTVDq1wO1x8-FdxL7ejsk74aySZM9m2n75uwZgySi3MbHwKXYBLQf3FG5-h7Dfjd8IO2xbIL4qnutzBmEKLTajOLkVafjzpW2HCWRX/w480-h640/20210419_151729.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOXli-k23D61JWsC8HlekJQ1d7X_NT8iPkHCA9R3X1dtehm4ZENiAe-37Vls-Z7Q_sPUU-m_lGoUtfv4lI2DWuwPmi5T75CJafe9AZgGDr0bBxAjmfJcwCeMGSgLZ_dOKO2AylKI0yE9W/s2048/20210419_153519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOXli-k23D61JWsC8HlekJQ1d7X_NT8iPkHCA9R3X1dtehm4ZENiAe-37Vls-Z7Q_sPUU-m_lGoUtfv4lI2DWuwPmi5T75CJafe9AZgGDr0bBxAjmfJcwCeMGSgLZ_dOKO2AylKI0yE9W/w480-h640/20210419_153519.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> The track continues following the Waiohine, often closer to river level now. Eventually, an indistinct (but signposted) junction is reached. A good-weather track drops onto the river bed, while an all weather track heads up over and around a large slip. A track I have somewhat grim memories of having to use when the river was in flood many moons ago.<br />The river bed track is fairly short, but largely unmarked. The resumption of the track in the trees is easy to miss, so keep an eye out when the rocky bank narrows after crossing the foot of the slip.<p></p><p>Shortly after re-entering the forest, a grassy flat is reached. Don't celebrate yet, as it is a flat of lies and deception. The flat soon ends, and the track re-enters the forest before arriving back at river level for another brief section of rocky river bank. Again, it's easy to miss where the track heads back into the trees. There's then a brief climb up and over a bluff before finally arriving at Totara Flats.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfsSmM1mBA6ezPETek34bCS11bEq-yncRfmOqrt1N98UWd2dHRh5Pyyn0MR1koTfrkca1Nhg6wMyLCLvZY5XGq_bf4UGpqVgqKCZhbPf3XZ4Otf0JJ4Yb24M7X41HivC1xS5rK5BT1m8t/s2048/20210419_154552.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfsSmM1mBA6ezPETek34bCS11bEq-yncRfmOqrt1N98UWd2dHRh5Pyyn0MR1koTfrkca1Nhg6wMyLCLvZY5XGq_bf4UGpqVgqKCZhbPf3XZ4Otf0JJ4Yb24M7X41HivC1xS5rK5BT1m8t/w640-h480/20210419_154552.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwInG2SknCMaBKfjhiIrgXHSP3C0Yi9cxEZoEXGXb6lHIaQJONefznebuY8BdHOc3PRBaZpDJVXoqP13NMFgb5g9c60U8KLG8pGXlDfF0dkFvY8KHlobnCylbcvreIFymRIYcB6hu4bVq6/s2048/20210419_155902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwInG2SknCMaBKfjhiIrgXHSP3C0Yi9cxEZoEXGXb6lHIaQJONefznebuY8BdHOc3PRBaZpDJVXoqP13NMFgb5g9c60U8KLG8pGXlDfF0dkFvY8KHlobnCylbcvreIFymRIYcB6hu4bVq6/w480-h640/20210419_155902.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIvx_44f-n39xpSDzBitCzZkcK-8fCWFmoUXF_QSCxYo_XDpi24zqxaSvvDhE4xaQahkksJ_CT1j2SyzkopLHapspTJP6whtbp6N_LjRzdEDH5tNr4FN5jMmnJcsAO0V5FSNCkUTJkI7q/s2048/20210419_162614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIvx_44f-n39xpSDzBitCzZkcK-8fCWFmoUXF_QSCxYo_XDpi24zqxaSvvDhE4xaQahkksJ_CT1j2SyzkopLHapspTJP6whtbp6N_LjRzdEDH5tNr4FN5jMmnJcsAO0V5FSNCkUTJkI7q/w640-h480/20210419_162614.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpdHBAtl3fUQ-HqtkXc5IVjBlqlOvF0HJ0QdnD-FGQRf2Ob5IrUcP0qD1so0wAZDBPzkOrKkN0uAu06ls6s9cRGCyut89csj8QfZET5wge-g2HY6WvT_Ys2IbxJjFPkLaORWUeqz-dPll/s2048/20210419_163835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpdHBAtl3fUQ-HqtkXc5IVjBlqlOvF0HJ0QdnD-FGQRf2Ob5IrUcP0qD1so0wAZDBPzkOrKkN0uAu06ls6s9cRGCyut89csj8QfZET5wge-g2HY6WvT_Ys2IbxJjFPkLaORWUeqz-dPll/w640-h480/20210419_163835.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Totara Flats is a remarkable expanse of mostly grassy land, dotted with clumps of trees. You might be tempted to think that the hut is nearby and relatively speaking that's true, but the flats are extensive and the Hut sits right at the northern end. It's not as flat as you might expect either, the track crosses a number of what are either old river terraces or small fault escarpments along the way. Shortly before reaching the hut, the track re-enters the bush. The hut is eventually found in a small clearing above a bend in the Waiohine River near its confluence with Totara Creek.</p><p>We reached the hut after about 4 hours. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqX5LTpQ-3rkF4FZd9-w2KkSkpnzQhucjc_73OuSfNONCF1XR8KOWWOq7_Q2vT9SBBNOYhYrejkVSvb0GkBVA50rA6JRPZS1jPbk9FGhI241RxnT8Yj7ppVLfoYDisDX09XxLGVdf_jT63/s2048/20210420_081318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqX5LTpQ-3rkF4FZd9-w2KkSkpnzQhucjc_73OuSfNONCF1XR8KOWWOq7_Q2vT9SBBNOYhYrejkVSvb0GkBVA50rA6JRPZS1jPbk9FGhI241RxnT8Yj7ppVLfoYDisDX09XxLGVdf_jT63/w640-h480/20210420_081318.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>A few minutes north of the hut, a swing bridge crosses the Waiohine River. The bridge is notorious for its length and impressive range of motion in the frequent winds that barrel down the valley. But the good news is, DOC has commissioned a new bridge which is currently under construction a few meters upstream.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHygwm6BVOB2S4pcSHeb_f0U5yXd0ZKbGbNk2U8QBrR1It_I4CyATDvEMukj4jcYhkPZ9n2rUbAA5pDt-NY5RTzocou2jInac9nW5lkLPti41KGyD-w18gWoh3kopstKEvL5bSonj1vdvw/s2048/20210420_102205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHygwm6BVOB2S4pcSHeb_f0U5yXd0ZKbGbNk2U8QBrR1It_I4CyATDvEMukj4jcYhkPZ9n2rUbAA5pDt-NY5RTzocou2jInac9nW5lkLPti41KGyD-w18gWoh3kopstKEvL5bSonj1vdvw/w400-h300/20210420_102205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKT5Ix3ED9THrTrc1MN5y4QXSIYyjx5YuY4WrOWwi_qdHFQweru7FvlQD1YnVMBoRaLvxMOf_c8kSuyvFZmhY5wcshp586vO6T2JxCS_1zy0TM3Z2-tJcIEb9qoCIFF0zOJ4Cy3K76k9-0/s2048/20210420_102230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKT5Ix3ED9THrTrc1MN5y4QXSIYyjx5YuY4WrOWwi_qdHFQweru7FvlQD1YnVMBoRaLvxMOf_c8kSuyvFZmhY5wcshp586vO6T2JxCS_1zy0TM3Z2-tJcIEb9qoCIFF0zOJ4Cy3K76k9-0/w300-h400/20210420_102230.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegBg-GPP0tdNrCHSIWtVCwSC1s35kxueW-lhJIKP8iZgnciQ66_YMV1mo3DJlBVqnO5ifVzn-glZCitLjOlxN8WJ1eZ2NL7D8OhHnXUr5yC_xOt4sLlz4plNsV_6juANJejn_TbmJU2ow/s2048/20210420_102247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegBg-GPP0tdNrCHSIWtVCwSC1s35kxueW-lhJIKP8iZgnciQ66_YMV1mo3DJlBVqnO5ifVzn-glZCitLjOlxN8WJ1eZ2NL7D8OhHnXUr5yC_xOt4sLlz4plNsV_6juANJejn_TbmJU2ow/w400-h300/20210420_102247.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>After a leisurely morning, we set off just after midday.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwIraRKiaBDk-iSI_4i8bcEGvUXooXAXdPgjnZBumNrnA15qjvsuoR3JYdj0b4Y5ocpOxT3AlK1mZBK407oZxRm1YmHHEMr5NITZeMM1YczqYPFTNsGTQg1XEFKErBsuRXlPwtqL81J9o/s2048/20210420_082705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwIraRKiaBDk-iSI_4i8bcEGvUXooXAXdPgjnZBumNrnA15qjvsuoR3JYdj0b4Y5ocpOxT3AlK1mZBK407oZxRm1YmHHEMr5NITZeMM1YczqYPFTNsGTQg1XEFKErBsuRXlPwtqL81J9o/w400-h300/20210420_082705.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCp8QIbv5pDIpXRqxuV6W_f-0KQCrGr9k7m4-RA1cqJmEuIiKPaJVO3iEvpbtVWFJFgrOYS44Ep8kSVT9eaaMXh7MdnuWMqs_FmLMfx6qsUniooepRvk7QeLK4WBNeXxGl1j5-0cTrYCd/s2048/20210420_092953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCp8QIbv5pDIpXRqxuV6W_f-0KQCrGr9k7m4-RA1cqJmEuIiKPaJVO3iEvpbtVWFJFgrOYS44Ep8kSVT9eaaMXh7MdnuWMqs_FmLMfx6qsUniooepRvk7QeLK4WBNeXxGl1j5-0cTrYCd/w300-h400/20210420_092953.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx-D4y51ikX4SemW0qR4j1VF5PrxuGk-yAZHZLlrxT40fcpC8_YohSqHvDTk3ouiYx_Xuc5G8jKglkat2TlooPgzoUiiEVLdGVjuIMg-sBzI5z918ndHh7S9MwwaDx3FqYGl4xvokoeLq/s2048/20210420_103135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx-D4y51ikX4SemW0qR4j1VF5PrxuGk-yAZHZLlrxT40fcpC8_YohSqHvDTk3ouiYx_Xuc5G8jKglkat2TlooPgzoUiiEVLdGVjuIMg-sBzI5z918ndHh7S9MwwaDx3FqYGl4xvokoeLq/w640-h480/20210420_103135.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Once again, it's pretty easy to miss where the track exits its brief sections on the river banks, and I lost the trail at least once before spotting a track marker in the trees. It was some consolation that I was not the only person to do this recently, given that I was following another set of boot prints at the time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkqSAABvwg0RFIkXaQh6ADtEJ3fDj1t2d8_h-gmbpv-JPqz4Pa9DouQWVqoVXs7G49FdG1yVvpftEu39ASj2JqeM-m3HAibRTHtFOtz9crWVT_9XKmLHZu4Ao34QnqbwJDCgH-ZJVTduI/s2048/20210420_125926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkqSAABvwg0RFIkXaQh6ADtEJ3fDj1t2d8_h-gmbpv-JPqz4Pa9DouQWVqoVXs7G49FdG1yVvpftEu39ASj2JqeM-m3HAibRTHtFOtz9crWVT_9XKmLHZu4Ao34QnqbwJDCgH-ZJVTduI/w640-h480/20210420_125926.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4_4L8hgOEdBaYMxMcHjaHms4eULm4zYPOSjh-Sb9CVEXizTWBAhNf1PApImvNyo3EJkTEGDdP843rllAC9D-cgBhqJRnhlECOU1ZVY0avjRjdMnvEttbBdCT0lTqs6hwUDxXQoKxiRGD/s2048/20210420_135608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4_4L8hgOEdBaYMxMcHjaHms4eULm4zYPOSjh-Sb9CVEXizTWBAhNf1PApImvNyo3EJkTEGDdP843rllAC9D-cgBhqJRnhlECOU1ZVY0avjRjdMnvEttbBdCT0lTqs6hwUDxXQoKxiRGD/w480-h640/20210420_135608.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4onQz20-rGv09mLlakPzj5ucVevLbS00UGLJRDeLTZZm2Jg1Sh0S6ct9kYpohy3i-FsToB6G7kbb5t6aUVcbF1xe22j54GW4pLT9fsbvEyZJOVC1154V08OBSyX0My5CclDzJsqAt7ysk/s2048/20210420_161446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4onQz20-rGv09mLlakPzj5ucVevLbS00UGLJRDeLTZZm2Jg1Sh0S6ct9kYpohy3i-FsToB6G7kbb5t6aUVcbF1xe22j54GW4pLT9fsbvEyZJOVC1154V08OBSyX0My5CclDzJsqAt7ysk/w480-h640/20210420_161446.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSAqTFmaTsjbwF50gM1eGyhoOQPmSTpAzzEwa7qq3w0R7T6su58_DuM4bDtCs1UXVNQBlS3JbWQ5yKTRC5EE8S3wxZeK_FbYy3R1wKwk6vBHgMiIbCHGnwXcpr2uQsY_eBEDNvSkVyZ0z/s2048/20210420_161451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSAqTFmaTsjbwF50gM1eGyhoOQPmSTpAzzEwa7qq3w0R7T6su58_DuM4bDtCs1UXVNQBlS3JbWQ5yKTRC5EE8S3wxZeK_FbYy3R1wKwk6vBHgMiIbCHGnwXcpr2uQsY_eBEDNvSkVyZ0z/w480-h640/20210420_161451.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINnsEtHZ1LR7dNV4D5sO3VP5UMpyoxTA0zTNbamLTh0gvoG9p7k5lS3Ln5p4Y6Jap2WIM13ki-ze6vfqh8zRglZJMWjFZemOgrve_b2PKBV8omW6bwQlcmebLKG2yvbC6frPHGaZAVxff/s2048/20210420_161523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINnsEtHZ1LR7dNV4D5sO3VP5UMpyoxTA0zTNbamLTh0gvoG9p7k5lS3Ln5p4Y6Jap2WIM13ki-ze6vfqh8zRglZJMWjFZemOgrve_b2PKBV8omW6bwQlcmebLKG2yvbC6frPHGaZAVxff/w480-h640/20210420_161523.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidou1VngIGNoAIUDydzag1Ud0aFFhyphenhyphen8HJtUQOLwwOsxF6dp3OyqHdqGwbR7noVsCaWLvBTNdNOeYrzSxPeXUtHCyOyrCec-ZZeW-HJqgxaLiVaUkMMgk6ZkVTrvmapxdXzl_lI0rdUn1rr/s2048/20210420_161530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidou1VngIGNoAIUDydzag1Ud0aFFhyphenhyphen8HJtUQOLwwOsxF6dp3OyqHdqGwbR7noVsCaWLvBTNdNOeYrzSxPeXUtHCyOyrCec-ZZeW-HJqgxaLiVaUkMMgk6ZkVTrvmapxdXzl_lI0rdUn1rr/w640-h480/20210420_161530.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The return trip took a shade over 4 hours, all in all a fantastic tramp. Easy enough to be readily enjoyed, but challenging enough to make me feel like I accomplished something. Plus no lasting damage to office relations as far as I can tell. Win-win.</p><p><b>Side note:</b> the final stretch of the Waiohine Gorge Road is heavily eroded and pot holed, which can make it a bit sketchy at times. I may have almost managed to get my car stuck at one point, but escaped with only some fresh skid marks around a particularly large dip in the road.<br />In saying that, if I can make it in a 4-speed auto Nissan Tiida, and a family in their old Toyota people mover, it (probably) won't stop you. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-18364612775950361652020-09-18T19:55:00.008+12:002020-09-18T20:52:26.909+12:00Pouakai Circuit<p> In a fit of uncharacteristic adulthood, I finally got around to getting my full license, opening up a much wider range of tramping opportunities. First on the list, the Pouakai Circuit in Egmont National Park. There was barely a cloud in the sky on the drive up, the conical form of Mt Taranaki coming into view well before we reached it. In fact it was so clear that Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe were visible from the North Egmont Visitor Centre. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Cz-1DXcrOEy_FIgcxldjD1Sx0wfX9N39535PfiyE8kmkEuqsvj2aQcnvgs0iJ7Q-TcvAQbUnkYVSvHiud1NwIRstJU9qxoBKHhSFY2jFjf_fzOrJCbWfHVqnHhnh00nO3ouDSph8LS28/s2048/20200912_123448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Cz-1DXcrOEy_FIgcxldjD1Sx0wfX9N39535PfiyE8kmkEuqsvj2aQcnvgs0iJ7Q-TcvAQbUnkYVSvHiud1NwIRstJU9qxoBKHhSFY2jFjf_fzOrJCbWfHVqnHhnh00nO3ouDSph8LS28/w640-h480/20200912_123448.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>There's a few ways of undertaking the Pouakai Circuit - due to a combination of time factors and expected hut occupancy, we opted to begin at the North Egmont Visitor Centre (as opposed to the Kaiauai carpark halfway up Egmont Road), heading to Holly Hut as our first stop. We also chose to do the tramp over 3 days to allow for a more leisurely pace.<br /><p>The track begins from the visitor centre up a ridge intimidatingly named the Razorback. Near the start of the track is a monument for Arthur Ambury, a climber who died in a rescue attempt in 1918. <br />Despite the name, the Razorback isn't as punishing as you might expect. The track is well graded, cut deep into the ridge with many well built steps. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsx1nzQXhqtpTpj9DjwsafXYFlsUP8WsvH-v2U-hHHXbSkCZjwbHqjdZgB5wd2BGW2MlC2URcegbUap-k-vACXJycKMWVPuBDK3booXcpvLeftVQW81dnpL0m96SVUFmo3md2_xxgU-YR/s2048/20200912_132603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsx1nzQXhqtpTpj9DjwsafXYFlsUP8WsvH-v2U-hHHXbSkCZjwbHqjdZgB5wd2BGW2MlC2URcegbUap-k-vACXJycKMWVPuBDK3booXcpvLeftVQW81dnpL0m96SVUFmo3md2_xxgU-YR/w300-h400/20200912_132603.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCZeTSvhfUEruyryDwC6Vc0G7jccTJ1XvMHCKNcK8K1cfnYC5lzhypfq8xkECk2LRqOFB9qrS1fllGV0McnJYhxsLgBPQr9c6aZVViLTOfK1AavXDQsG1OGAdRCOr_FpSs0kMEnPs-7fD/s2048/20200912_133011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCZeTSvhfUEruyryDwC6Vc0G7jccTJ1XvMHCKNcK8K1cfnYC5lzhypfq8xkECk2LRqOFB9qrS1fllGV0McnJYhxsLgBPQr9c6aZVViLTOfK1AavXDQsG1OGAdRCOr_FpSs0kMEnPs-7fD/w300-h400/20200912_133011.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEGK7N8Hf9AbINlxcoAh5xlvtSr2lQOWSKS3VucHd7Z__GxfmIlJs51tOLhL1yuHhSNZ-iU3n4KHcSFCL0bML2z5kU3C0MVgdroVGFEUpLAU7h7qW_0aTwZW47NQKQ2gxd4ut6hchnBl1/s2048/IMG_4067.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-25Vh_YMuvaqE0wL4NE9qwJiRMk10cACAPahOWmUgy_H52-WK4gc_OtY058hNwzVthSzb1z7PCW2E2FRt3kiHCA4OBwOf27yXt0bvck823RSWbhr_I6WTYYyz85Gzc0FTbj9SVScHpWYc/s2048/IMG_4079.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-25Vh_YMuvaqE0wL4NE9qwJiRMk10cACAPahOWmUgy_H52-WK4gc_OtY058hNwzVthSzb1z7PCW2E2FRt3kiHCA4OBwOf27yXt0bvck823RSWbhr_I6WTYYyz85Gzc0FTbj9SVScHpWYc/w640-h426/IMG_4079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie607O7p_jRK6E7P28guj76mkKvAF8q9bJAAsqhvXRWsUQjRj4F1BQgzOzPIwuGpCeJFfkUg6OnDRSm6xBUCxtItD8j9rYwoSshGX4SwvE77iG7YCaL29ItzxDxaoKBq3p0AdyGr5lOjjZ/s2048/20200912_132732.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie607O7p_jRK6E7P28guj76mkKvAF8q9bJAAsqhvXRWsUQjRj4F1BQgzOzPIwuGpCeJFfkUg6OnDRSm6xBUCxtItD8j9rYwoSshGX4SwvE77iG7YCaL29ItzxDxaoKBq3p0AdyGr5lOjjZ/w480-h640/20200912_132732.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taranaki and Humphries Castle<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> A number of breaks in the forest allow views over the adjacent landscapes. A short distance after the turn-off for the Veronica loop walk, a small clearing and view point with a considerate seat is reached. This point also marks the end of what I found so be the steepest part of the Holly Hut track. A notable feature from this part of the track is Humphrie's Castle, a large volcanic dyke the juts out from mountainside above the track. Initially it appears as a jagged column, but later looks like more of a fin from further around the mountain.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t4WdLGZnEnX9aKzj7w-KwuUY09urbK6P8vbJ38k-1du8Rfdx5rdZYmndPcwMHuH2x3goTzwsQTtwuIf59si1WZs2TK5REdicURrmdkFab0i5uRRT32kSASFRDefZFQS1QLTU3TU9JKAR/s2048/IMG_4088.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t4WdLGZnEnX9aKzj7w-KwuUY09urbK6P8vbJ38k-1du8Rfdx5rdZYmndPcwMHuH2x3goTzwsQTtwuIf59si1WZs2TK5REdicURrmdkFab0i5uRRT32kSASFRDefZFQS1QLTU3TU9JKAR/w640-h426/IMG_4088.JPG" width="640" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0wLS-t7L3D5XQDAM88jgBBy2SyDGY1CIKYz73g1TUxwqw5y94llTaRbY0-LyvTnqk6QxBjrLelKNENgSGWCDFWZ29kp0g3IZPN1ZZNqMbAZZ_hJGGdNMAJzr0O8h1ap6Bmhv6RSlko4y/s2048/IMG_4094.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0wLS-t7L3D5XQDAM88jgBBy2SyDGY1CIKYz73g1TUxwqw5y94llTaRbY0-LyvTnqk6QxBjrLelKNENgSGWCDFWZ29kp0g3IZPN1ZZNqMbAZZ_hJGGdNMAJzr0O8h1ap6Bmhv6RSlko4y/w640-h426/IMG_4094.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humphries Castle, near the top of Razorback<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoXja0Ru1JL3CWf06nLn09F1NMxDBf-zUouhjiYGFUWEkZrasjN_hfy4SvL6q0yxUctnwEwUylEHLikhbfya0xTrH3yYxVI6R7ylScDHany_ZgaGJpBPgExd9HKQWyJli2xg5BDuFyMUI/s2048/IMG_4098.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoXja0Ru1JL3CWf06nLn09F1NMxDBf-zUouhjiYGFUWEkZrasjN_hfy4SvL6q0yxUctnwEwUylEHLikhbfya0xTrH3yYxVI6R7ylScDHany_ZgaGJpBPgExd9HKQWyJli2xg5BDuFyMUI/w640-h426/IMG_4098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div></div></div><p>After a short additional climb, the track then begins to sidle around the flanks of Taranaki Maunga. It's at about this point that the near-perfect cone of Taranaki is revealed for the lie it is, as the track crosses or passes a series of deep, scarring slips and ravines and towering cliffs and bluffs. <br />The track continues to gain altitude, eventually reaching almost 1400m shortly before a turnoff to a track across to Tahurangi lodge.<br />The track now passes under a series of dramatic and imposing rocky bluffs known as the Dieffenbach Cliffs (named for Ernst Dieffenbach, and early european explorer of Taranaki). A particularly large one of the bluffs is named Ambury Bluff, after Arthur Ambury. The cliffs are the eroded remnants of ancient lava flows.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCbqkejaaMQf9er5PWe5r2HOadpFQp9Hm3JZHhmZRskkmE4Ou5FogbZyaTyQjKa1hIN0W8u6S-R331zJvVEPu4jHtT1KQ9inHSyhgRvxiL3cbGz9nJDyYBXcQMAAk3GeZz_dciBvvSwpe/s2048/IMG_4101.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCbqkejaaMQf9er5PWe5r2HOadpFQp9Hm3JZHhmZRskkmE4Ou5FogbZyaTyQjKa1hIN0W8u6S-R331zJvVEPu4jHtT1KQ9inHSyhgRvxiL3cbGz9nJDyYBXcQMAAk3GeZz_dciBvvSwpe/w640-h426/IMG_4101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmwfJELRVUOELXP6hU7sSJ00jaVakou933pToKjZpsFWC5xtQKPHKkBL3_0RujmhgpJnkxzFys-AxSHiDtlnNcMb-i2zmLijse0Q3-nKFhyphenhyphenPFX5qL9geMtT-Q795r58bXttrXvCTwUZUD/s2048/IMG_4107.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmwfJELRVUOELXP6hU7sSJ00jaVakou933pToKjZpsFWC5xtQKPHKkBL3_0RujmhgpJnkxzFys-AxSHiDtlnNcMb-i2zmLijse0Q3-nKFhyphenhyphenPFX5qL9geMtT-Q795r58bXttrXvCTwUZUD/w640-h426/IMG_4107.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnvgiD24SEnRdDVf25ijq35paHIvoXwLPbvi91CVJkl79qEC-GD7Qk_tCxJJOTgjLb253eFdXpGKK_0TJ_FedVeksVqDY9DTToxAUilVHT8YDKZ8hv9xlyGRBSKEsclp_B_6q2Ste6glO/s2048/IMG_4113.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnvgiD24SEnRdDVf25ijq35paHIvoXwLPbvi91CVJkl79qEC-GD7Qk_tCxJJOTgjLb253eFdXpGKK_0TJ_FedVeksVqDY9DTToxAUilVHT8YDKZ8hv9xlyGRBSKEsclp_B_6q2Ste6glO/w640-h426/IMG_4113.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjva4XegigzopKZn7symKHAYkpyvalsiGBT_Y1UJxYOy4gwSfXgO6nfq8au6R2kH9NsbsuwHneCbNkbQlCHP2gxPWsLYp5QUTtbjyQjBAtcKJiYmc02h67yVc5DCfEWqUSyJUqSLsNjfFMg/s2048/IMG_4117.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjva4XegigzopKZn7symKHAYkpyvalsiGBT_Y1UJxYOy4gwSfXgO6nfq8au6R2kH9NsbsuwHneCbNkbQlCHP2gxPWsLYp5QUTtbjyQjBAtcKJiYmc02h67yVc5DCfEWqUSyJUqSLsNjfFMg/w426-h640/IMG_4117.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGagvcM18hJjmX9KGmgbE4UVgFKSz35IyrqjOJjaNS9ulcQviGnxcLfhHdjr3YKu4ZScIqfrBY_uD1_e5EnWsRYKwes7Rg5wd7kaBtJEOwLqDuEEghXSuIuFnJtDlmCYz3MXuVoOblTu4R/s2048/IMG_4121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGagvcM18hJjmX9KGmgbE4UVgFKSz35IyrqjOJjaNS9ulcQviGnxcLfhHdjr3YKu4ZScIqfrBY_uD1_e5EnWsRYKwes7Rg5wd7kaBtJEOwLqDuEEghXSuIuFnJtDlmCYz3MXuVoOblTu4R/w640-h426/IMG_4121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7zgdz-jw-osTKW-IXWgMpqmHRsN1e9YupNK8ZUQxytkZUK6TttcOqJCpElCJSUt5zY5pZm30HJiUKt81Lc9XeRMy9F1kVCzIM-CZf8Z5bXgbwgIqCfIXcE9U4c28vdvBz5XYrIiT67GN/s2048/IMG_4122.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7zgdz-jw-osTKW-IXWgMpqmHRsN1e9YupNK8ZUQxytkZUK6TttcOqJCpElCJSUt5zY5pZm30HJiUKt81Lc9XeRMy9F1kVCzIM-CZf8Z5bXgbwgIqCfIXcE9U4c28vdvBz5XYrIiT67GN/w640-h426/IMG_4122.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ovCm1Yr6AJjJTQTYzjt_8bcJMUtb0ORPfRKPEeeirkvxWlwYodfucPaztlaFkCTwjrnTbakde8cboWgNd7EQ4I0sZb_dlyezKQYEkLUFjm9Jdm-AJ0MDj7tdElZ1BRdltjYho8Aly7lW/s2048/IMG_4134.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ovCm1Yr6AJjJTQTYzjt_8bcJMUtb0ORPfRKPEeeirkvxWlwYodfucPaztlaFkCTwjrnTbakde8cboWgNd7EQ4I0sZb_dlyezKQYEkLUFjm9Jdm-AJ0MDj7tdElZ1BRdltjYho8Aly7lW/w640-h426/IMG_4134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWAPJfwXHYm5v_S10RLdr8MLb1Dw63l02bpocy4KLxutOPDVlVPRU-w907LRZWN84IN5pgtm_d3lzMIr225IlzI6SpD1yH4cXgmlUQHqegxvZ0NnY6yURbQYK47IPzmL1BWuOthUt8KdM/s2048/IMG_4151.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWAPJfwXHYm5v_S10RLdr8MLb1Dw63l02bpocy4KLxutOPDVlVPRU-w907LRZWN84IN5pgtm_d3lzMIr225IlzI6SpD1yH4cXgmlUQHqegxvZ0NnY6yURbQYK47IPzmL1BWuOthUt8KdM/w640-h426/IMG_4151.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> The track is generally well graded and stable underfoot, but is occasionally narrow and rocky, requiring the odd brief scramble, particularly when the track dips between ridges crossing rocky stream beds (not that any of them had water in them, and might not actually be streams).<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIo_yBjzrgVYbLtQc2snkBfQvPm3ta60lwsFldfQPaYfaaj2euvW6nrUBbAlSHjbFt9DQF55wRxJrAG5Qrq5iESePV4N0rFpAFruq1S_Ry3uLANVspsNIf6580ZRQeo36kF6_H_BcjaHq/s2048/IMG_4165.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIo_yBjzrgVYbLtQc2snkBfQvPm3ta60lwsFldfQPaYfaaj2euvW6nrUBbAlSHjbFt9DQF55wRxJrAG5Qrq5iESePV4N0rFpAFruq1S_Ry3uLANVspsNIf6580ZRQeo36kF6_H_BcjaHq/w640-h426/IMG_4165.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ambury Bluff<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGIbYU_kIyAM4JqmxouTXUYTCtq22xi9AYzwI-A0GmYxaGgzzZL77j5nB4JSS1pHLByUgk0HSlwHKsMVAA-VHwA63d5Fm_hl3UPvb6kp_fzGBHJjteXrIpI0Fe0nzbsDPz68tRdpzlhH1/s2048/IMG_4167.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGIbYU_kIyAM4JqmxouTXUYTCtq22xi9AYzwI-A0GmYxaGgzzZL77j5nB4JSS1pHLByUgk0HSlwHKsMVAA-VHwA63d5Fm_hl3UPvb6kp_fzGBHJjteXrIpI0Fe0nzbsDPz68tRdpzlhH1/w640-h426/IMG_4167.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUH1uQpikc93WUqbTkmGF56cb-8JhnVdSQjBrABmcD3B35PVIDlFV1VLCL1hvsfcwIFhyphenhyphenhyLsO41P_aT-XdGSWsPlaFVfv7Qa7tVCZyVaWmwzflrPNvWa6n_-vnMu-YP1WHLPA1b0ULi4/s2048/IMG_4181.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUH1uQpikc93WUqbTkmGF56cb-8JhnVdSQjBrABmcD3B35PVIDlFV1VLCL1hvsfcwIFhyphenhyphenhyLsO41P_aT-XdGSWsPlaFVfv7Qa7tVCZyVaWmwzflrPNvWa6n_-vnMu-YP1WHLPA1b0ULi4/w426-h640/IMG_4181.JPG" width="426" /> </a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcswaClhBix9vH8Ej3brDn3qQBJTAMGuRWhkCbGOWTm3TieEuDH-WmtXDv5lanLJnJw7flwhGiOhkq5E1ybExchZtkgq1Mmkb62Bo0WrUUZRBT8ZOIs29Fb7y78O3Bu-2dJc2Xm9OcLUR/s2048/IMG_4182.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcswaClhBix9vH8Ej3brDn3qQBJTAMGuRWhkCbGOWTm3TieEuDH-WmtXDv5lanLJnJw7flwhGiOhkq5E1ybExchZtkgq1Mmkb62Bo0WrUUZRBT8ZOIs29Fb7y78O3Bu-2dJc2Xm9OcLUR/w640-h426/IMG_4182.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dieffenbach Cliffs<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fq9kkMsq7St6Lh7GXb6ZEww3zr-5ssRvepkjE-sShBbz3Yeh-i9Uof3g5ktCMU0nPBOPGVz9T87-3XyggBccPvKZxwhJyshNTqgMK0r1lWX8KDfi31ndBGVZjyWsBKkqg9yG7JH0yIK3/s2048/IMG_4185.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fq9kkMsq7St6Lh7GXb6ZEww3zr-5ssRvepkjE-sShBbz3Yeh-i9Uof3g5ktCMU0nPBOPGVz9T87-3XyggBccPvKZxwhJyshNTqgMK0r1lWX8KDfi31ndBGVZjyWsBKkqg9yG7JH0yIK3/w640-h426/IMG_4185.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0ZsLfLeULkqrDew8bZ5RXOma-BPvEUXNeQtB8tjAZadYWnJhXaKiR4dorZFSSqEwSUlwSmNLWK5woYJVQwOSSFrh8lbl13rihB2DGXW7zYjF_qWY4EWdHFObL8lnSJ4M3e9HtCgsAbTe/s2048/IMG_4186.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0ZsLfLeULkqrDew8bZ5RXOma-BPvEUXNeQtB8tjAZadYWnJhXaKiR4dorZFSSqEwSUlwSmNLWK5woYJVQwOSSFrh8lbl13rihB2DGXW7zYjF_qWY4EWdHFObL8lnSJ4M3e9HtCgsAbTe/w640-h426/IMG_4186.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifj3Q5JW9kMwf_1Z9XQXFp331NrVi1MGjKGHcSFbZfvZoL_lxpS2MHKOa-hKlef6NZpzM7svo58omnl6EA3ZnTrUmWNoe-l9_HvVXFJKP8U9t60yq2Zpd6tq8YepPk6516ic5fHeRslE9p/s2048/20200912_144507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifj3Q5JW9kMwf_1Z9XQXFp331NrVi1MGjKGHcSFbZfvZoL_lxpS2MHKOa-hKlef6NZpzM7svo58omnl6EA3ZnTrUmWNoe-l9_HvVXFJKP8U9t60yq2Zpd6tq8YepPk6516ic5fHeRslE9p/w640-h480/20200912_144507.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><p>Taranaki is a heavily eroded mountain, a fact that is thrown into sharp relief by the Boomerang slip, a permanent landslide that creates a large rocky scar in the landscape above the ochre-stained burnt orange streak of the Kokowai stream (kokowai being the Maori word for ochre). The slip is constantly moving, and a large movement a couple of years back closed the Holly Hut track for over a year, before the slip stabilised sufficiently for a timid track to edge its way across the loose volcanic soil and gravel.<br />Just past the junction with the Kokowai track another, less dramatic, slip is crossed. The land plateaus out slightly from here, and the flat tussocky expanse of the Ahukawakawa swamp comes into view. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTCaRB2uDgehyK2yxjauLyZHpTWq1eFS9NzM4iS43r82rBfV-xV3dkVOFrURTcx_3b1AlggM4x_ecLiKuwbut0q__Yqshnp2SOjYwp04wOreEfz5LTrn921rR8xflZOj594JBUtyV5e25/s2048/20200912_154805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTCaRB2uDgehyK2yxjauLyZHpTWq1eFS9NzM4iS43r82rBfV-xV3dkVOFrURTcx_3b1AlggM4x_ecLiKuwbut0q__Yqshnp2SOjYwp04wOreEfz5LTrn921rR8xflZOj594JBUtyV5e25/w640-h480/20200912_154805.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3snsny8k_MF8tFfx6W2wSQg2-Y5iCDlfFGDkjEh-nmIGuIflINzN5YZ3xL_A7CZP1uf55cqfZLUGjpmLP047mHhSWyarrF7VQIaEaJbClwyjVfOBsNr_V8Kb9xRASEHW-TlAgPUQwsu7_/s2048/IMG_4197.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3snsny8k_MF8tFfx6W2wSQg2-Y5iCDlfFGDkjEh-nmIGuIflINzN5YZ3xL_A7CZP1uf55cqfZLUGjpmLP047mHhSWyarrF7VQIaEaJbClwyjVfOBsNr_V8Kb9xRASEHW-TlAgPUQwsu7_/w400-h266/IMG_4197.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVxgUMgyxJ504_VvzptyYwniQnUibptjd2Nlck_37oZN3xwt8Hg8EE8tFuKuBPNtCELzoJr2D8K9iDvxCTuVn0IWxPnjkSVKgjvPIrYs7gIe4yTmabGO-gG-PLP4UVx3XCtCfZQS9eyJd/s2048/IMG_4201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVxgUMgyxJ504_VvzptyYwniQnUibptjd2Nlck_37oZN3xwt8Hg8EE8tFuKuBPNtCELzoJr2D8K9iDvxCTuVn0IWxPnjkSVKgjvPIrYs7gIe4yTmabGO-gG-PLP4UVx3XCtCfZQS9eyJd/w266-h400/IMG_4201.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTr0gmrLr8JjViur76gpwgfHhVRcBOvxrwvodwlrJ_mLhKFNXYIPlHG5tVeJ7bSDiIBohDj91-EI0uLJO3bZXeBPfczJJJQCCJSSKa955qFam4gsoDk1uy3wbI19Kifqio-OBJ-8Mb3tmG/s2048/IMG_4213.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTr0gmrLr8JjViur76gpwgfHhVRcBOvxrwvodwlrJ_mLhKFNXYIPlHG5tVeJ7bSDiIBohDj91-EI0uLJO3bZXeBPfczJJJQCCJSSKa955qFam4gsoDk1uy3wbI19Kifqio-OBJ-8Mb3tmG/w640-h426/IMG_4213.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNmcDyWF5F90j1v5LSEVAtsZci7blLRHi4I7VbK4iHgyAZ-MMQJx4XLkk0leg91FJrzXnqetVb_HNSWG4NVBwfaVnIy0RrHXC5m0EJFF_LLSAtwn77jSf6Gopxkwaf888LOVWaqRqhvf8/s2048/IMG_4216.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNmcDyWF5F90j1v5LSEVAtsZci7blLRHi4I7VbK4iHgyAZ-MMQJx4XLkk0leg91FJrzXnqetVb_HNSWG4NVBwfaVnIy0RrHXC5m0EJFF_LLSAtwn77jSf6Gopxkwaf888LOVWaqRqhvf8/w640-h426/IMG_4216.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJBu05zrktKblLpKfkm6Sushu84EpWIRDWBNDuUO3oHOhxfhE9tOd5TWODhCPCuNQmR8iVEkczD93HLaFLMZ0g8smxbDH_QkQPivSqgTUJrD9kw9lMgcnQBWMtR09y2FCtdbFLTMHBhkZ/s2048/IMG_4229.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJBu05zrktKblLpKfkm6Sushu84EpWIRDWBNDuUO3oHOhxfhE9tOd5TWODhCPCuNQmR8iVEkczD93HLaFLMZ0g8smxbDH_QkQPivSqgTUJrD9kw9lMgcnQBWMtR09y2FCtdbFLTMHBhkZ/w640-h426/IMG_4229.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnvD3dyMPd3hRxIZlpy3FqiuJICzp0ldwbs6HCQA4jyGxwp2K9YZi1wXzlI5ltn6rYbh7KVqMICHa710iDxP_tNZ-kuUfKjjTlUvVTtJ4kYoTijgCPy3wpVu89sCmgA8Ue3sGExzd8YjJ/s2048/IMG_4233.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnvD3dyMPd3hRxIZlpy3FqiuJICzp0ldwbs6HCQA4jyGxwp2K9YZi1wXzlI5ltn6rYbh7KVqMICHa710iDxP_tNZ-kuUfKjjTlUvVTtJ4kYoTijgCPy3wpVu89sCmgA8Ue3sGExzd8YjJ/w640-h426/IMG_4233.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBA2IDTzPvGChkF35HstS2tgD6hLfdT0RD1iSnMOTBz3nAYd8O9u3WbTsBWEek_j3E1NJIkuFJeP-poyWGQ0Kpcgb4VaYHEcuPC4jlcWrgUGJ_3CNKeNZp1v8waw91g3yoTuUeMPQgy0a/s2048/20200912_165312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBA2IDTzPvGChkF35HstS2tgD6hLfdT0RD1iSnMOTBz3nAYd8O9u3WbTsBWEek_j3E1NJIkuFJeP-poyWGQ0Kpcgb4VaYHEcuPC4jlcWrgUGJ_3CNKeNZp1v8waw91g3yoTuUeMPQgy0a/w640-h480/20200912_165312.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXrJVNyrTyZ-DgRk4xWJRgxr9qAPEMdKtWRhS63h5aIZymaDVZb5B-X62MxqDJSO0jgWxUrDGpl4YaD5cdo7rrtDQuZnLtMJJeHgUe-hhzOnXDBiZWxyue9NkzSepbC3N6kvngIRv1Ue3/s2048/IMG_4248.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXrJVNyrTyZ-DgRk4xWJRgxr9qAPEMdKtWRhS63h5aIZymaDVZb5B-X62MxqDJSO0jgWxUrDGpl4YaD5cdo7rrtDQuZnLtMJJeHgUe-hhzOnXDBiZWxyue9NkzSepbC3N6kvngIRv1Ue3/w640-h426/IMG_4248.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp04Z42nd5ozWRFQzIGBzZohfvGfT3Vxdg5yAKo97Eg64bIxdnMWj-QcNG9cJothMOkgMGlKWWuUHFy7cNbEPpb3bK4wikygCSYH8UrIqtSoK9l5rIB3As6Y7e9ZW5Btb8b2P8E691Fs1K/s3312/IMG_4253+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="3312" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp04Z42nd5ozWRFQzIGBzZohfvGfT3Vxdg5yAKo97Eg64bIxdnMWj-QcNG9cJothMOkgMGlKWWuUHFy7cNbEPpb3bK4wikygCSYH8UrIqtSoK9l5rIB3As6Y7e9ZW5Btb8b2P8E691Fs1K/w687-h196/IMG_4253+%25282%2529.JPG" width="687" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahukawakawa Swamp and the Pouakai Range<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjropKeY-PZNvWcatyuLDAjSR8HBTJ76PsvAf4j0KepSKk_GQ7e_3-6gesS0k6SD9PNVSfFB5eD1R3Pi8gVtPqmCoKaEa5I1OletTMj0UrEHMSxblTtoLTz3CfjBKT9V0ijOukYv60Dsa/s2048/20200912_181650.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjropKeY-PZNvWcatyuLDAjSR8HBTJ76PsvAf4j0KepSKk_GQ7e_3-6gesS0k6SD9PNVSfFB5eD1R3Pi8gVtPqmCoKaEa5I1OletTMj0UrEHMSxblTtoLTz3CfjBKT9V0ijOukYv60Dsa/w640-h480/20200912_181650.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping at Holly Hut<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSl3HWUivRaJHziXr6_jjh6tqNy13VvV4zbR5mjhhuIxijqkWCFN490GIPuaw11oaeXq-TZdk5IgioVuE_TnKpF9my1NhqV094GXmysZtc0cSWBQRbmIvZ3H5WUncbILzfv2ZDxTdhTNM/s2048/20200912_183511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSl3HWUivRaJHziXr6_jjh6tqNy13VvV4zbR5mjhhuIxijqkWCFN490GIPuaw11oaeXq-TZdk5IgioVuE_TnKpF9my1NhqV094GXmysZtc0cSWBQRbmIvZ3H5WUncbILzfv2ZDxTdhTNM/w640-h480/20200912_183511.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>From there, the track begins its descent to Holly Hut in earnest, winding gently down to the junction of the Ahukawakawa track and crossing a couple of almost non-existent streams before arriving at the hut. It was about 5:30pm by the time we arrived, and the hut was already over-capacity (not to mention the half-dozen or so people camping outside). Seating and cooking space was a sought after commodity and our late arrival meant we were relegated to sleeping on the unforgiving floor, alongside a few members of the Wanganui Tramping Club.</p><p>The next morning, a dense drizzly mist surrounded the hut, dashing any hopes for more clear views of the mountain. After shaking off the nights booze blanket (booze mattress?) and a slow breakfast, we headed into the clag on a side-trip to nearby Bell's Falls. <br />The track initially follows the around-the-mountain track around a
striking volcanic feature aptly called "The Dome", before splitting off
and heaping up the Stony River toward the falls. The marked track
deposits you onto the stream bed some distance from the falls. In good
weather, it would be a reasonable proposition to rock-hop further
upstream. Lucky for us, shortly before the river bed, an unmarked but
fairly clear trail heads upstream above the river allowing a dry
approach to a closer view point. The trail is generally easy enough to
follow, but gets a bit scrambly and indistinct in places.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YueuYMy2UXDdiyep83Q3UQu0dK6dtA25QS3erzZwOx1ydN7qfUqCX-8IRUdcSNdeHaYt4cv0g59J2-dbrGVHv2BM94TUOXqHIZD2S9nHayQUpyLibaez4FrXoiPSLg2BdIt7kRS9pYFa/s2048/20200913_093129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YueuYMy2UXDdiyep83Q3UQu0dK6dtA25QS3erzZwOx1ydN7qfUqCX-8IRUdcSNdeHaYt4cv0g59J2-dbrGVHv2BM94TUOXqHIZD2S9nHayQUpyLibaez4FrXoiPSLg2BdIt7kRS9pYFa/w480-h640/20200913_093129.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRxTgekhu9IaSuCP4_bfZZoSORNQf128GHD6_kH_8EDQAtoUn55SZD9x2W862eeo-MOrZGaSoJaTSjNR-EjkQBVA7r6ZR683RtZtQSYw7onV-B_WqEWp8eY8mqknkC6zGIhYfLmjlyxEx/s2048/20200913_093459.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRxTgekhu9IaSuCP4_bfZZoSORNQf128GHD6_kH_8EDQAtoUn55SZD9x2W862eeo-MOrZGaSoJaTSjNR-EjkQBVA7r6ZR683RtZtQSYw7onV-B_WqEWp8eY8mqknkC6zGIhYfLmjlyxEx/w640-h480/20200913_093459.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2zmoMIHP9PGtuzVE6Tz3bDUpmlVwo0bYZtPLM7TyGk-NTn6Sh79nyLGFmx3XBPdAG75dmcAzeC5NCp7TdXjER_I7_MYte1_8LgstT_gE5nuegqhbHMEt9oWi1keEUMIQijNO3H6DQ0_B/s2048/IMG_4265.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2zmoMIHP9PGtuzVE6Tz3bDUpmlVwo0bYZtPLM7TyGk-NTn6Sh79nyLGFmx3XBPdAG75dmcAzeC5NCp7TdXjER_I7_MYte1_8LgstT_gE5nuegqhbHMEt9oWi1keEUMIQijNO3H6DQ0_B/w426-h640/IMG_4265.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7QlCcBDIMKZKyKWWs-tqhOjQI_IXZ-qBPjK01Mql4esU22wlBbTOdq-MKhsJjKXNxShpHw81HmazRDcVUkXOvuGrD4zCgTPROIkUBPz2BR-GpcEOkIb5tD-bV7_ztyJ3niPLFQO2e4js/s2048/IMG_4266.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7QlCcBDIMKZKyKWWs-tqhOjQI_IXZ-qBPjK01Mql4esU22wlBbTOdq-MKhsJjKXNxShpHw81HmazRDcVUkXOvuGrD4zCgTPROIkUBPz2BR-GpcEOkIb5tD-bV7_ztyJ3niPLFQO2e4js/w640-h426/IMG_4266.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r-_RB6XRQ8TlrM2rsxYjiW9FxI6pqLz3BaXxWMujWC3MRKOcNx1pYDzFoRBOvw6wgozrNqBbr9cVE4O7rrPbOtV_Pccdteg_-OCGsr4ZTtoiQYPjxpg6hs_P7p2R0h5d6MriwzJ7I5dr/s2048/IMG_4279.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r-_RB6XRQ8TlrM2rsxYjiW9FxI6pqLz3BaXxWMujWC3MRKOcNx1pYDzFoRBOvw6wgozrNqBbr9cVE4O7rrPbOtV_Pccdteg_-OCGsr4ZTtoiQYPjxpg6hs_P7p2R0h5d6MriwzJ7I5dr/w640-h426/IMG_4279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>The falls plummet energetically over the steep cliff face, through a small divot in the volcanic rock forms between the Dome and the Pouakai Range. The falls were created as a result of both the formation of the dome, and a lahar from Taranaki the effectively damned the area between Taranaki and Pouakai, also leading to the creation of the Ahukawakawa wetland. The waterway draining the area forced its way over the damn, creating the dramatic falls above Stony River.</p><p>Stony River is also home to a populatio of Whio/Blue Duck, a couple of whom were squeaking about in the rapids when we arrived.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxsILa-816Z3R0jtMASuQvnRBu9AfCzWboYFRHRGIeECJuHTC-APGxaZgYkTabjUXcKCGM4HTmkhtJfLC7ILZhJPsh6wxrtqPD5aFovu1ww9J3VYi-g69YeAOIc85ubnC7q-iKXwYAFdV/s2048/20200913_095654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxsILa-816Z3R0jtMASuQvnRBu9AfCzWboYFRHRGIeECJuHTC-APGxaZgYkTabjUXcKCGM4HTmkhtJfLC7ILZhJPsh6wxrtqPD5aFovu1ww9J3VYi-g69YeAOIc85ubnC7q-iKXwYAFdV/w640-h480/20200913_095654.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnmx20VBUaFyK99Rm3VpS4iIFWv0qf_xhDT0kCSBIxgzkI1vjLhouB7k2_ssvaWcT_C00DxcZau9dVf0M3Oy9-DeGqhBKi-d7C6Np25US728_7Eiz9_YbXw5Y3GZdekT8B38txGf7HVZF/s2048/20200913_095700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnmx20VBUaFyK99Rm3VpS4iIFWv0qf_xhDT0kCSBIxgzkI1vjLhouB7k2_ssvaWcT_C00DxcZau9dVf0M3Oy9-DeGqhBKi-d7C6Np25US728_7Eiz9_YbXw5Y3GZdekT8B38txGf7HVZF/w640-h480/20200913_095700.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> After retracing our steps back to Holly Hut, we had an early lunch, shouldered our packs and traipsed off toward the swamp. The track is damp underfoot, but is predominantly constructed from a sort of rudimentary boardwalk referred to as rafts.<br />Initially snaking through low scrub, the flora transitions to tussocks and mosses as the Ahukawakawa swamp is crossed. Whilst the weather was generally unpleasant, but the heavy mist did create a great atmosphere in the wetlands.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-as9Xlo_XxAWfcUUaaOjghwVILljPIvwg7ZxO3L9w_JmG_CHzFSEXN9TyeNjN0T9iC3eUKtyM_1_YuET56ObwfRKyar0MAxiFZCEpcNDvnLupFyizG8a-OfHwwytwFEGddidJGB1JooT/s2048/IMG_4280.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-as9Xlo_XxAWfcUUaaOjghwVILljPIvwg7ZxO3L9w_JmG_CHzFSEXN9TyeNjN0T9iC3eUKtyM_1_YuET56ObwfRKyar0MAxiFZCEpcNDvnLupFyizG8a-OfHwwytwFEGddidJGB1JooT/w640-h426/IMG_4280.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtKWHZs3Cpi3xVx5yCn1IubLKUeuXfVvAsp94hnBDadJK5fZ4gjPaomDCd7LARbRSs5WTZ3AUA7iuTwct6MVi3KsOpY-FwVivIO0htFxbmDKEl-swXegA8vc0nXmti_n4cVsYoSBzn5EZ/s2048/IMG_4285.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtKWHZs3Cpi3xVx5yCn1IubLKUeuXfVvAsp94hnBDadJK5fZ4gjPaomDCd7LARbRSs5WTZ3AUA7iuTwct6MVi3KsOpY-FwVivIO0htFxbmDKEl-swXegA8vc0nXmti_n4cVsYoSBzn5EZ/w640-h426/IMG_4285.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzfUjcGzkB6XtB5MNAcEQ7fj78xkYo4B4_mqgSjXSrsWLDR4Xxd6Oavghiz63o3NIK6RS1LKBXy4LcxtOq6r0vQ6-8TvM4f1HBVGKfJSWiT8sfr6KkzgI0zVoeVIlgv-9JWgxzCKjeI3d/s2048/20200913_121553.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzfUjcGzkB6XtB5MNAcEQ7fj78xkYo4B4_mqgSjXSrsWLDR4Xxd6Oavghiz63o3NIK6RS1LKBXy4LcxtOq6r0vQ6-8TvM4f1HBVGKfJSWiT8sfr6KkzgI0zVoeVIlgv-9JWgxzCKjeI3d/w640-h480/20200913_121553.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dDW2-KxikZQduWkch1VuI6rFhL056DLsMEYzgQoO0rH7PTErQcf8MwHwiwyOOeVOCewvdFTNOejyQZGscEuh7X6ymjIwXThGdD5pza00znVfkyzBva2IjYc4pisL3PScIbVPQNoypCfp/s2048/IMG_4288.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dDW2-KxikZQduWkch1VuI6rFhL056DLsMEYzgQoO0rH7PTErQcf8MwHwiwyOOeVOCewvdFTNOejyQZGscEuh7X6ymjIwXThGdD5pza00znVfkyzBva2IjYc4pisL3PScIbVPQNoypCfp/w640-h426/IMG_4288.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NH4XbAm8l5b0pMMVuaIb16M2Zd5Qg63CRd9wNQdkxwKrn8LuT-l786b-1OflrF6tjkD3FKYkDWkRfcd4Q-Dt6gs6BQlLAS6JN8_o6K8A5gsMeKGgYxGSJaGcKw6CqN-Lo8qj9RCkNAjr/s2048/IMG_4294.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NH4XbAm8l5b0pMMVuaIb16M2Zd5Qg63CRd9wNQdkxwKrn8LuT-l786b-1OflrF6tjkD3FKYkDWkRfcd4Q-Dt6gs6BQlLAS6JN8_o6K8A5gsMeKGgYxGSJaGcKw6CqN-Lo8qj9RCkNAjr/w640-h426/IMG_4294.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Shortly before the edge of the swamp, an arched bridged crosses a stream that will go on to plummet over Bells Falls. Shortly afterwards, the track begins a muddy ascent up a spur to the Pouakai range.<br />The walk up is a slog, and although the track is fairly well graded and rafted in places, it is frequently a mess of deep mud.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQU1p55UYkjnStZws59kS7NNuhFGRCm0i35CQ0PxSucEUsu2TY3ydUNQwIQkD6FGxh1PVRNVBC1bDOqgcs7Io4VuoxHdFPI9stWvZnOOn3akpATxBDwe8fiRVfWuo1eUKkcLMxk4-W1DUk/s2048/IMG_4299.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQU1p55UYkjnStZws59kS7NNuhFGRCm0i35CQ0PxSucEUsu2TY3ydUNQwIQkD6FGxh1PVRNVBC1bDOqgcs7Io4VuoxHdFPI9stWvZnOOn3akpATxBDwe8fiRVfWuo1eUKkcLMxk4-W1DUk/w640-h426/IMG_4299.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzZ8YO8Sgsi8YhFpLxz9pZtV08OBdJlbG3Uy4egxSk8kFYmELXA2QvTz2ucUFaVQ7A1JyRpi3Jow7Tlqy56l_QfjDFcFlVnxbeeY9jbrFfFSnm6I653iPIpTN-5UqJvJm5ibs8Md_-rG1/s2048/20200913_123302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzZ8YO8Sgsi8YhFpLxz9pZtV08OBdJlbG3Uy4egxSk8kFYmELXA2QvTz2ucUFaVQ7A1JyRpi3Jow7Tlqy56l_QfjDFcFlVnxbeeY9jbrFfFSnm6I653iPIpTN-5UqJvJm5ibs8Md_-rG1/w480-h640/20200913_123302.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUKJNq6qFv-wubyx7AZ5pcTK-oAa1D-auCZzAdC1QcJ1hR5GuNiRrOVZEVXcd5xlWIru7vumNsJoSJ2sJWhFJITIv2uU70-HwTnRptFglvEqR3MgANQnD6_v3rzrNP64wW0zjaY_g2kp5/s2048/IMG_4306.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUKJNq6qFv-wubyx7AZ5pcTK-oAa1D-auCZzAdC1QcJ1hR5GuNiRrOVZEVXcd5xlWIru7vumNsJoSJ2sJWhFJITIv2uU70-HwTnRptFglvEqR3MgANQnD6_v3rzrNP64wW0zjaY_g2kp5/w640-h426/IMG_4306.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbgPoNQeCqAfPl8sbyilgN0Isuh2z_mWl-HTgZXlE3j7LdRCKtIlFwiENBFKwwlEO_ei1gogZxqLmXLzLFbtCNRRza8UsZ24Z3Yk1pffpSjktM2gi3dBJ2HAKyP4FFtv1OnotWTKLVUji/s2048/IMG_4312.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbgPoNQeCqAfPl8sbyilgN0Isuh2z_mWl-HTgZXlE3j7LdRCKtIlFwiENBFKwwlEO_ei1gogZxqLmXLzLFbtCNRRza8UsZ24Z3Yk1pffpSjktM2gi3dBJ2HAKyP4FFtv1OnotWTKLVUji/w640-h426/IMG_4312.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The tops, such as they are, were not what I was expecting - consisting largely of stunted sub-alpine scrub, rather than the gravelly tussock tops I'm used to. Now I'm no botanist, but the forest is also notably different to similar altitudes in the Tararuas, in part because Egmont National Park is devoid of the multiple species of beech that are so ubiquitous in many of the other mountain ranges of the North Island. <br />When the top of the range is reached, a track branches off to the west. This track can be followed for a side trip to the Pouakai trig, which might have been worth the effort if the weather was clear enough to get any views. Given that views were non-existent, we elected to continue east toward Pouakai hut. Closer to the hut, the track passes through open patches, devoid of scrub, instead populated by tussocks and strikingly coloured mossed (again, quite different to the tops I'm used to). It may not seem like much, but the landscape seemed like something out of a fantasy film.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxj-HvPNBfRkVZmeNoO7J80uNd7acQkQminJzvvfHFqGrY4eO3ncJF4aWyVa6GtcoiRJWo4ULfooTIy_wWrtk2NOVlEVaESzIlnMjW1blxiUwCPt_EuqzgDsfgW3KIqVO26t5-ccQ7VzS/s2048/IMG_4317.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxj-HvPNBfRkVZmeNoO7J80uNd7acQkQminJzvvfHFqGrY4eO3ncJF4aWyVa6GtcoiRJWo4ULfooTIy_wWrtk2NOVlEVaESzIlnMjW1blxiUwCPt_EuqzgDsfgW3KIqVO26t5-ccQ7VzS/w640-h426/IMG_4317.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNRu55NZgkPXIFcQTD1x7Pe-foskZTzW1rJN_karTpqVEFkslngkqPD9oV56TQTnhflgeBxmvkyiM6OixUQn1wSYdrTnl3gJSUrNZEg06i1YMIgBN388QZ4jhwJp-B_5c3FOQntcQ0RTh/s2048/IMG_4321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNRu55NZgkPXIFcQTD1x7Pe-foskZTzW1rJN_karTpqVEFkslngkqPD9oV56TQTnhflgeBxmvkyiM6OixUQn1wSYdrTnl3gJSUrNZEg06i1YMIgBN388QZ4jhwJp-B_5c3FOQntcQ0RTh/w640-h426/IMG_4321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUmB1F6Z7RSseeQ1ATrNenbP8ighHngbYMvmnuotk41GlYe1pNlcsNUFjZLlC_k8Zeo9qWUzQejQoDE9r7H4aqfy8m_cgSDQ8H8GMDaXJpH5AsR9vQTte6caZi5K49E7NghNufL_duMfv/s2048/IMG_4331.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJUmB1F6Z7RSseeQ1ATrNenbP8ighHngbYMvmnuotk41GlYe1pNlcsNUFjZLlC_k8Zeo9qWUzQejQoDE9r7H4aqfy8m_cgSDQ8H8GMDaXJpH5AsR9vQTte6caZi5K49E7NghNufL_duMfv/w640-h426/IMG_4331.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3hueveUfakNLfhwyQc9mElS756SjA-u6lWiQMKIQQotyxE0WW2QLhKhr3zg4d8ySMSyVQf7C99P-0fKKf7-DTnK7_ghgpSgb83osot4V5hfKYMffBo4aoVCdoSfVwDfvrwnWbHHyaipG/s2048/IMG_4334.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3hueveUfakNLfhwyQc9mElS756SjA-u6lWiQMKIQQotyxE0WW2QLhKhr3zg4d8ySMSyVQf7C99P-0fKKf7-DTnK7_ghgpSgb83osot4V5hfKYMffBo4aoVCdoSfVwDfvrwnWbHHyaipG/w640-h426/IMG_4334.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>The range is also home to some large boulders, many of which congregate in a field of slightly muddy scoria gravel at the junction with the Mangorei track. The hut is a short distance down the Mangorei track. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwNW199_-ocXK7C2oUKWSgNB-SjS8lTaBYkN1m__53eA6UYRQ6utdEAQ5toOHX6oiADQ1IeQf_lsGYUeo-34up8GXmGTUqHyWRmJwxg8f9HyuHcNxMlAYQ9iEBz1aFD5JSgnkga0M3PaV/s2048/IMG_4336.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwNW199_-ocXK7C2oUKWSgNB-SjS8lTaBYkN1m__53eA6UYRQ6utdEAQ5toOHX6oiADQ1IeQf_lsGYUeo-34up8GXmGTUqHyWRmJwxg8f9HyuHcNxMlAYQ9iEBz1aFD5JSgnkga0M3PaV/w640-h426/IMG_4336.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>We arrived at the hut to find the members of the Wanganui Tramping Club in residence. Lucky for us, they already had the fire going and only occupied 7 of the huts 16 bunks. Only two more trampers showed up later in the afternoon, meaning we had plenty of space to unwind for the evening.</p><p>The next day brought no respite from the weather. If anything it was more wet than yesterday. Sure enough, when we reached the instagram-famous Pouakai Tarns, there was no chance of getting the iconic photo of Mt Taranaki reflected in mirror-like waters. Not that is didn't look cool anyway, but still, missed opportunities. The track is almost entirely raft boardwalk, to protect the ecologically fragile environs from hoards of trampers and tourists.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsSgWI2oSv6jGwIA5gZFZMCqDon9xSAH4XOFbf9m1VHidGvFg_gC5n-Pbdzz4hcWID-yhGSpheKin-OdoSTGBGMXNPaDVOaNqJYJfKA23shG1gLhouZ_R9cUeBjggtvEgTCYubfcio6TL/s2048/20200914_083712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsSgWI2oSv6jGwIA5gZFZMCqDon9xSAH4XOFbf9m1VHidGvFg_gC5n-Pbdzz4hcWID-yhGSpheKin-OdoSTGBGMXNPaDVOaNqJYJfKA23shG1gLhouZ_R9cUeBjggtvEgTCYubfcio6TL/w640-h480/20200914_083712.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJdVfulX5Rq4QHugGkYqnO5htoohXc0-6mCNEMKB9CVswch1C2piCvZPMCwDvQoejuUBoPbDlivpEgfIld8Cd609rPBdJLSMpCnlPiBuiRN9cKdt2gjjXELs8HU3RwrMJKGC4ADEvbmQb/s2048/20200914_084258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJdVfulX5Rq4QHugGkYqnO5htoohXc0-6mCNEMKB9CVswch1C2piCvZPMCwDvQoejuUBoPbDlivpEgfIld8Cd609rPBdJLSMpCnlPiBuiRN9cKdt2gjjXELs8HU3RwrMJKGC4ADEvbmQb/w640-h480/20200914_084258.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3n4QUpzLlLwgXKFB_MIZPJMW2ahtJ05bU0zUQYNZ7UpzaMa4BjNSYSpQVWJTrUP59qcn92DE16uhghHAwj14r22uKR4vfOCOKSnrPRSiDhSfaq-QCdRWLfMUDgRMKjl8Ht8RI7taUsJmi/s2048/IMG_4341.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3n4QUpzLlLwgXKFB_MIZPJMW2ahtJ05bU0zUQYNZ7UpzaMa4BjNSYSpQVWJTrUP59qcn92DE16uhghHAwj14r22uKR4vfOCOKSnrPRSiDhSfaq-QCdRWLfMUDgRMKjl8Ht8RI7taUsJmi/w640-h426/IMG_4341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjau1lvZam2p_OtV_55rRu2wsfQcEYFp24q9YwOf_ViSozHR0sFBsGzO4qmkUav3E9J2yZ9Hm_oDc_VD_SGIUalX0_OYbGEHJIdqIMfrvsoSoLCgr6UMRzamjYhToO-Ey5OtdHPYqYR0k/s2048/IMG_4343.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjau1lvZam2p_OtV_55rRu2wsfQcEYFp24q9YwOf_ViSozHR0sFBsGzO4qmkUav3E9J2yZ9Hm_oDc_VD_SGIUalX0_OYbGEHJIdqIMfrvsoSoLCgr6UMRzamjYhToO-Ey5OtdHPYqYR0k/w640-h426/IMG_4343.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3jEjtnU8IppZQJa6TJ23Glg6di2KpTnp79-UAhkFlxo2XQbma-f2yfI6gBVkcxqKMooZl_wyijVAGhJQtC8Lxkra4Lwyqw5lqxM2uHZTOXGGZvX7aOybkFi327YV6WkgsNz2wydx37eu/s2048/IMG_4344.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3jEjtnU8IppZQJa6TJ23Glg6di2KpTnp79-UAhkFlxo2XQbma-f2yfI6gBVkcxqKMooZl_wyijVAGhJQtC8Lxkra4Lwyqw5lqxM2uHZTOXGGZvX7aOybkFi327YV6WkgsNz2wydx37eu/w640-h426/IMG_4344.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyQBKuY9Kks9SE3oVkhxvenCwDcxjVc3nHRqqmvreRU9MDWZfiy7c7flfEVqHVRa2h_wJlf-RCS8wlyzW8EQ04P-ojN0d0Pi8MoZh5SAt1UdVLmdRJpqGInNygagWeWTTope0VTtlenwn/s2048/20200914_085645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyQBKuY9Kks9SE3oVkhxvenCwDcxjVc3nHRqqmvreRU9MDWZfiy7c7flfEVqHVRa2h_wJlf-RCS8wlyzW8EQ04P-ojN0d0Pi8MoZh5SAt1UdVLmdRJpqGInNygagWeWTTope0VTtlenwn/w640-h480/20200914_085645.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOJSXIwo9ZFPnH3kwjw5bxufDjPtb7EFD4JT6iFKonA3gxS1-ce3am0NhZ68b_uBhATPfc9mAjZBHuNb01NERcl58F2Lnmrcd4Re_T4_O__OCmeUYB0P-x9RhNnlSkJ10MKG9CTcFLlIw/s2048/20200914_084403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOJSXIwo9ZFPnH3kwjw5bxufDjPtb7EFD4JT6iFKonA3gxS1-ce3am0NhZ68b_uBhATPfc9mAjZBHuNb01NERcl58F2Lnmrcd4Re_T4_O__OCmeUYB0P-x9RhNnlSkJ10MKG9CTcFLlIw/w640-h480/20200914_084403.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>As the track continues toward the end of the range, it sidles around the peak of Maude on more rafts, before making the steep climb up a series of stairs and ladders (or at least, staircases so steep they may as well be ladders) to the top of Henry. An information sign along the way tells of how the track was a deep, muddy nightmare before substantial track building work made it much more pleasant for hikers as well as protecting the environment from erosion by tramper.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHheXZrTBE3Wx8VSHAjZmwyj8tdmVkeOvJv4uaJ158lyYqRKgubRwZa6fgTeWTVqsUR-A0nKbXnoBrTnge5nk2l4yYfnFaQaZ_CwKtsm_bbsTcI2owScHS0zqKDNp_f-J1YdK-QKkR01a/s2048/20200914_090653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHheXZrTBE3Wx8VSHAjZmwyj8tdmVkeOvJv4uaJ158lyYqRKgubRwZa6fgTeWTVqsUR-A0nKbXnoBrTnge5nk2l4yYfnFaQaZ_CwKtsm_bbsTcI2owScHS0zqKDNp_f-J1YdK-QKkR01a/w480-h640/20200914_090653.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlmNDoQUwtI3vX2A_Mrd5z8mLkhbOrBHyB-RxrupB8seOdzna7EF3pHaFoziW4M3xLoeZAcbZHGLqy3b1i7JGCwYsBIf2_J6pUhA_om_yzo4h_0IkmMTcmCz6pQs_z3x5BX8wDhKStgol/s2048/IMG_4352.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlmNDoQUwtI3vX2A_Mrd5z8mLkhbOrBHyB-RxrupB8seOdzna7EF3pHaFoziW4M3xLoeZAcbZHGLqy3b1i7JGCwYsBIf2_J6pUhA_om_yzo4h_0IkmMTcmCz6pQs_z3x5BX8wDhKStgol/w640-h426/IMG_4352.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> At the top of Henry, a lookout point provides views of, well, nothing, but at least there was a sign telling us what we would have seen were it not for the unrelenting clag. From here, we descend down more rafting and stairs (which were a bit slippery in the soggy conditions), through the bushline toward Kaiauai shelter. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHDSKWNfp9zZpgk5BpQ5hvliQstOZF6aADzEHgCk-lXxTh4iN7uUMRBzGdvI-EeRj65-W3_soX0Ga-v3uNbo9XMB-IM0JvSEUGw_cLurfz5LTOEy5WSuy_ls__EbuFaj6qWOn88a6QCBU/s2048/20200914_092607.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHDSKWNfp9zZpgk5BpQ5hvliQstOZF6aADzEHgCk-lXxTh4iN7uUMRBzGdvI-EeRj65-W3_soX0Ga-v3uNbo9XMB-IM0JvSEUGw_cLurfz5LTOEy5WSuy_ls__EbuFaj6qWOn88a6QCBU/w640-h480/20200914_092607.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoejXwZYi21wUazlZXBI_I5GhjGRH-y4NDmI5Esoa-0WJoVFRqrhrLF2EgBNstqhmSao57H7XsKL1oEOMYLaizfJcNWYw2WzvAuVqBVdWvT5fKxUgxoH81u5LePp3zu2pG5GeQ6AXLT69z/s2048/20200914_093258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoejXwZYi21wUazlZXBI_I5GhjGRH-y4NDmI5Esoa-0WJoVFRqrhrLF2EgBNstqhmSao57H7XsKL1oEOMYLaizfJcNWYw2WzvAuVqBVdWvT5fKxUgxoH81u5LePp3zu2pG5GeQ6AXLT69z/w640-h480/20200914_093258.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdLU24FUeXEdsKiqQxQxLXgm7XyaegNPkrOjgvQqmgbJc3-ULC0kn4zQ8w1i1PHgtKqsmsaxQ8-4nfgAejcZZnA-px8Jczx6Mln-Y6lwuduzHhtbLK3p0-NHd4sT-o6AaKvSmCUvWE-TM/s2048/20200914_094004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdLU24FUeXEdsKiqQxQxLXgm7XyaegNPkrOjgvQqmgbJc3-ULC0kn4zQ8w1i1PHgtKqsmsaxQ8-4nfgAejcZZnA-px8Jczx6Mln-Y6lwuduzHhtbLK3p0-NHd4sT-o6AaKvSmCUvWE-TM/w640-h480/20200914_094004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ikytjGSge5JeUr8ZxR5hCeoifKCrizMeUIo1G1DdBVdW8j8IVxotBSu1OLzKO77S1VNvNj0TTQWP2iSqq04d1OrpCrfa3hQbwVgYu2dSAzGXcSckz_nljdTMOLolmaElW1w9R1kplX8c/s2048/20200914_100005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ikytjGSge5JeUr8ZxR5hCeoifKCrizMeUIo1G1DdBVdW8j8IVxotBSu1OLzKO77S1VNvNj0TTQWP2iSqq04d1OrpCrfa3hQbwVgYu2dSAzGXcSckz_nljdTMOLolmaElW1w9R1kplX8c/w640-h480/20200914_100005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FoKfRE07kNS2lNBGjSVlliKfKcUO7BaKlGkzsRBcvmv8I8Z8kX4I1h8RykABpRfO3wt46qcaF9bBimen9NSat7QsEjYiDSCmKC17zDRmMxQl_AO57hYncuQOYf02qcq2lB9u4nSxYzcD/s2048/20200914_103942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FoKfRE07kNS2lNBGjSVlliKfKcUO7BaKlGkzsRBcvmv8I8Z8kX4I1h8RykABpRfO3wt46qcaF9bBimen9NSat7QsEjYiDSCmKC17zDRmMxQl_AO57hYncuQOYf02qcq2lB9u4nSxYzcD/w640-h480/20200914_103942.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Parts
of the track are muddy and rooty in a way reminiscent of many Tararua
tracks. At one point, a small clearing afforded views over a heavily
forested gorge, and the broad expanse of forest covering the lower
reaches of Egmont National Park. In the distance, the shadows of other
ravines remind you of how deeply erosion has scarred this landscape.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOg7hC2ju6FqIBDiNPnky27vhFtd-_jaF46SuLnjQI34FImaJ_B_bkde13Qe2QE-Y7t0I90K_rLnoEH1t6mPFgcz6FZs8AAmJS1BsdH2pCdZXNmiBfBdokgffl5KE69kI2L-CjttoRl6lG/s2048/IMG_4358.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOg7hC2ju6FqIBDiNPnky27vhFtd-_jaF46SuLnjQI34FImaJ_B_bkde13Qe2QE-Y7t0I90K_rLnoEH1t6mPFgcz6FZs8AAmJS1BsdH2pCdZXNmiBfBdokgffl5KE69kI2L-CjttoRl6lG/w640-h426/IMG_4358.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q-QH8ivRDxsR7Pw26UpQwfVG-wnx758ho-ajtpNpJSDX272t4TTYdeTNR3q9x3VRK08uqTRmVT4xdZG2sJNTQk45kKbDVfNqCs4dmXp-hnKLDLaHYe6HxkwtfaoRazrTQwHB6ajyhxLw/s2048/IMG_4372.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q-QH8ivRDxsR7Pw26UpQwfVG-wnx758ho-ajtpNpJSDX272t4TTYdeTNR3q9x3VRK08uqTRmVT4xdZG2sJNTQk45kKbDVfNqCs4dmXp-hnKLDLaHYe6HxkwtfaoRazrTQwHB6ajyhxLw/w640-h426/IMG_4372.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw_IyWDM8962htAawo5NvsYyaSxCC7CcQcICsAJz_zPMOuuMpvIRIeX8R2Q8W5K4KPdIgYrV82R6w3YgkkHXtaE0MHANnxiKIp3bpv8yfCzOnQXDrXu5rbCN1uvMmOTGSYlFv-yloXc4_/s2048/IMG_4374.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw_IyWDM8962htAawo5NvsYyaSxCC7CcQcICsAJz_zPMOuuMpvIRIeX8R2Q8W5K4KPdIgYrV82R6w3YgkkHXtaE0MHANnxiKIp3bpv8yfCzOnQXDrXu5rbCN1uvMmOTGSYlFv-yloXc4_/w640-h426/IMG_4374.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Kaiauai shelter provided a welcome respite from the weather to stop for a lunch break (although the rain was only coming in patchy showers at this point). After the shelter, we descended a steep staircase/ladder thing, followed by zig-zagging stairs and slopes to a swing bridge crossing the Kai Auahi river. The track then climbs back out of the river valley (gorge? Ravine?), passes by the site of the former Kaiauai Hut, then follows a path of gentle gradient back toward Egmont Road. The only considerable changes in gradient and altitude occur when crossing the streams that have carved there way deeply into the land. Many of the streams are both rocky, mossy and highly photogenic. All substantial streams are bridged, in spite of the lack of bridge icons on the map.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77OgaZp10g2jyvtNlwCOuj_B_BeJLhqlSEIA9_xbaKHaOfpWZCLOSl5z6MJyfv_O0K6rg6yDVq_fXCV3HHmqo3fAKkcFvZOeoqD4dHU6_Gm01HXiin2tm8GcaIhXZNLZaC9fFvOy_XEaC/s2048/IMG_4379.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77OgaZp10g2jyvtNlwCOuj_B_BeJLhqlSEIA9_xbaKHaOfpWZCLOSl5z6MJyfv_O0K6rg6yDVq_fXCV3HHmqo3fAKkcFvZOeoqD4dHU6_Gm01HXiin2tm8GcaIhXZNLZaC9fFvOy_XEaC/w640-h426/IMG_4379.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaiauai swing bridge<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj6xR2V0d31D0AKPz94jhiDwv5u28RKUu9QpofEt8AtCeCoWSt4q6UhqTKopDfx-DbWnKUjAt2IUUyoCNLq-KuYM4tOOVGwdu9OxJeAIRb7e7uwEIs8PBo9rys433kWglouY8n9-8_hCg/s2048/IMG_4382.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj6xR2V0d31D0AKPz94jhiDwv5u28RKUu9QpofEt8AtCeCoWSt4q6UhqTKopDfx-DbWnKUjAt2IUUyoCNLq-KuYM4tOOVGwdu9OxJeAIRb7e7uwEIs8PBo9rys433kWglouY8n9-8_hCg/w640-h426/IMG_4382.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusqjSSx6CLOLQD4eJm4UQWjengnc6vhRkm-96fGmbfqq0Pd0jsho0hvVtagQrIn71PJAccuJ6eGHO0C_1s3Dp-Kqlp-7JiPd9qdReD3jz5QPhvRvcouLyfUX5sLNqyQPvUuzvdfJdjajc/s2048/IMG_4387.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusqjSSx6CLOLQD4eJm4UQWjengnc6vhRkm-96fGmbfqq0Pd0jsho0hvVtagQrIn71PJAccuJ6eGHO0C_1s3Dp-Kqlp-7JiPd9qdReD3jz5QPhvRvcouLyfUX5sLNqyQPvUuzvdfJdjajc/w640-h426/IMG_4387.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTzv5Q5XrxCOKr0_usph9wRVZ44YpZtoOKAj8zvNqyN44aPX2H6qpqp6xDp0MqmUSZZKvKYDob7jHiCsVck2i99VJn7Q5BgpKJe1XNqqmXXEL1USM02Kqf2UJEfIpWV5Pu7MWeaEvNCJN/s2048/IMG_4389.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTzv5Q5XrxCOKr0_usph9wRVZ44YpZtoOKAj8zvNqyN44aPX2H6qpqp6xDp0MqmUSZZKvKYDob7jHiCsVck2i99VJn7Q5BgpKJe1XNqqmXXEL1USM02Kqf2UJEfIpWV5Pu7MWeaEvNCJN/w426-h640/IMG_4389.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcg_B0bKMEH7MEOepqdFQPP_IlmndkWLs7Yg9dU3jutUdoiZaYtYgpukSZ3sCKE-v0dFZpagMOzMLCy6MtMduyXjJUEJ9yKPH_C8ipaPJ5EM_h8W2lcl5UbWsvZUEe-QG9xLOHRZUkZ7hm/s2048/IMG_4400.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcg_B0bKMEH7MEOepqdFQPP_IlmndkWLs7Yg9dU3jutUdoiZaYtYgpukSZ3sCKE-v0dFZpagMOzMLCy6MtMduyXjJUEJ9yKPH_C8ipaPJ5EM_h8W2lcl5UbWsvZUEe-QG9xLOHRZUkZ7hm/w426-h640/IMG_4400.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p>Eventually we reached a small clearing at a bend in the Waiwhakaiho river, an excellent spot for a quick stop. The milky blue waters churn amongst the rounded boulders, fuelled no doubt by snow melt.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVWhFr3JtFydu8YdBhHM8FWGHtXbUZlkhbVp0wfiPtbQUV-9vMEredbWtAAgPzjbRPu9kdwqxI8WnluuD_aVORVpeKLjoXQ2JS-icY4vYM-bqRMzq23mlJT_hujkwLKsqICI7Sb8Dgtqg/s2048/IMG_4405.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVWhFr3JtFydu8YdBhHM8FWGHtXbUZlkhbVp0wfiPtbQUV-9vMEredbWtAAgPzjbRPu9kdwqxI8WnluuD_aVORVpeKLjoXQ2JS-icY4vYM-bqRMzq23mlJT_hujkwLKsqICI7Sb8Dgtqg/w640-h426/IMG_4405.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiwhakaiho River<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The river is crossed a very short distance down stream by a classic forest service style swingbridge, before gaining altitude as it heads closer to Egmont Road. The Kokowai track junction is passed shortly after the bridge, and further along another junction with the Ram Track is reached.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj267YQP3033MIHZ6EVfypXDRSAYoWpy6guL5CxiSDo9T1VEjK0_kxc9rALHH0mlikih1F-kdxYkePzXaFJ2ao53IMFTho8STbmqgfKXaM2uwr2EfmZNuZnL9RkO-WLUFeODXJ7XKlnivY/s2048/20200914_131218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj267YQP3033MIHZ6EVfypXDRSAYoWpy6guL5CxiSDo9T1VEjK0_kxc9rALHH0mlikih1F-kdxYkePzXaFJ2ao53IMFTho8STbmqgfKXaM2uwr2EfmZNuZnL9RkO-WLUFeODXJ7XKlnivY/w480-h640/20200914_131218.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ajEzW3O4-WfszMhqSuJN4gkWKQyrN_kfwCTh0Mu-2TapG2-21x7YNrlpXcJTz4Nh9-jwZwbG8vDJCCVc-mMFM5yKguTfCz7pT9y5sGUbxu008OYc2_Kl90VnKrI4QZueHKhabQ0mUy5o/s2048/20200914_131803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ajEzW3O4-WfszMhqSuJN4gkWKQyrN_kfwCTh0Mu-2TapG2-21x7YNrlpXcJTz4Nh9-jwZwbG8vDJCCVc-mMFM5yKguTfCz7pT9y5sGUbxu008OYc2_Kl90VnKrI4QZueHKhabQ0mUy5o/w480-h640/20200914_131803.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Jo8BwIw_DT5_hcrmd2c1UZJDHDP1XnqDvctU0avPHR6HuJD_GfFCVf5wKyw0UzY3CeA-K1z5eVPVKRXGkikHJa17YblOv5Xzz-UUIX__l4RQRAPop4dsVP1D8MJZh-T2EC2-_8C44mYs/s2048/20200914_131940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Jo8BwIw_DT5_hcrmd2c1UZJDHDP1XnqDvctU0avPHR6HuJD_GfFCVf5wKyw0UzY3CeA-K1z5eVPVKRXGkikHJa17YblOv5Xzz-UUIX__l4RQRAPop4dsVP1D8MJZh-T2EC2-_8C44mYs/w472-h354/20200914_131940.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Kaiauai track continues a short distance to a carpark on Egmont Road, which might be your endpoint depending on how you choose to do this tramp. Our endpoint was still some distance away, at the visitor centre. There are two options to reach the visitor centre, either continue on the Kaiauai track to the carpark, then walk up the road (apparently the quickest option), or take the Ram Track (the option we picked).<br />From the junction, its a steep descent to cross a small creek, followed immediately by a steep demoralising ascent back up to the ridge. Once on the ridge, its a mercifully gentle climb back up to the North Egmont Visitor Centre. Occasional gaps in the trees reveal the steep drop down to the Ram Stream below.<br />By this point, fatigue was setting in and both of us we more than ready to be finished, which made the track seem more tiresome than it really was.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6VwLGqleTmBM_Nv-vZplX9FG8awfTd6ApLriSAPBVB-zCCK5SnWCu-9Uam_pFAvdwS28W8_MnxEeuSBViw9UuVB_Uy43LKFMKyMbrGjOJQPcCAwi03xMULTQD4IrrTrVjt4JZ_YQOlpx/s2048/IMG_4414.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6VwLGqleTmBM_Nv-vZplX9FG8awfTd6ApLriSAPBVB-zCCK5SnWCu-9Uam_pFAvdwS28W8_MnxEeuSBViw9UuVB_Uy43LKFMKyMbrGjOJQPcCAwi03xMULTQD4IrrTrVjt4JZ_YQOlpx/w640-h426/IMG_4414.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Eventually, a junction with the Veronica loop track is reached, and its a short (if somewhat tedious) zig-zaggy, uppy-downy walk back to the carpark.<p></p><p>The rain was properly coming down was we unloaded our soggy, muddy gear unceremoniously into the boot of my car, putting a literal damper onto the moment. Never the less, we were thankful to have missed the worst of the rain while on the track.<br />If there was a single word to describe the Pouakai Circuit, I think it would be "dramatic." Dramatic volcanic formations, dramatic scenery, dramatic weather, dramatic erosion.<br />Dramatic in a good way though. Dramatic in a very good way. And easily one of my favourite tramps thus far.<br /></p><p><b>Map:<br /> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBkV8WSJHA75bby1b8OTdRIiVE2PDddh13zzwgfMQl-6lxJRMbNTbw5eDY0YsM_UJMSJewQ-23daEEo4Ace-_l1YFTq20mBtZqX_eeIE-qXKIlXYrwNSIvXLNPQmcXQEVPkiBVXKD97yj/s2048/pouakai+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="2048" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBkV8WSJHA75bby1b8OTdRIiVE2PDddh13zzwgfMQl-6lxJRMbNTbw5eDY0YsM_UJMSJewQ-23daEEo4Ace-_l1YFTq20mBtZqX_eeIE-qXKIlXYrwNSIvXLNPQmcXQEVPkiBVXKD97yj/w640-h500/pouakai+map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>Trip Data:<br /></b>Day 1 - North Egmont Visitor Centre to Holly Hut: 8.51 km, 4 hours 22 minutes.<br />Day 2 - Holly Hut to Bells Falls & Return: 3.77 km, 1 hour 40 minutes (about 1:10 of actual walking). Holly Hut to Pouakai Hut: 4.82 km, 2 hours 18 minutes.<br />Day 3 - Pouakai Hut to Kaiauai Shelter: 5.51 km, 2 hours 21 minutes. Kaiauai Shelter to North Egmont: 6.60 km, 3 hours 55 minutes.<br /><p></p>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-71451164934429117162020-08-04T16:46:00.004+12:002020-08-16T17:56:48.169+12:00Holdworth-Jumbo Circuit<div><i><b>Overview:</b> Holdsworth Jumbo Circuit - Powell Hut for a night, then across the tops to Atiwhakatu Hut for night 2, via Jumbo. Out to the carpark on the last day.</i><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Through some unusual twist of fate, the sun was shining through the treetops as we made our way up the Gentle Annie track to Powell Hut. After about an hour we'd reached rocky lookout, where we stopped for lunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WBCrdES-d8hghjrOv4ucLyTf_GnJwd4i8u7_C0avo-doiormdicECkWVv07nzjVebKu9Y_2U7TtMGU0D_XM1CMGbY2MtTjYQQ5n43-XnOPWIAoLSCpB22XuCjf5evvGUiB5UeHSOZgo9/s2048/IMG_3576.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WBCrdES-d8hghjrOv4ucLyTf_GnJwd4i8u7_C0avo-doiormdicECkWVv07nzjVebKu9Y_2U7TtMGU0D_XM1CMGbY2MtTjYQQ5n43-XnOPWIAoLSCpB22XuCjf5evvGUiB5UeHSOZgo9/w219-h328/IMG_3576.JPG" width="219" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3S_YMkru2VcAdA2lxYn6uE1pnMFcbD07m3MIGlP7VkunGJW8NtyuBgzwYfJsJiZSyFyV_0dBEQroXdY9gg29gOkt8xsozajDRis9kcc2ID60hN1YPul3GILnlqZ80dZtb5dI-LNr96z5/s2048/IMG_3584.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3S_YMkru2VcAdA2lxYn6uE1pnMFcbD07m3MIGlP7VkunGJW8NtyuBgzwYfJsJiZSyFyV_0dBEQroXdY9gg29gOkt8xsozajDRis9kcc2ID60hN1YPul3GILnlqZ80dZtb5dI-LNr96z5/w410-h274/IMG_3584.JPG" width="410" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ77_Jysq0vCmJwI0GT7i46CW6F-aLDIquciD20nvcz-2EP-UQAk0tPSQrQQX7sbB5yS1_uzqRRXLhYAcUNUwFIyDl_b3tomA0b2FowlbOsvwOIqkNBebV1eWtvTxGPnzZDKoGZ55hfJZ/s2048/IMG_3594.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ77_Jysq0vCmJwI0GT7i46CW6F-aLDIquciD20nvcz-2EP-UQAk0tPSQrQQX7sbB5yS1_uzqRRXLhYAcUNUwFIyDl_b3tomA0b2FowlbOsvwOIqkNBebV1eWtvTxGPnzZDKoGZ55hfJZ/w512-h342/IMG_3594.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4zyqjZIL_Y44uVYSRNTzV8b9Sw8SDwU8PnHhYoM4q2qgLoeq6ZFUI0IWUOds7OTP3nXjDB-B1AFOODchShuuYRyDHk4pojyuky3lEQ-05IsiGJCncT53lJnKvV6yRoLKulrSaSJd-vj8/s2048/IMG_3595.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4zyqjZIL_Y44uVYSRNTzV8b9Sw8SDwU8PnHhYoM4q2qgLoeq6ZFUI0IWUOds7OTP3nXjDB-B1AFOODchShuuYRyDHk4pojyuky3lEQ-05IsiGJCncT53lJnKvV6yRoLKulrSaSJd-vj8/w512-h342/IMG_3595.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div>From rocky lookout, the track winds its way further up the hillside, eventually reaching a junction some 4.9km from the start of the track. The left fork descends to Totara Flats, while we continued up the other track. The track then crosses the aptly-named Pig Flat (aptly named for the flat part, couldn't comment on the pigs), meandering through stunted trees and over boardwalks, soon reaching Mountain House Shelter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMlD_M-eNNbdXXhhoEjreh9weO1RkuETwp-T5Q_9jHVXqdtFWgWktMZgcXtwx_GYAb8UCegVvqcCoAiGTXfLx-pp4pm8XjGL1HJ7k48yP2Vl1W5RWRiTeMUO9B3Uk-iX3hnq1xnJPN30O/s2048/20200801_132236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMlD_M-eNNbdXXhhoEjreh9weO1RkuETwp-T5Q_9jHVXqdtFWgWktMZgcXtwx_GYAb8UCegVvqcCoAiGTXfLx-pp4pm8XjGL1HJ7k48yP2Vl1W5RWRiTeMUO9B3Uk-iX3hnq1xnJPN30O/w384-h512/20200801_132236.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM-bKvgOykCB6EDs8acrqgWI1LJyjcVgx7mNQVIHcO9RZ-rn17QMqG3eaKBRrsGoOuR62b7DweUS75a63NceOaoLB-9MVgWpID3HUsnr9kCv19k90cBxz4HTVYKpVtqNgCM61EeV81J8t/s2048/IMG_3602.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM-bKvgOykCB6EDs8acrqgWI1LJyjcVgx7mNQVIHcO9RZ-rn17QMqG3eaKBRrsGoOuR62b7DweUS75a63NceOaoLB-9MVgWpID3HUsnr9kCv19k90cBxz4HTVYKpVtqNgCM61EeV81J8t/w512-h342/IMG_3602.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB1KEk7qea8j3f9pN-PPaKxp9RXLqLCr_NGWVEYZCmpNmU5zEGfLFF3x3pQ68KKdOQ8nO4tZfOsXzMeBz-El6SlgQzYuuppIODPDxXS_Ik6Gd1XUup7l98nJIjxJ_d5QKormgrbQ8EuLM/s2048/IMG_3604.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB1KEk7qea8j3f9pN-PPaKxp9RXLqLCr_NGWVEYZCmpNmU5zEGfLFF3x3pQ68KKdOQ8nO4tZfOsXzMeBz-El6SlgQzYuuppIODPDxXS_Ik6Gd1XUup7l98nJIjxJ_d5QKormgrbQ8EuLM/w512-h384/IMG_3604.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div>From Mountain House, the track steepens, gaining almost 500m in altitude over 2km. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPSnwHFqkIAdpz1RQT9W4GsK1ILFDdk4CD_fWkpRsCuk6EjVcX6hrHT7UIZzeMMQAGQL8w2rrsO11s1ZXLdLiQi-6LmgL-RbiHYoQwGjSDBuh_ndWAM51EU-COBOH52MBLO2xV-gLTmoZ/s2048/IMG_3617.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPSnwHFqkIAdpz1RQT9W4GsK1ILFDdk4CD_fWkpRsCuk6EjVcX6hrHT7UIZzeMMQAGQL8w2rrsO11s1ZXLdLiQi-6LmgL-RbiHYoQwGjSDBuh_ndWAM51EU-COBOH52MBLO2xV-gLTmoZ/w512-h342/IMG_3617.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilL_rzSL-4PvffP2U3Mzv2FX8kGYh6KrhGXzpx_NhvE9jol9r3MqbW9y5aONQtOsW2iuLCAn_5Squ26Fi2_ob4kO5rpzDNO98ddEVY1sawgao81aB2dIjVnan_W74_yRgds-GMHw02Ojd/s2048/IMG_3629.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilL_rzSL-4PvffP2U3Mzv2FX8kGYh6KrhGXzpx_NhvE9jol9r3MqbW9y5aONQtOsW2iuLCAn_5Squ26Fi2_ob4kO5rpzDNO98ddEVY1sawgao81aB2dIjVnan_W74_yRgds-GMHw02Ojd/w342-h512/IMG_3629.JPG" width="342" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4koN4LdLUuyhcKOlzP80BTK18XP1Go9CBlUlkZ2VQppQvm5mCFicgbzcXJDY7mAsyxBp3ElcPrjEG0i2bU6a8d1GcRcvyzCJ5pvIPfhyphenhyphenIV1SFb8eOMTJRpWoEoDTSG_tRCnpDE5vf_1O/s2048/IMG_3640.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4koN4LdLUuyhcKOlzP80BTK18XP1Go9CBlUlkZ2VQppQvm5mCFicgbzcXJDY7mAsyxBp3ElcPrjEG0i2bU6a8d1GcRcvyzCJ5pvIPfhyphenhyphenIV1SFb8eOMTJRpWoEoDTSG_tRCnpDE5vf_1O/w512-h342/IMG_3640.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaJiDyv8dDCduHPz5y2Cb4b5tdz4YeK3ZBqNkHiwT5c5qdZvQYiFJQCvaTkAjyEVxXCSeze04nnAM-cU6qT2yO7RfOjtSCQdsTaFFi7KglvzjoH5apxjYWyILSTgisNQq6KoFKRoefSqC/s2048/IMG_3648.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaJiDyv8dDCduHPz5y2Cb4b5tdz4YeK3ZBqNkHiwT5c5qdZvQYiFJQCvaTkAjyEVxXCSeze04nnAM-cU6qT2yO7RfOjtSCQdsTaFFi7KglvzjoH5apxjYWyILSTgisNQq6KoFKRoefSqC/w342-h512/IMG_3648.JPG" width="342" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDYpDIvTwKIwek2JxuwtgqlsEGCwdQgubkraK-9KHW0dfUdtE2kVljG52LCmbDWq7rVIppmMxlzmSqMLijpozOB0gTuvk7ChG4xW5_Ij06clN8hJdC6z1WGQbwv2zS6d2AFdzHvF_k_nK/s2048/IMG_3652.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDYpDIvTwKIwek2JxuwtgqlsEGCwdQgubkraK-9KHW0dfUdtE2kVljG52LCmbDWq7rVIppmMxlzmSqMLijpozOB0gTuvk7ChG4xW5_Ij06clN8hJdC6z1WGQbwv2zS6d2AFdzHvF_k_nK/w640-h428/IMG_3652.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5LQ0o8bwbr10VbXrGnBYqaZNVwP0KnqFDX5OvI6WNJfDrBtzOMP8r1DPHg70Lvz61s2rmIFuTJd-f1UcWVA7K_eCHJ0xzzdeEUWSOLTGY1L-r9_bNAEhNz7ow3iRMlJNKEtAfOnK8b7e/s2048/IMG_3661.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5LQ0o8bwbr10VbXrGnBYqaZNVwP0KnqFDX5OvI6WNJfDrBtzOMP8r1DPHg70Lvz61s2rmIFuTJd-f1UcWVA7K_eCHJ0xzzdeEUWSOLTGY1L-r9_bNAEhNz7ow3iRMlJNKEtAfOnK8b7e/w512-h342/IMG_3661.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3vfp9oIe0aNhE2RPxfoNY9Lh4wahRw4TGAPcOLRTX132q46Jledz_ZJkq0LgMnMChS_yiZK8TKQoeW5IOu4Rb0ADZCcu7WiSAUu5NZ-9asTumrPAnZhxNLrJwaH2mHJfd4SCO7RKx9DV/s2048/IMG_3671.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3vfp9oIe0aNhE2RPxfoNY9Lh4wahRw4TGAPcOLRTX132q46Jledz_ZJkq0LgMnMChS_yiZK8TKQoeW5IOu4Rb0ADZCcu7WiSAUu5NZ-9asTumrPAnZhxNLrJwaH2mHJfd4SCO7RKx9DV/w512-h342/IMG_3671.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div>We reached the hut after 4 hours & 20 mins, alongside 7 others. Thankfully, almost no one else had arrived so we could claim some prime bunk real estate. This worked out well, as the hut was at capacity by nightfall. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSTEYkhRyisEHuhru1BHG8S1YTpr118Resi-UjmsgpopclYxt-vnhazCbt3vbGBq1DGoSQnuUWH1RLRoUEb3xMuHGpSL15IqfK2fx9oqD2J-R-6k5jBu8aLd3Ehstp9ifDxFqWaat8ua3/s2048/20200801_154914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSTEYkhRyisEHuhru1BHG8S1YTpr118Resi-UjmsgpopclYxt-vnhazCbt3vbGBq1DGoSQnuUWH1RLRoUEb3xMuHGpSL15IqfK2fx9oqD2J-R-6k5jBu8aLd3Ehstp9ifDxFqWaat8ua3/w512-h384/20200801_154914.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>The afternoon and evening were spent on such activities as drinking
a warm brew on the balcony, dice games, eating dehy, and talking shit.<div>The next morning brought more clear skies and a beautiful morning over the Wairarapa.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-pWU_bAB2awRE7ZggQWVq6n0_1dQTkLZjhrtD8Dwn_Sjqa8D14OdHQyftKSm6LrLqiGa_R_1mdf3kojA3j0e1hz5uPJrUeXuBUBTdjgBxjoViJTMFkcabuCLRHriJv0HDvOG5MuzksSa/s2048/IMG_3685.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-pWU_bAB2awRE7ZggQWVq6n0_1dQTkLZjhrtD8Dwn_Sjqa8D14OdHQyftKSm6LrLqiGa_R_1mdf3kojA3j0e1hz5uPJrUeXuBUBTdjgBxjoViJTMFkcabuCLRHriJv0HDvOG5MuzksSa/w640-h480/IMG_3685.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6im_k4zonD634XE61NQxuzb8A-Y6eJX2MJIlgCS590XHdro4Hpu4gnLOC5JoAMR8_5tEDb4l4qJhjlwEDs6973Fa28eOtMdS0QrSNqqsdFRmcCH5wDFGVac0JYz8hkCj9pz49hoHWHxxe/s2048/IMG_3687.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6im_k4zonD634XE61NQxuzb8A-Y6eJX2MJIlgCS590XHdro4Hpu4gnLOC5JoAMR8_5tEDb4l4qJhjlwEDs6973Fa28eOtMdS0QrSNqqsdFRmcCH5wDFGVac0JYz8hkCj9pz49hoHWHxxe/s640/IMG_3687.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimSibeGIiTu-M-EkcjDQfHhCAeDyp6_UmfarJoeMgrfQC5AOV2HR5oipPQQFVOzjBmCWufzHcD5dA3WSTFMw7G_ubwb7Js4-2GdeYrVJf4UuoBv5OXJOXA-beogA87nCUGO19GLdwQHNz/s2048/IMG_3693.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimSibeGIiTu-M-EkcjDQfHhCAeDyp6_UmfarJoeMgrfQC5AOV2HR5oipPQQFVOzjBmCWufzHcD5dA3WSTFMw7G_ubwb7Js4-2GdeYrVJf4UuoBv5OXJOXA-beogA87nCUGO19GLdwQHNz/s640/IMG_3693.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULYSRL_oTUSSG7nICvrC68K7qJUVeeEaxXySR35lVbmA82qVHivCkYmWt_DrXRxYqQEGI90ANPs97JqI8HnpsflUac332MRZhbqFSjQIdiJAug9h38GIB0EvsyKQEC059cR2jbLMS9EiT/s2048/IMG_3699.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULYSRL_oTUSSG7nICvrC68K7qJUVeeEaxXySR35lVbmA82qVHivCkYmWt_DrXRxYqQEGI90ANPs97JqI8HnpsflUac332MRZhbqFSjQIdiJAug9h38GIB0EvsyKQEC059cR2jbLMS9EiT/w512-h384/IMG_3699.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-lkl5gPHcHoTr3g7aH3O87F9pyKsub0ZYcd4IrR5pLwg6BbAJ5PCB0MCmr1RNt2LUCvUzr9Ny17hSeJ7iC1be0i2gtiQq44cFDAGzIxxMB75frt_9dwQGbsCLxc-l1BkUG43dn1YvtrN/s2048/20200802_152648.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-lkl5gPHcHoTr3g7aH3O87F9pyKsub0ZYcd4IrR5pLwg6BbAJ5PCB0MCmr1RNt2LUCvUzr9Ny17hSeJ7iC1be0i2gtiQq44cFDAGzIxxMB75frt_9dwQGbsCLxc-l1BkUG43dn1YvtrN/w512-h384/20200802_152648.jpg" width="512" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZcNOkdlTLWeJB_v_k20L3XOIJuUOOI0ad-kvK3hGiPZ3kAjlY3BbNLF7J5Qh6SiXs87MNduWMDUpvpTbwXSxOSxtmcYaMsRQhgyg6pduIWqs8J6T6Vavzm0fJpoWG0-y1Bw0vXSrmUaQ/s2048/20200802_082811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZcNOkdlTLWeJB_v_k20L3XOIJuUOOI0ad-kvK3hGiPZ3kAjlY3BbNLF7J5Qh6SiXs87MNduWMDUpvpTbwXSxOSxtmcYaMsRQhgyg6pduIWqs8J6T6Vavzm0fJpoWG0-y1Bw0vXSrmUaQ/w384-h512/20200802_082811.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We set off at 10am, making our way through the tussocks up toward Mt Holdsworth. The peak is about 1.8km from hut with an altitude of 1470m, placing it just shy of the 15 peaks over 1500m, and 101m shorter than Mitre - the highest peak in the Tararuas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How long it takes to reach the peak varies wildly on how often one stops to take photos and the like, in this case taking us just over an hour. A slow time, certainly, but given we had all day to reach Atiwhakatu Hut it is - to my mind - well worth dawdling over the tops, soaking in the views and generally having a good time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjkmojm4TS1Hn9WJPE0eKbMuBhGW07KbNinhQgSA_9l55tc8smBd7cT9qo7DXSIODbi_S0LjPHPw07bFqvVMq3h6jUtjshQkosJlcxFcvfHm1OqLC2OgcCe4DcFIVLmsHaOKPyhTb-_oI/s2048/IMG_3721.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjkmojm4TS1Hn9WJPE0eKbMuBhGW07KbNinhQgSA_9l55tc8smBd7cT9qo7DXSIODbi_S0LjPHPw07bFqvVMq3h6jUtjshQkosJlcxFcvfHm1OqLC2OgcCe4DcFIVLmsHaOKPyhTb-_oI/s640/IMG_3721.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUV9jaf88kUXMYL1MRv5T7IMCOt86oyNgcfMn1iOT4tjtjqZKarq5KxElWldpWJi491RDPYISIXq69T4I-tsGoMmV4PcAkPLSzx36M62Yh-AASfuITDSM_n0dgMT2MWIyurw_ePUzVEO2J/s2048/IMG_3727.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUV9jaf88kUXMYL1MRv5T7IMCOt86oyNgcfMn1iOT4tjtjqZKarq5KxElWldpWJi491RDPYISIXq69T4I-tsGoMmV4PcAkPLSzx36M62Yh-AASfuITDSM_n0dgMT2MWIyurw_ePUzVEO2J/s640/IMG_3727.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxm44d-IpnYg0MMJqUuZo0YUv8KzVR2V2r8UZG3M6EMrpcYzDIOSZBaqv-Q1e9pUfhqX8GVjPiUO7yXRNX0LCi-1fySaIeQTqw4xGGLYPlKOW0d39dclCrxZOMcW6YZTiQUhn_311uo8iB/s2048/IMG_3729.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxm44d-IpnYg0MMJqUuZo0YUv8KzVR2V2r8UZG3M6EMrpcYzDIOSZBaqv-Q1e9pUfhqX8GVjPiUO7yXRNX0LCi-1fySaIeQTqw4xGGLYPlKOW0d39dclCrxZOMcW6YZTiQUhn_311uo8iB/s640/IMG_3729.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigA3iwyMTI-BUkIfb7GFyJ1DhEqLpxrYjS1tmmCKEPxMc9LTVoXIm0GEXKZQ3dAv6uiCCgaGdP9Ncg2lRmuCWNIJkZ2RoC1pEKqyZrkBU4SXMelk5f4IRj-OzEhOX9ENF8ULfT0gxGC-fn/s2048/IMG_3737.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigA3iwyMTI-BUkIfb7GFyJ1DhEqLpxrYjS1tmmCKEPxMc9LTVoXIm0GEXKZQ3dAv6uiCCgaGdP9Ncg2lRmuCWNIJkZ2RoC1pEKqyZrkBU4SXMelk5f4IRj-OzEhOX9ENF8ULfT0gxGC-fn/w640-h426/IMG_3737.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High Ridge, with the snow-capped peaks of Hector and its neighbours in the backround Also visible behind high ridge are the peaks of Aokaparangi and Maungahuka.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWEsi-A4CNqd1N8vB_oZzdLwk7x3JasaFr-UgwXrpINoaYn7ymPngtIl5IC6dMuobvULqk1UzW5CdFl4QhbGuQ8yc9kr0SVNnYVrGY-WKNoKBGpaRGnHqio2pZcuMsPHH2TWX8g6XyF2a/s2048/IMG_3743.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWEsi-A4CNqd1N8vB_oZzdLwk7x3JasaFr-UgwXrpINoaYn7ymPngtIl5IC6dMuobvULqk1UzW5CdFl4QhbGuQ8yc9kr0SVNnYVrGY-WKNoKBGpaRGnHqio2pZcuMsPHH2TWX8g6XyF2a/s640/IMG_3743.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7n-sks1Dgb0LL8PrN9UC7sbzJNkfOcbxKDAdN6gG6LqrdNZ73eesvJqR9Ioj2oYLWuhE6JJP38SROobL0bR3Ke3uyZXd6u8z6YU-I83H_8J-2ZtsHeLCaSTyhssk2ntH3UbBPl1BTXKG7/s2048/IMG_3744.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7n-sks1Dgb0LL8PrN9UC7sbzJNkfOcbxKDAdN6gG6LqrdNZ73eesvJqR9Ioj2oYLWuhE6JJP38SROobL0bR3Ke3uyZXd6u8z6YU-I83H_8J-2ZtsHeLCaSTyhssk2ntH3UbBPl1BTXKG7/s640/IMG_3744.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3wuK67DC-jsd_ds_qr_xwrFotPbsQMb8l8Sr4JHHg88gUeUtfIxL88_YRNw0zLyH2YuDEFUNyiHl8146CUWq_wTjTbpD9SfaMHgcAydc6n-XSBPp90PJUpPZxg35dhHrHNnkFUGIBnSg/s2048/IMG_3754.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3wuK67DC-jsd_ds_qr_xwrFotPbsQMb8l8Sr4JHHg88gUeUtfIxL88_YRNw0zLyH2YuDEFUNyiHl8146CUWq_wTjTbpD9SfaMHgcAydc6n-XSBPp90PJUpPZxg35dhHrHNnkFUGIBnSg/s640/IMG_3754.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujIEBFRPz1ZTe9f42ZvYYnWPuV7e_ZuKPBTnCbbVXoiwOMg-I2OoUvwE1roxoYYznHBV4_OQYX_j-a9iltIrFS678lLxMy_DcKInYhCmTvtrxSvM-6LSO9561dSrbtTc9PtMONpkEShKx/s2048/IMG_3755.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujIEBFRPz1ZTe9f42ZvYYnWPuV7e_ZuKPBTnCbbVXoiwOMg-I2OoUvwE1roxoYYznHBV4_OQYX_j-a9iltIrFS678lLxMy_DcKInYhCmTvtrxSvM-6LSO9561dSrbtTc9PtMONpkEShKx/s640/IMG_3755.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpHUnXYkp0nY7EpSMAI7-HFSPAxUGFN1nixXz1hkBPrrJObbirXwmtaMiMUz-ZOOFCHAhnJ3FIOruvvXiKxy4TLIFGVF72eryMOl6OhWK0GbXLvaI-tC-VtC9CWuYPEoc8rtFSO02JfaC/s2048/IMG_3759.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpHUnXYkp0nY7EpSMAI7-HFSPAxUGFN1nixXz1hkBPrrJObbirXwmtaMiMUz-ZOOFCHAhnJ3FIOruvvXiKxy4TLIFGVF72eryMOl6OhWK0GbXLvaI-tC-VtC9CWuYPEoc8rtFSO02JfaC/s640/IMG_3759.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2S5PjZNOeIvuuvZl81IImHPyNzyGOlK9xTes0TC7wp1zSOp9pAdZggYKUhYWaPLKk1SmINHjgCrKQZWM3is48i6JJQce-wfg7jdpX_x86buFlhIfdCJPoeyQoPQp2PRTeutJMNQ2Z04E/s2048/IMG_3773.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2S5PjZNOeIvuuvZl81IImHPyNzyGOlK9xTes0TC7wp1zSOp9pAdZggYKUhYWaPLKk1SmINHjgCrKQZWM3is48i6JJQce-wfg7jdpX_x86buFlhIfdCJPoeyQoPQp2PRTeutJMNQ2Z04E/s640/IMG_3773.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JELcbXFFdOBGZanhdGh5u3DiNF5MnzPlgcRjatd4PTvKTh7Vx8aLqchm2K7-5NAKcyR774Q5f7MYQa-_MpDKvjvpisr6pcs2TwZYD-f57Uqndvgx7CqsH5v8KHQTDxZHAtwQx_5GlYxq/s2048/IMG_3783.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JELcbXFFdOBGZanhdGh5u3DiNF5MnzPlgcRjatd4PTvKTh7Vx8aLqchm2K7-5NAKcyR774Q5f7MYQa-_MpDKvjvpisr6pcs2TwZYD-f57Uqndvgx7CqsH5v8KHQTDxZHAtwQx_5GlYxq/s640/IMG_3783.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegsUT2HdolLPKCsMXcyOCp8eNUtCspomN42RSwc6hm60QU87MwGDRUhNeKjEZQyuWrzFba7tfvA6IwPhLRrbDcH7Q7zHcfzWfQaiBgy2uQpCNYBTl9C2rnGRkqp7WxFizVyMH07xM64St/s2048/IMG_3795.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegsUT2HdolLPKCsMXcyOCp8eNUtCspomN42RSwc6hm60QU87MwGDRUhNeKjEZQyuWrzFba7tfvA6IwPhLRrbDcH7Q7zHcfzWfQaiBgy2uQpCNYBTl9C2rnGRkqp7WxFizVyMH07xM64St/s640/IMG_3795.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseCi2KsvfHZGQ1lrHAFTSe6nR0Lc6QwQyz3y5_cW-oqeRBn4fQydxRkx_DXbHgSb6cZAsZce6Z5r5kiAxJY0bmLI8bJNe1j_DPCHRs-WtzvQi0Fck9safjLFEkwr2u4tUBpCneFoNUIDX/s2048/IMG_3804.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseCi2KsvfHZGQ1lrHAFTSe6nR0Lc6QwQyz3y5_cW-oqeRBn4fQydxRkx_DXbHgSb6cZAsZce6Z5r5kiAxJY0bmLI8bJNe1j_DPCHRs-WtzvQi0Fck9safjLFEkwr2u4tUBpCneFoNUIDX/s640/IMG_3804.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOjv4MFt7fXlYBEfKVoY23w4yeab5LciFWsdYpARX3Ujw66npfGpqggMcPwcaolJITwmdCrGr8NlMLIpezHT7v3BWsRevO8vjPraumJpPn-20I-KGghsGRqR7CzZbkEwFyAkbk0aeqKYl/s2048/IMG_3807.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOjv4MFt7fXlYBEfKVoY23w4yeab5LciFWsdYpARX3Ujw66npfGpqggMcPwcaolJITwmdCrGr8NlMLIpezHT7v3BWsRevO8vjPraumJpPn-20I-KGghsGRqR7CzZbkEwFyAkbk0aeqKYl/s640/IMG_3807.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holdsworth trig, with the cluster of peaks around Angle Knob and McGregor in the backgrund.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAk6QhbcMWdWvgby_aqP4a_9Gq52gclHPa9G4mRXZyU3QX7eXWEYy9zwaVQ3Ou4TqJt3niTHqrFcKraczSqQslQzQ8RkAa8eEoxQgYMH5wAGES54ybyAf9oTr2aUgJbJyD6eY_38d7u7y3/s2048/IMG_3809.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAk6QhbcMWdWvgby_aqP4a_9Gq52gclHPa9G4mRXZyU3QX7eXWEYy9zwaVQ3Ou4TqJt3niTHqrFcKraczSqQslQzQ8RkAa8eEoxQgYMH5wAGES54ybyAf9oTr2aUgJbJyD6eY_38d7u7y3/s640/IMG_3809.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View along the ridge to Jumbo. Angle Knob, McGregor and the Three Kings are some of the snow capped peaks in the back.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On a clear day, such as that we were lucky enough to get, views to the east extend to the Wairarapa coast, and west to Kapiti Island. Major ridges and peaks of the Tararuas are visible to the the North, South and West. At a stretch, the Aorangi Range and the top of the South Island are also visible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After spending a sufficiently long time to take this all in, we started making our way along the ridgeline to Jumbo, reaching the East Holdsworth Spur turn-off after about 25 minutes. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFqAMMoxsYQ0q1HpYBa-PqVtZTystgT7ZZfL3AhUasxp4fyscBClkX35qC5aCuARUVn9JWkEOyXJpPE1HYvbwPZYssFmY4Lzy9B69vANRIivCOKGXNHZmLCMfQtGmMSw_OnrBfIoTyirF/s2048/IMG_3830.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFqAMMoxsYQ0q1HpYBa-PqVtZTystgT7ZZfL3AhUasxp4fyscBClkX35qC5aCuARUVn9JWkEOyXJpPE1HYvbwPZYssFmY4Lzy9B69vANRIivCOKGXNHZmLCMfQtGmMSw_OnrBfIoTyirF/s640/IMG_3830.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P2Zng1ZLVq80Ge-PCcF0TCE4w5y6FsRtjmmJynT5pSGn6mKbh5vrqEpDhclDa-gWv9O79EU5L_FxeiBl-xv2PYuLtXxYwkLYCsRr-ajvnAD3mLiYpSrgda-tY0TF5W429LsweF6SZ0S2/s2048/IMG_3832.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P2Zng1ZLVq80Ge-PCcF0TCE4w5y6FsRtjmmJynT5pSGn6mKbh5vrqEpDhclDa-gWv9O79EU5L_FxeiBl-xv2PYuLtXxYwkLYCsRr-ajvnAD3mLiYpSrgda-tY0TF5W429LsweF6SZ0S2/s640/IMG_3832.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBm77bqxUJng67tSc_jAJ_sdqNW7uX6aO3VKZ8DMGoGQc_ZFOytFY6oEeJ-B371IlWqL_GcaDEPg9VrH-17GCjGOS3NDwTmfMXuMxcrkiuuNChKsDHYykZ2jpii37kky2AFBvFgBkHNlCJ/s2048/IMG_3835.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBm77bqxUJng67tSc_jAJ_sdqNW7uX6aO3VKZ8DMGoGQc_ZFOytFY6oEeJ-B371IlWqL_GcaDEPg9VrH-17GCjGOS3NDwTmfMXuMxcrkiuuNChKsDHYykZ2jpii37kky2AFBvFgBkHNlCJ/s640/IMG_3835.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpW_IgPT64bz4FqYro52S_yphABloN2VM3SlyE2Lshh_KBzeJV1KUb9BNlgvQ5JlGjSGysWBBUfqfaABK8sAz2U2XB04OBCcyPsaIuvpw6CqVzS2tq5xmxi2YNPtKxbJxS-NpZdS_2ijD/s2048/IMG_3840.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpW_IgPT64bz4FqYro52S_yphABloN2VM3SlyE2Lshh_KBzeJV1KUb9BNlgvQ5JlGjSGysWBBUfqfaABK8sAz2U2XB04OBCcyPsaIuvpw6CqVzS2tq5xmxi2YNPtKxbJxS-NpZdS_2ijD/s640/IMG_3840.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXR6be2wmi4gC0S48J4-lPskCxaBLF86nkUlPKrF-Xi5eQxx8TkW0UzgJN5wi-tY7Z7hSb3YmH6Su73eAyD9yO9cp3_1ffOhIN3kHLoHK8OW5YIeXRb84EEGKqwst4ZzvAyxBLciaqRVr/s2048/IMG_3853.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXR6be2wmi4gC0S48J4-lPskCxaBLF86nkUlPKrF-Xi5eQxx8TkW0UzgJN5wi-tY7Z7hSb3YmH6Su73eAyD9yO9cp3_1ffOhIN3kHLoHK8OW5YIeXRb84EEGKqwst4ZzvAyxBLciaqRVr/s640/IMG_3853.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign at the East Holdsworth track turn-off.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVpPzOghyphenhyphenjfzB7bThW5XEObp6Q8XZUv-ZxSoGafjpnq-jZTaW34_FfTykD2wVZWWgzwLNZE4hmU0Dv7FozWkEYjK7H7Av4kOTpnM6CS1KKES_enIGSr10jnPATJE0ZRiWztLztBLwhu97/s2519/IMG_3856a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2519" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVpPzOghyphenhyphenjfzB7bThW5XEObp6Q8XZUv-ZxSoGafjpnq-jZTaW34_FfTykD2wVZWWgzwLNZE4hmU0Dv7FozWkEYjK7H7Av4kOTpnM6CS1KKES_enIGSr10jnPATJE0ZRiWztLztBLwhu97/s640/IMG_3856a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For somewhere that may appear as a featureless, tussocky wasteland, there's a surpising amount of variability in the environs. The track at times is a narrow foot trail through a broad patch of identical tussocks, other times on of many meandering lines of scree down a slope, or a rocky sidle, or a muddy divet between a couple of higher outcrops. Always accompanied (at least when the weather is clear) by spectacular 360 degree views.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwq6XQNfK6TTCCuau4KszD5hBBMOkHBXSNYEn19_93OsODv0qI-0ITaBGUPJO5qtKTyUM1_dKwb3H4-iowQYC5tmtfb8AGT-zuTkrlaurUS2wPtcq7sE8QlnLuymR1r0Q57TkVVm2SH4n/s2048/IMG_3887.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwq6XQNfK6TTCCuau4KszD5hBBMOkHBXSNYEn19_93OsODv0qI-0ITaBGUPJO5qtKTyUM1_dKwb3H4-iowQYC5tmtfb8AGT-zuTkrlaurUS2wPtcq7sE8QlnLuymR1r0Q57TkVVm2SH4n/s640/IMG_3887.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjpdlplJQimScOrrwLNUWq869zLSYwDWK4fjVbyIJDYLJL95nSlEgnMPBubE7yPjWEIg4AUY_X1QyxeZOGjGtHiCxRygDl32oDzK-Rrau-bYqO5nkXb8q7fXY5TNn4H0STLb_3W6EusXl/s2048/IMG_3908.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjpdlplJQimScOrrwLNUWq869zLSYwDWK4fjVbyIJDYLJL95nSlEgnMPBubE7yPjWEIg4AUY_X1QyxeZOGjGtHiCxRygDl32oDzK-Rrau-bYqO5nkXb8q7fXY5TNn4H0STLb_3W6EusXl/s640/IMG_3908.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BcQx0Ggj_cyiUItPByI1jNCPC5eaPMIvdrGzA9Gw0pfMDSDFxuMl-JCJGU4MwtS3R57PBY-ZfRL_iP-C07q67pJ8usM4bnSBb4jRWIM7BNqVrf-EtSArPN0znTWq1bcs_PfP957Wq8RX/s2048/IMG_3927.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BcQx0Ggj_cyiUItPByI1jNCPC5eaPMIvdrGzA9Gw0pfMDSDFxuMl-JCJGU4MwtS3R57PBY-ZfRL_iP-C07q67pJ8usM4bnSBb4jRWIM7BNqVrf-EtSArPN0znTWq1bcs_PfP957Wq8RX/s640/IMG_3927.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFGloWIhtkk8PXEibA6Uf7e0MOH4M825ruBQ0r9on7gcGSFYdO9xlaR5rpynh7amMq4UeOkdHpwcXrIinezvwr0RO3B8q6-fQ3rBMZhhxYyiOG1w0dngu5kfE7rbY8UhPpaRw5ZXQgR-R/s2048/IMG_3933.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFGloWIhtkk8PXEibA6Uf7e0MOH4M825ruBQ0r9on7gcGSFYdO9xlaR5rpynh7amMq4UeOkdHpwcXrIinezvwr0RO3B8q6-fQ3rBMZhhxYyiOG1w0dngu5kfE7rbY8UhPpaRw5ZXQgR-R/s640/IMG_3933.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiVD-bMqGTIrWaKbLCdh5Gi0qzcoVobYz8XWeeOA8gsqe1CZHzKF5xkeVXlj3hm996cXo79m8j6Daw6T-JL12ZR8w7DncVhRf4XRsJobw4HYb54C_m6tgucCeP5rw1-P3OcOUSakii9E4/s2048/IMG_3935.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiVD-bMqGTIrWaKbLCdh5Gi0qzcoVobYz8XWeeOA8gsqe1CZHzKF5xkeVXlj3hm996cXo79m8j6Daw6T-JL12ZR8w7DncVhRf4XRsJobw4HYb54C_m6tgucCeP5rw1-P3OcOUSakii9E4/s640/IMG_3935.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdiUqEkRSffgYBF8gQWt3NOOmWY-dyDh2ufCVOdvHb4CPsL6JMg0Ihagtc6oG73Hj2dTU8PywjYxRHGI_4gXMtvOkJq0tkezP_y_PGUFmRjDp1hf5OF1rybQ1ip-OT9IiQgpkeUkCdlk0/s2048/IMG_3942.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdiUqEkRSffgYBF8gQWt3NOOmWY-dyDh2ufCVOdvHb4CPsL6JMg0Ihagtc6oG73Hj2dTU8PywjYxRHGI_4gXMtvOkJq0tkezP_y_PGUFmRjDp1hf5OF1rybQ1ip-OT9IiQgpkeUkCdlk0/s640/IMG_3942.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The ridge becomes noticeably rockier and narrower as Jumbo is reached, with the odd brief clamber required shortly before reaching the peak. By this point, it had taken us about 4 hours to cover the almost 5km from Powell Hut, owing to our indulgent pace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jumbo (1405m) affords excellent views of some of the highest peaks in the range - Angle Knob (1510m), McGregor (1540m), and the Three Kings (1531m, 1521m & 1535m), as well as the Broken Axe Pinnacles. Mostly obscured is Mitre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From Jumbo, the track follows a narrow, rocky ridge to the east, eventually broadening and dropping down to Jumbo Hut. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvaINYKsfn8ULDa3pa3VAG1qHnNVHCwVq5BydAuNuYY-e_h0WratRyGz_V3mGxXsxryljSkXKtSc_YOnaVqxDg3Crg4W4I6zGei9pxgLxjmvzH2JIL0SxWT2NIHE7A3hfZwfSkP2Ts2Ug/s2048/IMG_3956.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvaINYKsfn8ULDa3pa3VAG1qHnNVHCwVq5BydAuNuYY-e_h0WratRyGz_V3mGxXsxryljSkXKtSc_YOnaVqxDg3Crg4W4I6zGei9pxgLxjmvzH2JIL0SxWT2NIHE7A3hfZwfSkP2Ts2Ug/s640/IMG_3956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhqY4zIYFUQXADILuJympWHR65sX_SgCHl1EDtNDRid6tI_MXrOG6p0TqulIi6-gzWbIN33PbDX8g-BlCgOssELHeDzljRCSh7WY08kUOqpOXD4vw8bgyHPaTx2kGFfVd0JdngVesAPVv/s2048/IMG_3959.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhqY4zIYFUQXADILuJympWHR65sX_SgCHl1EDtNDRid6tI_MXrOG6p0TqulIi6-gzWbIN33PbDX8g-BlCgOssELHeDzljRCSh7WY08kUOqpOXD4vw8bgyHPaTx2kGFfVd0JdngVesAPVv/s640/IMG_3959.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhNR-h0QZbxGDyU-ZWr5XIKh9I8CZ1R6kj2OXFkEar7EpnyJUk-Sdebgy-Eir-xym2uEscDKHhCvFiL69oInMAemdycXRYyWEmVxGCpePJJGBXYNLb910qvg70SV5WsqNQ8ahiG4PLbaZ/s2048/IMG_3967.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhNR-h0QZbxGDyU-ZWr5XIKh9I8CZ1R6kj2OXFkEar7EpnyJUk-Sdebgy-Eir-xym2uEscDKHhCvFiL69oInMAemdycXRYyWEmVxGCpePJJGBXYNLb910qvg70SV5WsqNQ8ahiG4PLbaZ/s640/IMG_3967.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X8U6kQ9aul-9FWgEBHZThXwe4dOIiagfJEAwpaVM4NgN_-8d86mbmPEMYdFfMDi4dV3hNRXb79s3gWOgLP7nm_LUTyZc50PtXJnP36VOAQl4kMvuEReKtIszSLKnPyJFlYk3RgkpYKy8/s2048/IMG_3973.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X8U6kQ9aul-9FWgEBHZThXwe4dOIiagfJEAwpaVM4NgN_-8d86mbmPEMYdFfMDi4dV3hNRXb79s3gWOgLP7nm_LUTyZc50PtXJnP36VOAQl4kMvuEReKtIszSLKnPyJFlYk3RgkpYKy8/s640/IMG_3973.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9kpIs1AneqfzmW5ru-g8375GshDQWXRdQloqpUb2Xoom8edyxw1MsfHjJ8Zwha-ycQfDn813UPeP5B-7BWlfXDTxLVX733FErUIe6NzqOUj0-WwheUigv8bCTY9PWhUbMHC7-Fazh7yQ/s2048/IMG_3977.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9kpIs1AneqfzmW5ru-g8375GshDQWXRdQloqpUb2Xoom8edyxw1MsfHjJ8Zwha-ycQfDn813UPeP5B-7BWlfXDTxLVX733FErUIe6NzqOUj0-WwheUigv8bCTY9PWhUbMHC7-Fazh7yQ/s640/IMG_3977.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomCVRpzPho18C1XYfwZKZ8FVIdaKri0vtw5TUZB2Gp0rEPfTfPQbxUmXXnGf-KhHO34eOxSOZaB9NAkuiXFAAA_j25oVD585tb8LnQH686GRdWer3h6z9piFa-Y0wgU8fz2VexFJSKhfG/s2048/IMG_3979.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomCVRpzPho18C1XYfwZKZ8FVIdaKri0vtw5TUZB2Gp0rEPfTfPQbxUmXXnGf-KhHO34eOxSOZaB9NAkuiXFAAA_j25oVD585tb8LnQH686GRdWer3h6z9piFa-Y0wgU8fz2VexFJSKhfG/s640/IMG_3979.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some 45-ish minutes from the beak, we arrived at Jumbo Hut, where we took the opportunity for another break before the dreaded descent down rain gauge spur.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKQtmVtXCSUHlM4nsYGkt3PBGq7R82crhRlWST8kr34bqBOoGUECNKe0ofAhfD7JdTBr0Va5Onwdsr49wW89gptLGr_xgKc5v8WxLvJiYW2pdC8U8SOPOE-vsgJi_vz3Njsuk3ZxxaN1b/s2048/IMG_3981.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKQtmVtXCSUHlM4nsYGkt3PBGq7R82crhRlWST8kr34bqBOoGUECNKe0ofAhfD7JdTBr0Va5Onwdsr49wW89gptLGr_xgKc5v8WxLvJiYW2pdC8U8SOPOE-vsgJi_vz3Njsuk3ZxxaN1b/s640/IMG_3981.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvXKNbewMRtT1sYiOcSEh-rPhrgFGy5bUMJ9BhDsgPT_dXxEUyZHZaOq1Zl8WUEIopjjdwf1pE1HmxsGat1GytKxQrKW2a070Zz9kEjqfhtdlMzCRJBr8iGKpTc0UK6yXU5KYPP-Sgfvy/s2048/IMG_3990.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvXKNbewMRtT1sYiOcSEh-rPhrgFGy5bUMJ9BhDsgPT_dXxEUyZHZaOq1Zl8WUEIopjjdwf1pE1HmxsGat1GytKxQrKW2a070Zz9kEjqfhtdlMzCRJBr8iGKpTc0UK6yXU5KYPP-Sgfvy/w512-h342/IMG_3990.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9kJzroM1pH67JdGF-BTArJrmRLDPkbTZnwiOY0zdG0EUfhnnN3JHWDMVoW4kdUzuKUnuYV4JFq8_NAyf-WiYCLUsIimKt01A6Rs_nbH64STgUfzsPvxGIQbEdDJ6aPh-vW3bGmc50CM9/s2048/IMG_3997.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9kJzroM1pH67JdGF-BTArJrmRLDPkbTZnwiOY0zdG0EUfhnnN3JHWDMVoW4kdUzuKUnuYV4JFq8_NAyf-WiYCLUsIimKt01A6Rs_nbH64STgUfzsPvxGIQbEdDJ6aPh-vW3bGmc50CM9/w342-h512/IMG_3997.JPG" width="342" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5dwMHjVPD4d9jpw_Q_tjRxSh4LRTrf31R4FQ2KLLl5uojY8EAvFdFgHCO4Ip4yCii3yjqBvUyFh4a0JNkZ1m6KDJKwRmRjZYG3oWoJhzKZaXxPoMd1zOBsetoq8ZJAZewtDbH60t0LV0/s2048/IMG_4001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5dwMHjVPD4d9jpw_Q_tjRxSh4LRTrf31R4FQ2KLLl5uojY8EAvFdFgHCO4Ip4yCii3yjqBvUyFh4a0JNkZ1m6KDJKwRmRjZYG3oWoJhzKZaXxPoMd1zOBsetoq8ZJAZewtDbH60t0LV0/w512-h342/IMG_4001.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Le8C6Pqe5NMR1UUkXRBtSfsFHGi9cXcQMNwcW5AodEPyHMiKVLIk_HVG6LkXLx5Z37okKMZAPGjA_mhycsFRAmaPkRk3OG4ykr4Mhao_q83pi4Qj7IXfwS42FViEwEAgDucbU7YCsIAM/s2048/IMG_4005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Le8C6Pqe5NMR1UUkXRBtSfsFHGi9cXcQMNwcW5AodEPyHMiKVLIk_HVG6LkXLx5Z37okKMZAPGjA_mhycsFRAmaPkRk3OG4ykr4Mhao_q83pi4Qj7IXfwS42FViEwEAgDucbU7YCsIAM/w512-h342/IMG_4005.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDawAC3K2piMbcFDU6gbapIPaxBSZwpIGy9BvxKkgBtUVbJcJD0TJ685OwcD7KUvkHLThPPNf1wBQ6-2AdMsYt3G-F4mATRL70e-SzCUblS8q5jIVvAjkTPlNQJ1rr29aca1FJeGLtUfb/s2048/20200802_161443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDawAC3K2piMbcFDU6gbapIPaxBSZwpIGy9BvxKkgBtUVbJcJD0TJ685OwcD7KUvkHLThPPNf1wBQ6-2AdMsYt3G-F4mATRL70e-SzCUblS8q5jIVvAjkTPlNQJ1rr29aca1FJeGLtUfb/w384-h512/20200802_161443.jpg" width="384" /><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below Jumbo Hut, the track quickly enters a mossy forest of stunted, twisted beech. Even as the altitude lessens and the trees straighten, the thick moss and lush undergrowth lend the spur an almost mystical feel. "Trees are trees," you might be tempted to think, yet both Cody and myself both noted how markedly different this spur seemed, compared to the track up Mt Holdsworth, a short distance to the south.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The tracks drops rapidly from 1200m at Jumbo Hut to 480m at Atiwhakatu over its 2.6km length. Frequently knee-crunchingly steep, and containing an abundance of homicidal tree roots and loose detritus, the descent is slow. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Atiwhakatu Hut is visible through the trees a few minutes before it's reached, at which point it's a very welcome sight. I had a thought about then, that perhaps the best level of difficulty for a tramp is the level that's just enough to make a hard bench seat and a packet of dehy at the end of the day seem like the best things in the world. It was just about 5pm by the time we reached the hut.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Being a Sunday, it was unsurprising when we found ourselves the sole occupants of the hut for the night., which was a nice change from Powell the night before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next morning we departed at 10:20, thankful for the flat, well-maintained nature of today.s track. I've described this track in detail before so I won't bother doing so again. Instead, here's some photos:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M8t8w9M-j3k82_FyZoFbVMfkvRLXTTKteL5ShRDRR88znE_YbMehC62lOv-jtiudsdqstkzeQYAMW0BYPIFMRmo4Ict_cXpdLyVxjm-ySEw_E0Usi8sqtGGUm-N_xBGXh_nyDkpQgvlH/s2048/IMG_4023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M8t8w9M-j3k82_FyZoFbVMfkvRLXTTKteL5ShRDRR88znE_YbMehC62lOv-jtiudsdqstkzeQYAMW0BYPIFMRmo4Ict_cXpdLyVxjm-ySEw_E0Usi8sqtGGUm-N_xBGXh_nyDkpQgvlH/s640/IMG_4023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHTg-5N8rC1uWZqSyw7yKEgU3sdVHunrvwnzyXGBUHCu5n2QVVhDPlb0MO5YAE7QX-h4wKxBwZyPq62PBfHzCCvPsEx_VgQjfsUwvUEdaTlNrLKp_3VZlzGRGG2S1Igkz82xynotta1nu/s2048/IMG_4024.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHTg-5N8rC1uWZqSyw7yKEgU3sdVHunrvwnzyXGBUHCu5n2QVVhDPlb0MO5YAE7QX-h4wKxBwZyPq62PBfHzCCvPsEx_VgQjfsUwvUEdaTlNrLKp_3VZlzGRGG2S1Igkz82xynotta1nu/s640/IMG_4024.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxIEOpp03-WiLueV9hhkGQW_sN9TDdXIhb7NBQQdr2zeVQt_XmgiA2Z-GBZcRBvq-jblVjtxzfC2wYBpJEUzkj-x2CdmgV4yL0CNcX5o9fAWmdwl4YipJyXTQXREWw5zTt0EVOFmgznd7/s2048/IMG_4028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxIEOpp03-WiLueV9hhkGQW_sN9TDdXIhb7NBQQdr2zeVQt_XmgiA2Z-GBZcRBvq-jblVjtxzfC2wYBpJEUzkj-x2CdmgV4yL0CNcX5o9fAWmdwl4YipJyXTQXREWw5zTt0EVOFmgznd7/s640/IMG_4028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU5fIetCkQKWL4QmfRfSbdQRq3KWWXl2ginhNICbBWXyoG8dThFuedLxRR381dUTQRTqvEYXT7d-b5bAnKB6r2BUgrDr0wLu6nxe4ALikA7yhtLs2cl1LvjS5YF5ikhzvIy9x9xOPdAfx/s2048/IMG_4035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU5fIetCkQKWL4QmfRfSbdQRq3KWWXl2ginhNICbBWXyoG8dThFuedLxRR381dUTQRTqvEYXT7d-b5bAnKB6r2BUgrDr0wLu6nxe4ALikA7yhtLs2cl1LvjS5YF5ikhzvIy9x9xOPdAfx/s640/IMG_4035.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrcBH7DRHNYsd7C3Kb9JPNhgk6vuUaKb40gmwII0TImO24qiYmsj69djZmMRWSoUSxcjr7OpOYv6y6aa_6Ki_y7W2k87ELPpiZT5yxAuSXusqDriMoSNUZstZ_R9h-HaAyT13HO2qzW8V/s2048/IMG_4039.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrcBH7DRHNYsd7C3Kb9JPNhgk6vuUaKb40gmwII0TImO24qiYmsj69djZmMRWSoUSxcjr7OpOYv6y6aa_6Ki_y7W2k87ELPpiZT5yxAuSXusqDriMoSNUZstZ_R9h-HaAyT13HO2qzW8V/s640/IMG_4039.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW3gRR-Q9GZK7KEHVau4I1YyHsN7SNiaMHubgYqI2HK1rq0DDj0G1mM3R65A0EJeuTjrxkQqA1hiUfXf9U4DzKms_oHCCQdkqxisVkncF5jVGx-g0xVR1MWaV7uGZjaysM9200Sa15jLj/s2048/IMG_4047.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW3gRR-Q9GZK7KEHVau4I1YyHsN7SNiaMHubgYqI2HK1rq0DDj0G1mM3R65A0EJeuTjrxkQqA1hiUfXf9U4DzKms_oHCCQdkqxisVkncF5jVGx-g0xVR1MWaV7uGZjaysM9200Sa15jLj/s640/IMG_4047.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XxX3BneVcakMIPXhW6Hh6W8bzqNo5JtveUQ7Fy3cfHr_aCSbAxBRKnfQ5zcEFt3yuCxrwMbdjMp_0c2KLUFvbOecjYeqdb7BBYVz-VBc6JMU9m1zUW5sN_mMCqoiqN58NfTNcfbhKiHF/s2048/IMG_4049.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XxX3BneVcakMIPXhW6Hh6W8bzqNo5JtveUQ7Fy3cfHr_aCSbAxBRKnfQ5zcEFt3yuCxrwMbdjMp_0c2KLUFvbOecjYeqdb7BBYVz-VBc6JMU9m1zUW5sN_mMCqoiqN58NfTNcfbhKiHF/s640/IMG_4049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1_PPsXfx_040NxofMEO-iCelqbemQcbj750fWO658jz5FdR30vv0RQvu2MTjj8WRHKnxqAyU7nZrmqSvboKevv67l5NbIKOMVwr9aYERPAlUf8C0VVNwW6ARhizPHmbrLEN3z2LHEBo4/s2048/IMG_4065.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1_PPsXfx_040NxofMEO-iCelqbemQcbj750fWO658jz5FdR30vv0RQvu2MTjj8WRHKnxqAyU7nZrmqSvboKevv67l5NbIKOMVwr9aYERPAlUf8C0VVNwW6ARhizPHmbrLEN3z2LHEBo4/s640/IMG_4065.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 hour & 50 mins later we were back in the carpark, the 6.8km from Atiwhakatu passing in well-graded ease. The only thing of note along the way was that at the large slip about 2.4km from the hut, the track has been diverted again, now crossing along the bottom of the slip. Looks like some of it's current path follows a previous alignment, given the presence of old retaining boards and the like. Presumably the slip has stabilised enough at the bottom that it's no longer worth continually re-routing the track higher and higher every time it moves at the top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Slip diversion aside (pun intended), another brilliant excursion across the Holdsworth-Jumbo. Not much more to say than that really.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Map:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkpKebNJAGAemoMAQDqoFgs8JoHP594jE2HEcWw-d_QtoduVYuYp_AOJT5naTQIBWILYLFdir0nl1mjz2YjC8QMZvOEOSPd8xvfdHgC-AVOecGDSyu5xfwKXeRcFch_dHBchGTbi-n403/s2048/h-j+map-page-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1599" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkpKebNJAGAemoMAQDqoFgs8JoHP594jE2HEcWw-d_QtoduVYuYp_AOJT5naTQIBWILYLFdir0nl1mjz2YjC8QMZvOEOSPd8xvfdHgC-AVOecGDSyu5xfwKXeRcFch_dHBchGTbi-n403/w625-h800/h-j+map-page-001.jpg" width="625" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Trip data:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 1<b> - </b>Holdsworth carpark to Powell Hut: 8.24km, 4hours 21mins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 2 - Powell Hut to Mt Holdsworth: 1.8km, ~1 hour. Mt Holdsworth to Jumbo Hut: 4.24km, ~4 hours. Jumbo Hut to Atiwhakatu Hut: 2.42km, ~2 hours. Total: 8.46km, 6:57 (Could readily be done much faster).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 3: Atiwhakatu Hut to Carpark: 6.78km, 1:50.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Note: distances are from GPS data imported to Memory-Map. Recorded distances were higher on GPS track log. Something about measurement intervals, jitter, and interpolation errors with software vs. GPS unit.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Elevation Profiles:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBe9dPvtnIfF9ZaLdGN1D9ZSKPmCHsXtS3zBvomMu7SxwdcrjJ74bpIQavuWUEeZLSXcdU3l2MhWMxXvf2ybdCldMDGvbOusRp9ZGgSvtUFgYmamBzeDopEvAm2f7rmYyZ3PY4_89lZkn/s1696/Screenshot+%252810%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1696" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBe9dPvtnIfF9ZaLdGN1D9ZSKPmCHsXtS3zBvomMu7SxwdcrjJ74bpIQavuWUEeZLSXcdU3l2MhWMxXvf2ybdCldMDGvbOusRp9ZGgSvtUFgYmamBzeDopEvAm2f7rmYyZ3PY4_89lZkn/s640/Screenshot+%252810%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Vaguely Dangerous Wilderness</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="417" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6B5KZdY4hWM" width="505" youtube-src-id="6B5KZdY4hWM"></iframe></div> </b></span><br /></div></div></div>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-25509294692203857392020-06-15T12:19:00.004+12:002020-06-19T22:29:03.977+12:00Soggy StagHerein lies the delayed re-telling of an early winter tramp to Roaring Stag Hut. As with many tramps over the years, the intented destination was originally not Roaring Stag, but come Sunday 31st of May that's exactly where we were heading.<br />
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The wet weather had not put off others heading out for a long weekend, post Covid-19 lockdown tramp either, and he roadend carpark was full when we arrived early Sunday afternoon.<br />
I've recounted the details of this track many times, so I will refrain from doing so again, except to add that the weather was not as bad as anticipated, even if the showers near-constant.<br />
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By the time we had descended off the ridge for the final strecth to the hut, the darkness was setting in and we made the remainder of the journey by the light of headlamps. Within a kilometre from the hut we encountered a hunter heading the other way, who we later found out was bound for the roadend from Cow Creek Hut.<br />
Soon enough we arrived at to find the fire going and the hut nice and warm, courtesy of the six other trampers already in residence.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsKseCY5jySgdkOrbjH2c_mVRyYAlX1JzoUFHM7lRprnRWKrh1Ww9ApGjhQgUwEnX6AybhlG_FlOLAVra0tJ2FAkc3sLP3NPJyqtD9iWHhe2HwwHxdL1wklpZhBir2X6s-IzUBtLEDkjS/s1600/20200531_171441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsKseCY5jySgdkOrbjH2c_mVRyYAlX1JzoUFHM7lRprnRWKrh1Ww9ApGjhQgUwEnX6AybhlG_FlOLAVra0tJ2FAkc3sLP3NPJyqtD9iWHhe2HwwHxdL1wklpZhBir2X6s-IzUBtLEDkjS/s640/20200531_171441.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night time track</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night time hut</td></tr>
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The weather had taken a turn for the worst by the next day, the showers of Sunday developing into that kind of persistent Tararua rain that doesn't seem that heavy but manages to be somehow a lot wetter than you'd think.<br />
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As we were leaving the hut, we encountered a pair of saturated trampers coming from Cow Creek Hut. It was them who told us about the hunter we'd come across the night before - whilst they had stopped at Cow Creek for the night, the hunter had continued on from Dundas (I think), all the way to the roadend.<br />
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Aside from the rain, mud was the other constant on the track, with the fun little twist that muddy bits of track were so waterlogged that the puddles on top of the mud rinsed the mud off our boots.<br />
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The rain slowly soaking us made for a decent motivator, and we were back at the roadend just and 3.5 hours arfter leaving the hut, with minimal slipping on wet ground along the way. Saturated but satisfied after finally getting out in the hills after a long hiatus.Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-53708195387654927302019-12-31T18:18:00.000+13:002019-12-31T18:18:01.634+13:00Yule-time HerepaiThe road to hell is, as the saying goes, paved with good intentions. So, apparently, is the track to Herepai Hut. The intentions in this case being to spend a night during the Christmas holidays by the river at Roaring Stag Hut.<br />
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It all began, as all tramps do, at the roadend, where an abundance of vehicles congregated by the trees. Dreams of blissful solitude shattered, we trudged off up the track in the summer sun.<br />
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Travel up the valley was (as it usually is) pleasant, the track winding its way through verdant undergrowth alongside the Mangatainoka river.<br />
After a swingbridge crosses a side-stream, it's a solid slog straight up to the ridge. It's hardly the most enjoyable ascent but it thankfully doesn't last forever.<br />
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We had been discussing along the way how it seemed most likely that most, if not all, of the people whose cars occupied the roadend would've gone to Roaring Stag - by far the nicer of the two huts in the immediate vicinity. It was not out-of-the-blue then, when upon arrival at the track junction, that one of us said "we could just go to Herepai, no one will be there right?"<br />
After much discussion and weighing of pros and cons, our lazy and antisocial predilections won out, and our destination was reset to Herepai Hut.<br />
We then set of with renewed energy, knowing our destination was less than an hours walk away. The track is very muddy in places, despite it being the height of summer.<br />
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As it turned out, we were not alone at Herepai - a kid/teen and his dog were in residence - but at least there wasn't a crowd.<br />
It being the festive season, we had a Christmas dinner of ham, smoked chicken and mac & cheese (only after some pre-dinner cheese and crackers). There was, of course, also a Christmas tree replete with candy canes. The remainder of the evening was wiled away with cards and booze.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mysterious hut dog</td></tr>
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After a slow wake up the next morning, we fried up our left-over ham and chicken for a tasty start to the day.<br />
We hoofed it back down to the junction, making fairly good time. The going is slower heading down to the river, largely neccessitated by the homicidal tree roots that conspire to trip you over at any opportunity.<br />
Once back across the swingbridge it's a pleasant amble back to road-end.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUn5NaeggngoHmQ7T-cJc85FqAIrV5nr5jkU_BSS0o9P01xQiP6itQ1D7UAdAj6B_eUyeYtkMdKsWDJ8uI9hT6V6rvAXXHXq7X4oFo7aKO6SoFDaO7Z54R2ho_dEfFO6PQwo-22PFaWTKA/s1600/20191229_075338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUn5NaeggngoHmQ7T-cJc85FqAIrV5nr5jkU_BSS0o9P01xQiP6itQ1D7UAdAj6B_eUyeYtkMdKsWDJ8uI9hT6V6rvAXXHXq7X4oFo7aKO6SoFDaO7Z54R2ho_dEfFO6PQwo-22PFaWTKA/s640/20191229_075338.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brew with a view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Map & Info:</b><br />
Distance: 6.04km<br />
Time: 3:34 in, 2:51 out<br />
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<br />Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-5859752226627218472019-12-02T20:53:00.000+13:002019-12-02T21:02:31.388+13:00Blue Range HutI'd been hankering for a night in the woods for a while, and it so happened that the weekend I finally resolved to do something about it I also found myself obliged to visit my parents.<br />
Having not settled on a destination, I revised my criteria to huts near Masterton within a few hours of the roadend.<br />
Atiwhakatu? Nah, been there not that long ago and, dear I say, too easy?<br />
Powell? Again, been there recently, and slightly too long.<br />
How about... Blue Range Hut? 3.6km from the Kiriwhakapapa camp ground, nice wee hut I've not been to for years, Blue Range it is.<br />
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And so I marched off up the gloriously flat track, my half-full pack bouncing around merrily. The track crosses a small foot bridge over the Kiriwhakapapa Stream less than than a minute from the start, before passing through a grove of towering redwoods, shortly coming to another footbridge over an un-named side-stream. On the other side of the footbridge, a junction is met. A piece of DOCware points left to the loop track, whilst I kept going straight. The track remains wide and even, following the path of the just-out-of-site Reef Creek.<br />
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About 1km from the start, after crossing a small creek, the track begins to climb. Early on, parts of the track are surrounded on both sides by thick tangles of black vines that create a foreboding sense that one should not be there. The track is also indistinct in a couple of places, where it looks like it has been re-routed to avoid fallen trees and the like.<br />
Soon enough, the track becomes a fairly typical Tararua uphill slog, climbing insistently higher for about 2.5km.<br />
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The undergrowth is lush and green, and as the altitude increases, moss begins to encase the surrounding landscape.<br />
It is in such goblin forest that a track junction is reached, ~3.3km from the start. The left branch continues up an over Blue Range to the Waingawa River and Cow Creek Hut, whilst the right branch heads north along the ridge to Blue Range Hut.<br />
It had begun to rain lightly some time ago, and was now getting heavier. Gaps in the scrub that would usually provide a view further into the ranges, instead provided views of a dull grey fug and gusts of cold wind. Thankfully, the hut is only ~600m from the junction, so it was not long before its dented blue corrugated iron walls came into view. I took me a shade under 2 hours to reach the hut.<br />
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There's nothing quite like the feeling of arriving at a hut during bad weather, a mixture of relief and a simple sort of joy. Suffice it to say I was pleased to able to remove wet outerware and settle in nice and cosy for the evening. There's a particular kind of contentment you find sitting in quaint little hut like this, rugged up warm, dining on dehy, reading the latest <i>Wilderness</i> magazine with the fire crackling in the background while wind and rain huffs and puffs relentlessly outside.<br />
Unfortunately, none of this translated to a good nights sleep but hey, you win some, you lose some.<br />
At least the rain let up before nightfall, so I could get a couple of decent photos.<br />
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It's probably been said many times before, but I'll say it again: Blue Range hut is an absolute gem. It's difficult to articulate what exactly is so likeable about it, but it just exudes charm and character. It's great that places like this still exist, and that people out there care enough to maintain them.<br />
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I reluctantly removed myself from my sleeping bag the next morning to the sounds of wind and rain. I contemplated how wet I may or may not get over a morning brew.<br />
Turns out, I needn't have worried, as the rain had abated when I departed the hut at 8am after photographing some of the old maps and signs that adorn the hut.<br />
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The walk out was fairly pleasant, although the going is necessarily slow to avoid taking a tumble down the steeper parts of the track.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr668JBWeaSNZ6IH-ce-4Aijm7xLUq3iMQzuH2fuaXi4HHoKP66LR8B8DFGv9mJb3H-jfIGzR0W4CRhTYPC7W6oWK86bPf4FQlpGTUWVGwVpHyAsETghDG-auYQ_l7-e1UJUR4FRpaOrce/s1600/20191202_081231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr668JBWeaSNZ6IH-ce-4Aijm7xLUq3iMQzuH2fuaXi4HHoKP66LR8B8DFGv9mJb3H-jfIGzR0W4CRhTYPC7W6oWK86bPf4FQlpGTUWVGwVpHyAsETghDG-auYQ_l7-e1UJUR4FRpaOrce/s640/20191202_081231.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possibly my favourite track junction.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdHlC65XgJPMqekA2FnXb5_7yknxhh8tl2la9wJHVB2-ULUvOY4-fOkS_a68I5Q8g1sF_Q0eYrbGKmNb3eXoEXGVnAUrh3PotBt1B50olYx_mFRSealOR0eaf6yWeWfw_qXE37g5ixerk/s1600/20191202_081511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdHlC65XgJPMqekA2FnXb5_7yknxhh8tl2la9wJHVB2-ULUvOY4-fOkS_a68I5Q8g1sF_Q0eYrbGKmNb3eXoEXGVnAUrh3PotBt1B50olYx_mFRSealOR0eaf6yWeWfw_qXE37g5ixerk/s400/20191202_081511.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mossy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The afore-mentioned vines on the side of the track</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redwoods</td></tr>
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I was back at my car after 1hr45min, satisfied despite the very brief nature of this tramp. Sometimes just being out in the hills visiting a gem of a hut is its own reward.<br />
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<b>Info & Map:</b><br />
Distance: 3.87km<br />
Time: 1:55 inbound, 1:46 outbound<br />
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<br />Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-2145462879113862762019-08-26T18:43:00.000+12:002019-10-15T20:13:02.706+13:00Powell Hut 2: Electric BoogalooSome time in 1937, the Hutt Valley Tramping Club built a hut on the upper slopes of Mt Holdsworth. The hut was rebuilt in 1981 and lasted 18 years before burning down in 1999. The hut was rebuilt again in 2000 and lasted another 18 years before assessments of its structural integrity led to the decision by DOC to rebuild Powell Hut (which had become the most popular hut in the Tararuas) again. The new hut was completed in July 2019.<br />
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It's not hard to see why the hut is such a popular destination: it possesses a winning combination of great location; easy access; a well maintained track through a great part of the forest; and best of all, despite sitting at quite a high altitude, the track up Mt Holdsworth isn't really that steep (by Tararua standards at least). <br />
So, when looking for somewhere to go for a winter tramp, checking out the new Powell Hut was an easy decision.<br />
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We set off up the Gentle Annie track shortly after midday, arriving at the rocky lookout just over an hour later.<br />
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After rocky lookout, there's a little more uphill before reaching the Mt Holdsworth/Totara Flats track junction - which is also roughly the halfway point - where we ran into a group from the VUW tramping club who were heading for Totara Flats.<br />
From the junction it's a quick walk across the pleasantly flat Pig Flat to Mountain House shelter. By this point we'd been walking for about 2.5 hours and covered 6.3km.<br />
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The Gentle Annie track winds its slowly up the hill through some indulgently scenic forest, from the towering trees of the mixed beech and podocarp forest around Donnelly Flat to the stunted sub-alpine trees at pig flat, and moss-covered gnarled beech goblin forest.<br />
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Almost immediately after Mountain House, the track begins to climb steeply toward Powell Hut. By way of compensation, the scenery is lush and the bird life abundant, which provides many a good excuse to stop and catch your breath.<br />
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The last kilometre or so consists of many stairs of questionable quality, some of which are substantially less convenient than just scrambling up the hillside. On the plus side, patches of the track just below the hut are out of tree cover, providing excellent views. Occasional patches of snow sat around the track, and on the nearby peaks.<br />
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A slow 2 hours after reaching Mountain House we finally arrived at Powell Hut. The new hut seems to stick out above the hillside more than the previous one, despite being in the same place and not being that much bigger.<br />
The door off the large front deck leads to a generously sized entry room thing for removing boots, etc. out of the elements. Inside, one end of the hut contains the cooking and dining area, which is a similar layout to what it was before, and still has big windows providing a view over the Wairarapa. The other end of the hut contains wardens quarters and 4 bunk rooms (2 6-person and 2 10-person) with standard DOC sleeping platforms and mattresses, as well as shelving for pack storage.<br />
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The hut was at or near capacity for the night, with a school group occupying much of the space. That being said, I've been in noisier huts and had worse nights sleep.<br />
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The next morning we decided to follow the school group (who were heading over Holdsworth and down the east holdsworth track) up the track a ways, in search of more substantial snow. The wind was blowing and icy cold, but skies were otherwise clear.<br />
We ended up going all the way to the top of Mount Holdsworth - an unplanned detour that ended up being the best part of the tramp. <br />
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Heavy grey cloud had begun to shroud the peak as we approached, and was well and truly settled by the time we arrived. All the while the wind raged on as we took many a photo and stomped around in snow that was knee-deep in a few places.<br />
Soon enough we were on our way back down to Powell to pick up our packs and hoof it back down to the car park.<br />
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Shortly after taking a quick break at Mountain House, we made another decision to take an unplanned diversion. Rather than continue back down the Gentle Annie, we instead took the River Ridge track on a whim to check out somewhere new.<br />
The track is typical of the Tararuas - plenty of mud and roots and the kind of descent you feel in your knees, but fun none-the-less.<br />
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The bottom of the spur is reached after ~2km of continuous descent, and the track joins the Atiwhakatu track. From there, it's a nice and easy ~3km to the carpark.<br />
All up, the return journey from Powell took just over 3 hours to cover 7.74km.<br />
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<b>GPS Data:</b><br />
Carpark to Powell via Gentle Annie: 8.32km, 4 hours 32 minutes.<br />
Powell Hut to capark via River Ridge and Atiwhakatu track: 3 hours and 11 minutes.<br />
(Powell Hut to Holdsworth peak not recorded)<br />
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<b>Maps:</b><br />
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<b> Altitude Profiles:</b><br />
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<b>Vaguely Dangerous Wilderness:</b><br />
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Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-66978107799783409502019-04-04T22:12:00.001+13:002019-04-04T22:12:31.209+13:00Mitre FlatsMemory is a fickle and unreliable thing, perhaps even more so when it comes to tramping. The hut is always "just around the next bend, I'm sure of it," and "I swear this hill wasn't so high last time." Memories of tramping always seem to paint over any of the less pleasant aspects of the trip, and so it turned out to be with Mitre Flats.<br />
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The sun was high and the sky more or less clear as the car pulled up at the deceptively named Pines carpark on Upper Waingawa Rd near Masterton - the carpark being a slightly wider patch of road lined with gum trees.<br />
For the first 2km, a farm track winds it's way across open farmland, quickly reaching the park boundary.<br />
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Shortly after, the track begins to climb above the Waingawa River. The track is slippery and narrow, at times rocky, covered in roots, or seemingly about to fall off the side of the hill.<br />
Initially, the track is fairly open as it wends its way around the hill sides, often allowing views down to the river or further in to the ranges.<br />
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It was at about this point that the differences between reality and over-5-year-old memories began to become apparent. What I remembered as a fairly straight forward hillside sidle was somewhat more technical.<br />
The going was slow, with much attention needed for foot placement. Short climbs and descents (often in and out of creek beds) are common and steep, and there was much scrambling on hands and knees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUL8AZfrB9prv1CoPX6irUU5OSIjgJj-O2_5qKhZ-E_BGKGWuTJszkjuNsPDV2gHdApX6HHPhgHddFANvFqUzSrfTdj3q7M6d4EIUBn3dtrU7MIBUtDZsqQK73CkV4G2tD84mFn9_-TOR/s1600/P3300032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUL8AZfrB9prv1CoPX6irUU5OSIjgJj-O2_5qKhZ-E_BGKGWuTJszkjuNsPDV2gHdApX6HHPhgHddFANvFqUzSrfTdj3q7M6d4EIUBn3dtrU7MIBUtDZsqQK73CkV4G2tD84mFn9_-TOR/s400/P3300032.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the tamer sections of track.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were, mercifully, easy going sections between having to use tree roots as ladders.<br />
Perhaps the most insidious thing was not the narrow, slippery track or steep scrambles, but the annoying hook grass. Incidentally, I had also opted not to wear gaiters on this trip. This was a poor decision.<br />
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Eventually, the track drops steeply and spits you out in patch of tussocky grass by a suspension bridge over the Waingawa River. After crossing the bridge, it's a quick jaunt over to Mitre Flats Hut. We reached the hut after 5 hours, a time that turned out to be fairly consistent across most of the other hut occupants I spoke to.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mitre Flat from the hut verandah.</td></tr>
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Mitre Flats Hut sits on the edge of a small grassy flat. The serviced hut is somehow small but open and airy at the same time. The hut was almost full when we arrived, and we claimed the remaining two of the huts fourteen matresses. By the time people stopped showing up there ended up being two sleeping on the verandah and 6 (ish) in tents.<br />
Needless to say, the hut's cooking and dining area was crowded, so we opted to relax, cook and eat on the spacious verandah.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tasty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Following a tasty stew eaten out of a hollowed out bread loaf, it was time for a well earned sleep. Luckily, everyone else was pretty quiet and considerate, so I managed to get a pretty decent nights sleep.<br />
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The next morning, a heavy fog sat over the flats as I sipped a hot beverage and contemplated the meaning of life and other such things.<br />
After a bacon-based breakfast that was over all to soon, it was time to pack up and roll out.<br />
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The walk out was, unsurprisingly, much the same as the walk in, albeit slightly drier and thus less slippery. No shortage of scrambles and hook grass though.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mitre, possibly</td></tr>
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There were plenty of birds out and about, the squeaks of fantails and song of the grey warbler a near constant companion, interspersed with what might have been tui and/or bellbirds. The fantails, and a lone kereru made themselves visible. The rest of the bird life kept out of view.<br />
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About 5 hours later we were back at the carpark. Scratched, mildly bruised, a tad achey but satisfied and happy. And if that's not the sign of a great tramp, I don't know what is.<br />
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<b>GPS Data: </b>(inbound)<br />
Distance: 8.47km<br />
Overall average speed (including stops): 1.6km/h<br />
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<b>Map:</b><br />
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<b>GPS Altitude Profile:</b><br />
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<b> </b>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-29324904560231380922018-11-22T21:21:00.000+13:002018-11-22T22:05:53.756+13:00Do the Roar... ing Stag HutThrough some convenient rostering shenanigans, I ended up with a free Saturday. So, instead of catching up on chores or other such productive pursuits, it was time for a tramp.<br />
In our usual fashion, the destination was one that caused the least trouble for my licence-less companion - in this case Roaring Stag Hut.<br />
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I was a bit surprised to arrive at the end of Putara Rd in the early afternoon to find an abundance of cars parked up.After adding my own car to the collection, we headed of down the track.<br />
Part way up the track, Cody and I were discussing how it looked different, settling on the conclusion that we had become so used to seeing the area during or shortly after rain, that seeing it sunny and dry was quite unusual to us. The track was littered with bright yellow-brown leaves and golden sunlight filtered down through the forest canopy.<br />
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As it always is, the climb up the ridge from the swingbridge was a slog
that pretty much never lets up until the track begins to level out among
the spindly beech forest and sparse undergrowth at the top of the
ridge. A couple of hours, and much sweat later, we had arrived the track junction, which was partially blocked by a fallen tree.<br />
<br />
Taking the left-hand track, we then headed south toward the hut. Coming down off the ridge, the track meets a picturesque stream that it then follows for a distance before crossing it shortly before the hut.<br />
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The track contains fairly frequent patches of boot-top deep mud, but is mercifully flat, aside from brief steep up-and-down bits to cross the two streams before the hut.<br />
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As an interesting aside, the track sticks very close to the true right of the stream, veering away slightly before crossing that same stream. The Topo50 maps, however, show the track being some distance from the streams true left bank. Memory-Map shows a track (allegedly from DOC data) to the true right of stream so I had assumed this was correct and LINZ were wrong. My GPS data instead show that the LINZ track is correct - the maps actually have the stream in the wrong place.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second stream crossing</td></tr>
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Shortly after crossing the first stream, a second stream, shallower than the first, is crossed. It's perfectly possible to cross both streams without getting wet, although you could fill your boots if you really wanted to.<br />
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We arrived at the hut to find a large family group sitting around a fire. Lucky for us, as children go, they were fairly tolerable.<br />
With plenty of daylight we were able to hang out around the river, eat cheese and crackers, cook and eat dinner, all before sunset.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late evening Ruamahanga River</td></tr>
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After a very restless night I was woken from the one patch of decent sleep I had by the sound of rustling sleeping bags and flatulence. Assuming it was still the middle of the night, I was surprised to roll over and see daylight through the window.<br />
The weather had regressed to the mean, and a familiar misty rain was drifting down the valley.<br />
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According to the hut book, some NZDA volunteers had given the hut a though cleaning about a year back, so the hut was in particularly good nick. The same can't be said for the longdrop, which, although surprisingly clean and free of spiders, did not have a particularly long drop. Disturbingly, daylight was seeping in below the toilet, courtesy of bizarre opening to the shit pit next to the crap shack.<br />
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Longdrop quirks aside, Roaring Stag is in a fantastic location, situated in a clearing above the Ruamahunga river. In fact, many of the comments in the hut books were something along the lines of "Great spot!" and "nice place!" which are simultaneously both accurate and cromulent yet woefully inadequate descriptions of this fine place. But hey, I couldn't describe it any better and I'm not limited to a small box in a DOC hut book.<br />
Also in the book was an entry from a party that included tramping luminary and writer Shaun Barnett and Wilderness Magazine editor Alastair Hall.<br />
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Eventually we plodded out into the rain, the track now looking comfortably familiar glistening in the rain, the golden hues of the first day long gone.<br />
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The trees seemed a particularly bright shade of green and the bird life was particularly active. The song of grey warblers and squeaks of fantails and possibly riflemen followed us all the way from hut to roadend. The rain had pretty much given up by the time we got to the swingbridge, and the remainder of the walk was a pleasant amble alongside the Mangatainoka River to the carpark.Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-82527783916875339912018-11-05T19:37:00.001+13:002018-11-22T22:04:45.986+13:00Tongariro Northern Circuit<b>Day 1 - Whakapapa Village to Waihohonu Hut</b><br />
The dull grey clouds were hanging low in the sky when I set off from the Whakapapa Village carpark at 11:30am. Somewhat embarrassingly, I was already breathing heavily when I got to the start of the track<b>.</b><br />
Luckily for me, the track is top notch - even, well-graded and well maintained.<b> </b>The track meanders through the tussock and scrub, on a clear day the open landscape would provide great views of the mountains, but even in the gloom it was still a sight to behold.<br />
It was a fairly short 45 minutes to the Taranaki Falls junction.<br />
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The base of the falls is a quick (but steep) detour off the Tama Lakes track, and well worth a look. The 20m falls plunge dramatically over the edge of an old lava flow.<br />
Once back at the junction, the well-marked track continues through the windswept landscape, slowly climbing toward Tama Saddle.<br />
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As Tama saddle is neared, the landscape gradually becomes more dramatic as the flanks of Ngauruhoe to the north-east and Ruapehu to the south come into view. The mountains themselves remained illusive, mostly hiding behind a thick veil of cloud.<br />
7.2km/2hr 10 min from the start, I reached the signposted junction for Tama Lakes, a pair of old craters now filled with water. I only went as far as the Lower Tama viewpoint, which was a great place to sit and eat for a few minutes.<br />
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From the junction, the track across Tama Saddle becomes more rugged, having left the world of touristy day walks behind. After the saddle, the track begins to descend slowly into the broad and open Waihohonu Valley.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tama Saddle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waihohonu Valley from Tama Saddle</td></tr>
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The views over the Waihohonu Valley are initially inspiring, and then a bit frustrating when I realised how far away the hut still was.<br />
Eventually, the track meets the Waihohonu Stream. From then on, the track is never far from the stream as Waihohonu Hut draws closer. I was slowing down at this point, not used to covering this kind of distance in a day. It was also about now that the rain, which had been coming and going all day, now began to properly set in.<br />
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The volcanic landscape is endlessly fascinating, which provides an excellent distraction the growing aches, suspicions of blister formation, and persistent rain.<br />
16.8km from the start, and not far from the hut, a signposted junction gives direction to the original Waihohonu Hut, built in 1903. <br />
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Shortly before reaching the current hut (it's 3rd incarnation) becomes visible. The swanky hut was a welcome sight after a long, and now quite damp, day.<br />
I reached the hut after 5hr 50mins (17.7km). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLMdfm1diFpPgsKoU5-PcGIYGxVObETP5RIFohThEQB8Na6i7PS4GJWMMVUeRI49xY0JoJvpcs-OhOFVPPkcPP0LYWkz6qCBNnblx6OZmo7LBIsbXvTGKMD0nx8e5C9bkSNrwBlkhG5hQ/s1600/PA299188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLMdfm1diFpPgsKoU5-PcGIYGxVObETP5RIFohThEQB8Na6i7PS4GJWMMVUeRI49xY0JoJvpcs-OhOFVPPkcPP0LYWkz6qCBNnblx6OZmo7LBIsbXvTGKMD0nx8e5C9bkSNrwBlkhG5hQ/s640/PA299188.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Welcome to the Chateau Waihohonu" - Sam, DOC Ranger</td></tr>
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The hut is warm, spacious and very well designed. It was very nearly full, but never felt crowded and there was always space to cook or sit and eat. The hut is also very well appointed, with solar powered lighting and hot water(!), and a very friendly DOC ranger named Sam.<br />
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<i><b>Day 1 GPS data:</b></i><br />
Total distance: 17.7km. Total time: 5 hr, 47 min. Overall average speed: 3.1km/h.<br />
Map:<br />
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<b>Day 2 - Waihohonu Hut to Oturere Hut</b><br />
There was plenty of cloud still hanging around as I hobbled around the hut, getting breakfast and packing up my gear. Thankfully the forecast was looking alright, and the tramp to Oturere much shorter than the previous day. With the weather currently holding out, and my pack ready to go, I decided to head out early, leaving the hut at around 8:15am.<br />
<b> </b><br />
From the hut, the track almost immediately enters beech forest reminiscent of parts of the Tararuas and drops down to a footbridge over the Waihohonu stream, then passing the camping site before beginning to climb up a ridge.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Section of track could easily be anywhere in the Tararuas</td></tr>
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The track leaves the forest near the top of the ridge, then re-enters it when descending down the other side. At the bottom, a bridge crosses another significant stream, then begins to climb again.<br />
Once the ascent is over and done with, the track follows a fairly direct path to Oturere.<br />
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I stopped briefly at a convenient sitting boulder at the top of the second ridge before heading on. The rest of the track is pretty easy going (as far as volcanoes go), undulating around the 1200m contour, crossing open gravel slopes with the odd rocky patch.<br />
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The track itself is inherently indistinct, but regular and abundant marker poles make it easy to follow. To the east, the desert road and nearby electricity pylons are visible, and Ngauruhoe looms to the west. With no need to hurry (and joints still aching from the day before) I dawdled through most of this day.<br />
Not far from the hut, a jagged and rocky land form (an old lava flow) makes a stark contrast to the relatively smooth slopes the track has crossed until the point. The track climbs steeply onto this old lava flow, and the hut is reached just under 1km later.<br />
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The welcome sight of Oturere hut appears relatively suddenly, nestled in the tussock at the end of the Oturere Valley lava flow. I reached the hut bang on 12pm.<br />
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The hut is cosy (read: small), with plenty of bunks but limited communal space. Like Waihohonu, the hut has solar powered lighting and a wood fire. Lucky for me, I was sharing the hut a good bunch of people, and a different friendly DOC ranger by the name of Jamie.<br />
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As an added bonus, there's a pretty cool waterfall that can be seen from just north of the hut (but can't be seen from the hut or the track). A narrow trail can be followed to the top of the waterfall (and also apparently to the bottom, but the climb back up put me off trying that out).<br />
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<i><b>Day 2 GPS data:</b></i><br />
Total distance: 8.1 km. Total time: 3 hr, 44 min. Overall average speed: 2.16 km/h.<br />
Map:<br />
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<b>Day 3 - Oturere Hut to Mangatepopo Hut</b><br />
After having plenty of time to rest up at Oturere, I felt quite refreshed as I departed. That, and the good forecast weather, had me in high spirits as I walked up the otherworldly Oturere Valley.<br />
It's difficult to describe this place, because there isn't really anything to compare it to. Bizarre rock formations surround the track; lumpy, jagged boulders litter the ground; the landscape is barren and alien - the result of ancient lava flows. It's a surreal place, and the mostly pretty flat gradient makes it all the more easy to enjoy. It's a landscape that could just as easily look at home in <i>Doctor Who</i> or <i>Star Trek</i> as it would in <i>Lord of the Rings</i>.<br />
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The indistinct form of Tongariro awaits at the head of the valley. It's a steep, but thankfully short climb up from the valley to central crater. The clearing cloud afforded excellent views back across the Oturere valley and towards the mountains, giving me ample excuse to stop and catch my breath.<br />
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As I got closer to the top, the ant-like forms of walkers on the Tongariro Apline Crossing became visible. <br />
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All of sudden the track crests the top of the incline and arrives at one
of the Emerald Lakes, and a completely different world to that of the
Oturere valley - the fairly flat basin of the central crater surrounded by the snowy peaks of Tongariro. It feels cheesy to describe something as magical and breathtaking but I can't think of better words. In fact, I distinctly remember saying something along the lines of "woah" and "holy shit that's magical."<br />
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The track moves around the lake and meets the TAC in the snowy central crater. The circuit heads south toward Red Crater, with the crossing continuing north across central crater to Blue Lake and Ketetahi.<br />
I decided to take a brief sojourn through the snow to blue lake.<br />
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It was an incredible place to be, and words and photos don't really do it justice, but suffice it to say that it was one of most spectacular and beautiful places I've ever been.<br />
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After returning to the junction, I ran into some fellow trampers from Oturere Hut and began the climb past the other Emerald Lakes up to Red Crater. It's quite a steep climb up loose scoria, although not as narrow as it looks from the bottom. There were also a great many TAC walkers coming down, so much patience and tourist-slalom skills were required.<br />
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Once again: absolutely beautiful and defies description.<br />
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The highest point of the track, Pt 1868, above red crater offers breathtaking views of the Tongariro Mountains and surrounding area.<br />
By this time, it had been 3hr50/6.77km since Oturere Hut, but I was far too lost in the views to notice how long I'd been walking.<br />
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From red crater, the track descends steeply over rocky terrain down to South Crater-that-technically-isn't-a-crater, the near perfect cone of Ngauruhoe looms constantly.<br />
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After the last bit of up and down, South Crater is mercifully flat. The track then zigs and zags down to the Mangatepopo valley.<br />
Near the top of the valley, the soda springs waterfall is worth checking out. From there it was a fairly straightforward walk to Mangatepopo hut. Although by this point I had begun to notice the aches and pains seeping back into my legs.<br />
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The track (much of it boardwalk), wends it's way between lava formations and tussock, alongside a small stream that would be aptly described as a babbling brook.<br />
Mangatepopo hut can be seen long before it is reached, and lies a short distance off the main track.<br />
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It took me a lot longer than the DOCtime of 5 hours to get to Mangatepopo - almost 7hr all up, but to be honest it still feels like I didn't spend enough time just soaking it all in.<br />
Needless to say I very much enjoyed a lie-down and hot meal before getting a good nights sleep.<br />
Mangatepopo was a comfortable hut with two bunkrooms off opposite sides of the communal cooking/dining area and a bit more space than Oturere. Like the others, the hut has solar lighting and gas cooking, but gas heating rather than a woodfire. The tussocky Mangatepopo valley and Ngauruhoe are visible from the large front decking.<br />
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<i><b>Day 3 GPS data:</b></i><br />
Total distance: 13.8 km. Total time: 6 hr, 47 min. Overall average speed: 2.03 km/h.<br />
Map:<br />
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<b>Day 4 - Mangatepopo Hut to Whakapapa Village</b><br />
Low cloud and misty rain greeted me when I woke up. Someone had fired up the gas heater so the hut was nice and warm though.<b> </b><i><b> </b></i><br />
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Layered up warm and dry, I headed out on what would hopefully be a short tramp back to Whakapapa Village. I had read that the track was in bad shape, heavily eroded and such, but it's really not as bad as all that. Sure, it's not up to the same <i>Great Walk</i><b> </b>standard as the rest of the circuit, but it's otherwise just a fairly standard tramping track.<br />
The track is indeed quite eroded and rutted in places, particularly badly in a few places, which can be annoying - but nothing to ruin your day.<br />
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The track heads roughly south over the flanks of Pukekaikiore and crosses a number of small but deep stream gullies (almost all of which were completely dry). Getting in and out of the gullies was often a bit of a scramble. At one point, the track briefly follows a tiny creek down one of these weird little gullies, which was pretty neat. Closer to Whakapapa, the track improves a bit, and crosses a few streams, most with the aid of bridges and stairs.<br />
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Not far from Whakapapa, beech forest starts popping up, and the track crosses a bridge over the Wairere stream and intersects the lower Taranaki Falls track. From there, it was about 20 minutes back to Whakapapa Village.<br />
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Although I was walking slowly at times, it was pretty much non-stop 3 hours back to Whakapapa and a comfy night at the Chateau.<br />
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<i><b>Day 4 GPS data</b></i><br />
Total distance: 9.31 km. Total time: 3 hr, 3 min. Overall average speed: 3.04 km/h.<br />
Map:<br />
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Without doubt, this was the single most spectacular tramp I've ever done. Not to denigrate the humble Tararuas, but there's something so unique and incomparable about crossing through and over an active volcanic landscape. Equal parts dramatic, awe-inspiring, rugged and beautiful, there's very good reasons why the Tongariro National Park is as popular as it is. A Great Walk indeed.<br />
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Total Distance: 48.9km.<br />
Map:<br />
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References:<br />
<a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/central-north-island/places/tongariro-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/tongariro-northern-circuit/">DOC - Tongariro Northern Circuit</a><br />
<a href="https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/trip/tongariro-northern-circuit-tongariro-national-park/">Wilderness Magazine</a>Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-29620294825519839522018-08-13T22:19:00.000+12:002018-08-13T22:19:12.120+12:00Powell Hut and Mt HoldsworthIt was an unsettlingly clear Sunday when I strode up the gravel walkway past Holdsworth lodge. Full sun, no clouds, and damn near warm - this was not the kind of weather one expects from the Tararuas in early August. Deciding it was better not to look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth, I headed off toward Donnelly Flat and the Gentle Annie Track, enjoying Tararua weather god Huey's fickle benevolence while it lasted.<br />
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The Gentle Annie is reached after quick, flat 1.2km, at which point it begins to climb gently up toward the rocky lookout and pig flat. After an hour, I reached Rocky Lookout (3km from the carpark) and stopped for a quick snack and photography break.<br />
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The gradient eases up as the track winds its way toward the Totara Creek track and Pig Flat. I was at the track junction (4.8km from the start) half an hour after leaving rocky lookout. Pig Flat, as the name implies, is very flat, so it was a quick 20 minutes through stunted trees and sun-blleached boardwalks from the junction to Mountain House (6.1km from the carpark).<br />
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Mountain house, a shelter built on the site of an old WTMC hut, serves as an excellent rest stop before the final ascent up the side of Mt Holdsworth to reach Powell Hutt. By the time I left Mountain House, it had been 2 hours and 20 minutes since I started out.<br />
Immediately after Mountain House, the track begins climbing much more steeply than any of the preceding ascent. It is, at this point, a case of so close yet so far, as the next 2km are the slowest part of the trip. The climb varies in steepness, but pretty much never lets up until Powell Hut is reached. Many sets of stairs, of varying degrees of helpfulness, punctuate the slog. At times I was grateful for the stairs, other times they seemed to make the going harder than it needed to be. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View over the Waiohine River and Totara Flats</td></tr>
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Having no need to hurry, I dawdled my my way up the hill, eventually
arriving at Powell about 1.5 hours after leaving Mountain House, around 4
hours all up.<br />
About 400m from the hut, the track pops up above the bushline, presenting some fantastic views.<br />
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Powell is a large, spacious hut, that's looking a bit worse for wear these days (despite being only about 20 years old). A whole lot of structural bracing now adds to the hut's worn out appearance, the result of DOC's temporary strengthening before a new hut is built (at this stage meant to be happening later this year - the current hut has become structurally unsound and is no longer fit for purpose). Looking around, the hut doesn't seem to have weathered it's 2 decades of life all that well, both inside and out. That being said, it's still perfectly comfortable, more than adequate, and a great spot to spend a night, especially once the fire is nice and hot, thanks to an abundance of supplied wood and coal. As an added bonus, the gas cookers were still kicking about, a surpise to me as I thought they'd been removed a few years back (along with the gas facilities of other serviced huts in the Tararuas, like Totara Flats).<br />
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Somewhat unsurprisingly, given that it was a Sunday, I was the sole occupant of the hut for the night. It later transpired, as I was reading in the dark, that I was not truly alone: a cadre of mice now seem to be calling the hut home. At least one seemed to have set up shop inside the gubbins of an out-of-order gas cooker. Suggestion for new hut: mouse-proof exterior cladding. Thankfully none of the mice broke in to my food supplies, although I did need to give my cup an extra-thorough cleaning before making my moring beverage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6_g4ywbinjZGixUQRreCJC-FB3Vz0oJPrtUXsS688XfW6zHJKW26OmhMqiznboqNKn96O4yHczmG6P4e7wbNNgg5W_zMqc8VE8lUOOBzo8VJHTWMn_mBaTs9nz3co8IicqSKvtKMBIoZ/s1600/IMG_8863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6_g4ywbinjZGixUQRreCJC-FB3Vz0oJPrtUXsS688XfW6zHJKW26OmhMqiznboqNKn96O4yHczmG6P4e7wbNNgg5W_zMqc8VE8lUOOBzo8VJHTWMn_mBaTs9nz3co8IicqSKvtKMBIoZ/s640/IMG_8863.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night-time vista.</td></tr>
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Waking up early the next day, which was almost as clear as the previous day, afforded a great view of the sunrise over the Wairarapa.<br />
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Deciding to make the most of the clear weather, I packed up my gear and head off up the the top of Mount Holdsworth just after 8am. Remarkably, not only was the minimal cloud, there was barely even a breeze for most of the walk up.<br />
The track initially climbs steeply up from Powell, but eases up after Pt 1330 is reached. With the absence of cloud, incredible views are available for the whole 1.7km to the Holdsworth trig. So omnipresent were the views, that I was stopping to take photos so often that it took about an hour to get to the top.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOAs8TxI0knqQOqALg4ZCoIhC0GZBGYxwnME6IJNiPv_mvgPOAaFAUvoZ3xHNnlFNquvYZt84nHxy4xtGzRAIqjBdsJomTLFWgTarCBLszy9yVmtbwVhuaKbG87pq0sCplmuErArSRAcO/s1600/IMG_8934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOAs8TxI0knqQOqALg4ZCoIhC0GZBGYxwnME6IJNiPv_mvgPOAaFAUvoZ3xHNnlFNquvYZt84nHxy4xtGzRAIqjBdsJomTLFWgTarCBLszy9yVmtbwVhuaKbG87pq0sCplmuErArSRAcO/s400/IMG_8934.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A frosty-roofed Powell Hut from the track to Holdsworth</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool sign</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tops</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holdsworth trig in the distance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGtvp76jJTDeeYMla2TQHgK3PUrNfd0HW1pri0dk2CxmpnRzcNQ-5sxBn7xxnSaSZtq1QCX6gYtZiCW1dGZHYHdOVXlgs4sVXVDJjpE57kvLQ7dwGvqQriqxALhYCynao6zAfz70XuR0G/s1600/IMG_8973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGtvp76jJTDeeYMla2TQHgK3PUrNfd0HW1pri0dk2CxmpnRzcNQ-5sxBn7xxnSaSZtq1QCX6gYtZiCW1dGZHYHdOVXlgs4sVXVDJjpE57kvLQ7dwGvqQriqxALhYCynao6zAfz70XuR0G/s400/IMG_8973.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westward view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH3ZSOEo1_wNmOfMdIe7CXs8UDR4OB3slXXfcYy8AxxzEaOyuNu894OW2p-CYc4aOcuYqK08-iAo0Wi6lgVpEzmjifIWt78TNTKEk9bsqBhaTui2-KaAYT7tpKt2oVRN0ynGpin30n736/s1600/IMG_8975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH3ZSOEo1_wNmOfMdIe7CXs8UDR4OB3slXXfcYy8AxxzEaOyuNu894OW2p-CYc4aOcuYqK08-iAo0Wi6lgVpEzmjifIWt78TNTKEk9bsqBhaTui2-KaAYT7tpKt2oVRN0ynGpin30n736/s400/IMG_8975.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southward view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuhKh7u7uSO2T0p2BPB0fFKfpXEj0LFRz3FRi6jpzhn11UHFJO4psrW7MFsTW8_H6MTWlqIXcW-VYmVpKxsMBILdfXHGtngeusNMeVPGvijSS9jEkG4ndPJAHSv-IjFq9T5_jT1QwSChq/s1600/IMG_8977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuhKh7u7uSO2T0p2BPB0fFKfpXEj0LFRz3FRi6jpzhn11UHFJO4psrW7MFsTW8_H6MTWlqIXcW-VYmVpKxsMBILdfXHGtngeusNMeVPGvijSS9jEkG4ndPJAHSv-IjFq9T5_jT1QwSChq/s400/IMG_8977.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vague direction of Powell Hut view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyLlcqSygr0nHboQ5VxzvXxIilmPEALeG9iZ0v_yjbwydVFXqIiknbC_ccLznxEsG3ISM5LSZJzNrQFInugwORdvT0YlVfpKDg8QXjSsmxV0yokXPMjlgnscrpQreQpQkNM_sWb4rHZVP/s1600/IMG_8981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyLlcqSygr0nHboQ5VxzvXxIilmPEALeG9iZ0v_yjbwydVFXqIiknbC_ccLznxEsG3ISM5LSZJzNrQFInugwORdvT0YlVfpKDg8QXjSsmxV0yokXPMjlgnscrpQreQpQkNM_sWb4rHZVP/s400/IMG_8981.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East-ish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7kJLJ-P7iTvx2sj5FWWKgL388fREI4a6ZYF_Mq8WpGEZgCsJTWUdUxTVVjHjmqD-TUHX8qhr0T-Un-aLWvpnYpMLLiaSgGDjpyGtdHJhU7tdxzJVM6jlOz7u9ixdJ1dQsbxmW5igdOOf/s1600/IMG_8982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7kJLJ-P7iTvx2sj5FWWKgL388fREI4a6ZYF_Mq8WpGEZgCsJTWUdUxTVVjHjmqD-TUHX8qhr0T-Un-aLWvpnYpMLLiaSgGDjpyGtdHJhU7tdxzJVM6jlOz7u9ixdJ1dQsbxmW5igdOOf/s400/IMG_8982.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North</td></tr>
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The track (or route if we're being pedantic) along the tops is sporadically marked by orange-capped poles, but its path through the tussock is easily visible.<br />
After soaking in the view from the top, it was time to return to Powell. All up, it was a 3.3km, almost 2 hr sojourn up to the trig and back, and without doubt the best part of the tramp. As cool as it is to be on the tops in any weather, a clear sunny day up there really is something to behold.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyoCqGmWtGUnfj27sbbEJonvNTiouHs-hROrsIxoMmKehQvnuMFniLE3zkeLly9GrQV2X2h3WbnbSBwu1_J0q0gMin9zeiyYUlG7JTYnqeGruyrbjM1FFf4pyMq5Az6TdTn_T-VcKxNpt/s1600/IMG_9002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyoCqGmWtGUnfj27sbbEJonvNTiouHs-hROrsIxoMmKehQvnuMFniLE3zkeLly9GrQV2X2h3WbnbSBwu1_J0q0gMin9zeiyYUlG7JTYnqeGruyrbjM1FFf4pyMq5Az6TdTn_T-VcKxNpt/s400/IMG_9002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
After stopping briefly at Powell to remove a now-superfluous merino thermal, I began the trudge down to Mountain House at about 10am. Somewhat expectedly, the walk down was much quicker than the walk up, albeit much more jarring on the knees. Mountain house was reached after ~50 minutes.<br />
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I stopped for a few minutes to have a quick snack and top up my water supply, and then it was off to the carpark. With only the briefest of stops at the rocky lookout, I was back at my car by 12:40pm.<br />
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Maps:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarwaG80hRA9nJAoMSxwaztLSqPxYjmn7r6zATTAQmopNWoYSiw_NnELRdeF-GnjUzqaGMKfwyJYHfhQIoKuYbcwx-mnKf7SO8xpcoTmKu_yeccSKOS1Dxx7nPytPT1Uvtsa9P4rcgttsb/s1600/Screenshot+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1553" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarwaG80hRA9nJAoMSxwaztLSqPxYjmn7r6zATTAQmopNWoYSiw_NnELRdeF-GnjUzqaGMKfwyJYHfhQIoKuYbcwx-mnKf7SO8xpcoTmKu_yeccSKOS1Dxx7nPytPT1Uvtsa9P4rcgttsb/s640/Screenshot+%25281%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1 - Carpark-Powell - GPS log in red.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRWEyhrczwTQsZk9PHEkMAkPm-iyd1JXx8TyYis8IzsqmSP8Hvr4i_oYg3BwybCdkpHdnfFtRMc17zOTprR-k7UIIwmsvbHIALbCoArikCaTG8eRVwVfCD-jaAW69c-s_0gmmVHK7e_dm/s1600/Screenshot+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="1600" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRWEyhrczwTQsZk9PHEkMAkPm-iyd1JXx8TyYis8IzsqmSP8Hvr4i_oYg3BwybCdkpHdnfFtRMc17zOTprR-k7UIIwmsvbHIALbCoArikCaTG8eRVwVfCD-jaAW69c-s_0gmmVHK7e_dm/s640/Screenshot+%25282%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2 - Powell-Holdsworth Trig-Powell-Carpark - GPS log in red</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
GPS Altitude Profiles:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaN28M6crLShseESZMMoQ2C61c1GkBikMy5Q4jrk8CDaNJw-XqOad0FkPxeh_vh9QFkMDbh54uqtIO5zf5NKQ9_PcZP9WnGSmEVP5dwrdP1XxfbsX-oCYt3zUqN3pmKzjf8rCbU2Z3wf1U/s1600/Screenshot+%25283%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1531" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaN28M6crLShseESZMMoQ2C61c1GkBikMy5Q4jrk8CDaNJw-XqOad0FkPxeh_vh9QFkMDbh54uqtIO5zf5NKQ9_PcZP9WnGSmEVP5dwrdP1XxfbsX-oCYt3zUqN3pmKzjf8rCbU2Z3wf1U/s400/Screenshot+%25283%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-6617417892135203412018-07-15T22:09:00.002+12:002019-11-28T20:28:03.642+13:00Totara Flats<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>"So I've started out</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>for God knows where</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>I guess I'll know</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>when I get there"</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
-Tom Petty</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
'Twas a fine winter's morn in the Town of Alice. As I wound my way across the Remutaka's, it turned out that the morning was also fine in the Wairarapa. It was also winter there, too.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What's more, the peaks of the Tararuas were entirely free from cloud.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And so it was that we set of from the Holdsworth carpark at 12:30 in some remarkably fine weather. Following the Holdsworth Highway, we hoofed it along the flat, slowing down a little when the track starts climbing toward rocky lookout. Plenty of other people and dogs out for a walk in the woods too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXwoCOrfy0f7bQc38q1vTUKDE44H9XtvIHzSs-TZfk9GTBfjcbogFeL35ElV2RsxY7Pd3P3SPwDxvgkmAjgsbuM-R6uk3l8UfSUiuBpaRrQJpdKvhtmLQUYHaGTqfAUuOTIMvH78MwVmI/s1600/IMG_8492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXwoCOrfy0f7bQc38q1vTUKDE44H9XtvIHzSs-TZfk9GTBfjcbogFeL35ElV2RsxY7Pd3P3SPwDxvgkmAjgsbuM-R6uk3l8UfSUiuBpaRrQJpdKvhtmLQUYHaGTqfAUuOTIMvH78MwVmI/s320/IMG_8492.JPG" width="320" /> </a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The track is wide and well graded, although the gravel is a little washed out in places. The gradient is, by Tararua standards, gentle, but that didn't stop us finding it embarassingly difficult. After about 70 minutes we arrived at the rocky lookout, and soaked up the view for a few minutes before resuming our something-between-plod-and-stride toward the Holdsworth-Totara Flats junction.</div>
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5km and 2hr 10 min after starting, we reached the junction, and had a nice rest on the seats there. Eventually mustering the emotional fortitude to heft our packs back onto our shoulders, we split off from the Holdsworth Highway in the direction of Totara Flats Hut. Straight away the track reverts to the mud and roots of a typical Tararua track. The next ~1.5 km of track is a mess of rutted clay, loose rocks, slippery roots and mud, and quite slow going - taking us about an hour.<br />
The track then turns sharply to the south - the point where are newer track (cut a few years back) diverges from the old Totara Creek track.<br />
This part of the track is pretty good, and very flat for a decent portion of it. The only inconveniences were the odd fallen tree across the track.<br />
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About 8km and 4 hours from the start, the track begins to head down a spur toward Totara Creek. After descending most of the way down the spur, the track a stream (bridged), and sidles at a gentler gradient along the side of the hill, gradually descending further until reaching the swing bridge across Totara Creek. By the time we reached the bridge it was about 5:30 pm, and about as dark as it was going to get. We'd been using headlamps for almost half an hour and relied entirely on them for the last k or so to the hut. Just before the hut, a notorious swing bridge crosses the Waiohine River - an interesting experience in the dark, but at least it wasn't windy. We reached the hut right on 6pm, 5hr 34 min and 11.1 km from the carpark.<br />
(Side note: at the time, the GPS track log had recorded 13km, but having imported it to my computer, am now told by MemoryMap it was 11.1km).<br />
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Totara Flats is a spacious, tidy hut, which we shared with two other people. I awoke the next morning to frost on the grass and a misty rain hanging in the air.<br />
After breakfast and a clean-up, we headed out just after 9 am.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ArHYcGEVcZhfOyrt1FlO4-WXuB4No1EE_rILSbpd1Nn74dRKKuZdOrsIjnPbhceyU7ZvAMfgRkFmLb7lACG2NkzjVOG7BKHZlamLW4MF7VKBwGL8sSLLYZP7iti0TvwaKfTB38hhtuIe/s1600/IMG_8597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ArHYcGEVcZhfOyrt1FlO4-WXuB4No1EE_rILSbpd1Nn74dRKKuZdOrsIjnPbhceyU7ZvAMfgRkFmLb7lACG2NkzjVOG7BKHZlamLW4MF7VKBwGL8sSLLYZP7iti0TvwaKfTB38hhtuIe/s640/IMG_8597.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the swing bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As is to be expected, the track was much nicer in the daylight. Soon enough, we'd arrived at the Totara Creek swing bridge.<br />
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The climb soon had tired knees protesting, but we trudged onward, passing through some pretty nice forest.<br />
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About 1hr 45 min/2.7km, the track mercifully leveled out. Once again, the travel across the ridge was flat and relatively easy going - not to mention, very scenic. <br />
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After 4.4km/2.5hr we had reached the point where the track turns to shit and heads back up the the Holdsworth Highway.<br />
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It was about 1:15pm when we reached the junction. After another of many breaks, we hoofed down the track back toward rocky lookout, getting there 30 mins later. Had it not been for our various aches and pains, this would've been a very easy final stretch. As it was, we still managed to make decent time.<br />
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After a more-or-less uneventful amble down the hill, we were back at the carpark by 20 to 3, 5hr and 20 minutes after leaving the hut.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtws4hrC-_zir7Ux1tJco0kfO1nhUmXaidcGlwx9GIUqmovr8GyRFIEcqpDSNh4xK2O5YZOQd6jeLISe2M3OCA1RgUm2CzdE2B7ee3zM6O3aDRkMWIMTZOKDKvwjyekekG_2sFYF1eaRZI/s1600/IMG_8713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtws4hrC-_zir7Ux1tJco0kfO1nhUmXaidcGlwx9GIUqmovr8GyRFIEcqpDSNh4xK2O5YZOQd6jeLISe2M3OCA1RgUm2CzdE2B7ee3zM6O3aDRkMWIMTZOKDKvwjyekekG_2sFYF1eaRZI/s400/IMG_8713.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12.6km somehow becomes 11km once the data has been imported into MemoryMap</td></tr>
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Map:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4wkOJ_1SMA6W0ng8nAJ19vdeg5c_u9hzgxHbuiB5YB_YpbyjAz3N-2b8PrpF_wGI7W1-U35RwhOvD2mHHCVwMAo_ujG_h3tEMwbEivxWtbzoR4EE9AsYnwaVp9wOgyyJsdHuk0yCK8KV/s1600/Screenshot+%252844%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="1600" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4wkOJ_1SMA6W0ng8nAJ19vdeg5c_u9hzgxHbuiB5YB_YpbyjAz3N-2b8PrpF_wGI7W1-U35RwhOvD2mHHCVwMAo_ujG_h3tEMwbEivxWtbzoR4EE9AsYnwaVp9wOgyyJsdHuk0yCK8KV/s640/Screenshot+%252844%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GPS recorded track from inbound trip in red.</td></tr>
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GPS Altitude Profile:<br />
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Vaguely Dangerous Wilderness:<br />
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<br />Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-56554172277926337932018-07-08T21:00:00.000+12:002018-07-08T21:12:35.005+12:00It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall<div class="UH8R2" style="text-align: right;">
<i>"And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard<br />And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall"</i><br />
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-Bob Dylan<i></i></div>
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Rain it did, and hard it most certainly was. From the moment we started walking and all through the night it absolutely poured down. Boy-oh-boy did it pour.</div>
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This wasn't entirely unexpected, mind you - there was a severe weather warning for the Tararuas - and yet, there we were, trudging our way up the Mangatainoka valley, on our annual mid-winter pilgrimage to Herepai Hut.</div>
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The track was, naturally, quite waterlogged (but then again, when isn't it?), but at this point the water was still excluded from our jackets and packs so our spirits weren't overly dampened by the time we reached the second swingbridge (about 2km from the start).</div>
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Part way up the slog toward the Roaring Stag-Herepai junction, the track more-or-less became a creek, and remained in that state most of the way to the hut, interspersed with the odd dryer section. In parts, the mud along the ridge to Herepai was well over ankle deep, and the water off the track-creek infiltrated our boots on multiple occasions. It also became apparent that the rain had managed to get inside my jacket by this point, and we were both entirely soaked.</div>
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At the viewpoint just before the hut, which normally affords a nice view over the Ruapae Stream, we were confronted with a swirling wall of white and grey.<br />
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After a long 3.5 hours, we reached the hut, and there was much rejoicing. You can never truly appreciate a roof until you've spent hours outside getting soaked to the skin. </div>
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Unsurprisingly, we never managed to get the fire going well enough to actually put out any heat (even with the help of some bellows I brought and donated to the hut), so our walking clothes were both cold and wet the next morning. At least we had booze and hot food.</div>
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The wind raged through the night, and the rain continued to fall, heavy as ever. Mercifully, the rain had mostly abated by the time we left the hut in the morning, but a heavy shroud of mist still hung over the hills.</div>
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The track wasn't a creek any more, though there was still an abundance of mud and surface water.</div>
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When we reached the swingbridge, we could see that the river was looking a lot more wild than yesterday. </div>
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The Mangatainoka river, with it's turgid brown water and rapids capped with an off-white foam, made for a noisy companion on the final stretch toward the road.</div>
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We were back at the carpark after just under 3 hours, having thoroughly enjoyed the tramp in spite of the shitty weather, but still incredibly glad to be returning to warm and dry of home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map with GPS track</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GPS altitude profile (inbound)</td></tr>
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Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9070436475261497571.post-40376029678003303552018-04-22T19:02:00.002+12:002018-04-22T19:02:26.430+12:00Atiwhakatu - Literally the easiest tramp in the TararuasIt's been a while. Like almost-one-year a while. So, naturally, we decided to do the easiest of the easy; the chumpiest of the chumpy: Atiwhakatu Hut.<br />
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The Atiwhakatu Track is in the Holdsworth area, probably the most popular part of the Tararuas. Accordingly, there was an abundance of cars in the carpark, and many other walkers were encountered frequently.<br />
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From the carpark, the wide gravel track heads off past Holdsworth Lodge and crosses Atiwhakatu Stream, soon reaching Donnelly Flat. After 1.3km, we passed the Powell Hut turn off and continued along the Atiwhakatu Track. The first 2km or so of the track is remarkably flat and easy going, after which there's a bit of up and down as the track sidles along the stream, around bluffs and over side streams (all bridged).<br />
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After 1hour 15 min (~4km), we reached the halfway point (ish) - where a track down from Mountain House meets the Atiwhakatu Track. Another 500m or so further along, a swingbridge crosses Holdsworth stream, and soon the turn off to the East Holdsworth track is reached. The track continues to be well graded and well metalled, with ample boardwalks over marshy bits of land.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holdsworth Creek Swingbridge</td></tr>
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About 5km from the start, the track quickly devolves before abruptly encountering a significant slip, where a bunch of hillside has fallen off, taking the track with it. There's a noticeable trail over most of the slip, and with careful footwork, it's not too big an obstacle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY1MZFDOK3DWPKZa861C6mOK-Bu43y9QdDTtmxySWoafaRnK-hx4o9_d264r6Z_XtyicBtBYKV-j8f2-VfSNJxoPSXzZ945iV7ouHiC-SpZv0RaJ8F7byzjfCxItFnZmixiMDqhBbjdtw/s1600/20180421_164043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY1MZFDOK3DWPKZa861C6mOK-Bu43y9QdDTtmxySWoafaRnK-hx4o9_d264r6Z_XtyicBtBYKV-j8f2-VfSNJxoPSXzZ945iV7ouHiC-SpZv0RaJ8F7byzjfCxItFnZmixiMDqhBbjdtw/s320/20180421_164043.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-URE1fiHJ1d_ablK0FVPOhFTW1lZHGDcDPxoliWaxrz-9OFPpnoaDDxAgKK1WJ_O8M_6R1nEFJRs0aytrct0HzKAILNtnxUGgBph9JgN-FAxWX7o8fsMwTAD9cJE6a0USe0dTeIVLrLI/s1600/20180421_164047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-URE1fiHJ1d_ablK0FVPOhFTW1lZHGDcDPxoliWaxrz-9OFPpnoaDDxAgKK1WJ_O8M_6R1nEFJRs0aytrct0HzKAILNtnxUGgBph9JgN-FAxWX7o8fsMwTAD9cJE6a0USe0dTeIVLrLI/s320/20180421_164047.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
From here, the track resumes its high-quality amble to the hut, which we reached after about 2.5 hours. The first sign that the hut was near was a strong whiff of smoke, which turned out to be a hoard of small children and their parents (to clarify, they'd made a campfire, there were no burning children).<br />
There was about 22 people (including ourselves) at the hut, and we ended up spending a lot of time sitting on the verandah or standing around inside, until one of the groups of people shuffled off to one of the bunkrooms and we swooped in on their table. Interestingly, no-one invited us to sit down with them, or offered to make space in one of the bunkrooms. We ended up spending the night on matresses in the dining area (which, truth be told, was probably better than spending a night crammed in with small children, or sharing a smaller bunk room with standoff-ish randoms). As a side note - not sure how I feel about the smaller 6-8 people bunkrooms the hut has now.<br />
<br />
The next day, we left the hut at about 9am, having had breakfast and packed up our gear before the feral hoards descended on the dining room. The racket was well and truly building as we high-tailed it out the door.<br />
<br />
The walk out was again a pleasant stroll, albeit with an unusual number of surprise dogs turning up and running off again.<br />
We had reached the carpark by 11:30am.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8az-LynEHbtSo4_XrSQUo0bUOn7U_WY_s84a10pIrd_Bf-T-GBBKxmSOLQAvvJPXpwDql03pdeTwl3_Os3ZHnAQXe1AG_pTwcW7xoHq1ORMaQduUtKQCQ3I5eYushzVFzTBpSBG068jQi/s1600/20180422_092504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8az-LynEHbtSo4_XrSQUo0bUOn7U_WY_s84a10pIrd_Bf-T-GBBKxmSOLQAvvJPXpwDql03pdeTwl3_Os3ZHnAQXe1AG_pTwcW7xoHq1ORMaQduUtKQCQ3I5eYushzVFzTBpSBG068jQi/s400/20180422_092504.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weird metal bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o5v4Vy-cls9CXPijxqprR4t0iiepF6jUOTRoDuzhtd4ArqzQPx1PQXl285YUId6VgoEnRZrDRhbcSfP-YXSkFb7CE1pEBPK0gnpeGsGsYZq2l8Fs_YoZifL_J7zE8DHjusX9cTL1P516/s1600/20180422_094054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o5v4Vy-cls9CXPijxqprR4t0iiepF6jUOTRoDuzhtd4ArqzQPx1PQXl285YUId6VgoEnRZrDRhbcSfP-YXSkFb7CE1pEBPK0gnpeGsGsYZq2l8Fs_YoZifL_J7zE8DHjusX9cTL1P516/s400/20180422_094054.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slip again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2f4cAOqp2RM6DJoX_4R-GUJPmNjFDp21G2yG8p1HjepqHTZWzYi-t4pS0FxVEBwnm7cC52nZq2fP36MsqydczBk-92Aulkiu5InMINknWGCWR62X9DAC6y7lhnZB_qyvWt3V0KFNf7Gf/s1600/20180422_094059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2f4cAOqp2RM6DJoX_4R-GUJPmNjFDp21G2yG8p1HjepqHTZWzYi-t4pS0FxVEBwnm7cC52nZq2fP36MsqydczBk-92Aulkiu5InMINknWGCWR62X9DAC6y7lhnZB_qyvWt3V0KFNf7Gf/s400/20180422_094059.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cody on slip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6vHXN_DUkuOVxi3fczCRmd5oLwfMwESf6tFSUTVf3CNdX4iH7kKAcduw4Jzr5dMzeDOIEp2JSO7ZBAs8gAUN_V_eWDtwfzldTGnGiGjCVHc4XzYGQWUvi5OYXljRSJ1iA9XVMNdNuKgp/s1600/20180422_095642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6vHXN_DUkuOVxi3fczCRmd5oLwfMwESf6tFSUTVf3CNdX4iH7kKAcduw4Jzr5dMzeDOIEp2JSO7ZBAs8gAUN_V_eWDtwfzldTGnGiGjCVHc4XzYGQWUvi5OYXljRSJ1iA9XVMNdNuKgp/s400/20180422_095642.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humungous Fungus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSLyv8dJwDX4L5oJWEkWw_zRZq-4v8toXdRruM7-uZpNqNxs3Cka4zdUYpjdOTsvU5BdceotnpmyR_1DNkf89LZv4E9YS1kwOR2FPlNXmrUdNBuF1pk6vn0aLVrMCjMEpdXxjda-KNUag/s1600/20180422_095651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSLyv8dJwDX4L5oJWEkWw_zRZq-4v8toXdRruM7-uZpNqNxs3Cka4zdUYpjdOTsvU5BdceotnpmyR_1DNkf89LZv4E9YS1kwOR2FPlNXmrUdNBuF1pk6vn0aLVrMCjMEpdXxjda-KNUag/s400/20180422_095651.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some track</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgetwRzyZwQzX5hJdKvpTy2VqZjUYstbHUx4lP8QMm1IfbVk5kQuo1TZB8Khnu-s6bWhUf1P1mBjs3_bZj4y_P9Ukv0HmvUc970o2H4YOrdjb6-SU4szsB3NosspwMWF0qvMtnvKEDkcl/s1600/20180422_101226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgetwRzyZwQzX5hJdKvpTy2VqZjUYstbHUx4lP8QMm1IfbVk5kQuo1TZB8Khnu-s6bWhUf1P1mBjs3_bZj4y_P9Ukv0HmvUc970o2H4YOrdjb6-SU4szsB3NosspwMWF0qvMtnvKEDkcl/s320/20180422_101226.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swingbridge again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcXC4QDUmw49F7aZk_kM8GNVs1JlnJs73Vc10EGeESOdr8VTCzeKkScIBwAEnhJ7JSOrxK1EcYB-vMbzYl3ZSyMqWi7L9gfk5l1IaTPWYNuMaR9PDFkhVw6wiVmkOdzboE4rZGsyRyToa/s1600/20180422_102154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcXC4QDUmw49F7aZk_kM8GNVs1JlnJs73Vc10EGeESOdr8VTCzeKkScIBwAEnhJ7JSOrxK1EcYB-vMbzYl3ZSyMqWi7L9gfk5l1IaTPWYNuMaR9PDFkhVw6wiVmkOdzboE4rZGsyRyToa/s320/20180422_102154.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a swingbridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Map:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa_n-RXyKSu7nmzanEzqC6m7NnD8LMmMFTGqQA_nLFqO8dQkb50a38BPVbkLIr0FLTTAJSUzvf62PdPFJKXxswNiu_dTVQAeGuUTGfpSw81it7U3Ee2bgMtEB3DyQlhh-XH40QWyqoPAv/s1600/Screenshot+%252837%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1075" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa_n-RXyKSu7nmzanEzqC6m7NnD8LMmMFTGqQA_nLFqO8dQkb50a38BPVbkLIr0FLTTAJSUzvf62PdPFJKXxswNiu_dTVQAeGuUTGfpSw81it7U3Ee2bgMtEB3DyQlhh-XH40QWyqoPAv/s640/Screenshot+%252837%2529.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange warning triangle is where the slip is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317528634513987956noreply@blogger.com0