Memory 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.
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.
For the first 2km, a farm track winds it's way across open farmland, quickly reaching the park boundary.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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| One of the tamer sections of track. |
There were, mercifully, easy going sections between having to use tree roots as ladders.
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.
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.
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| Mitre Flat from the hut verandah. |
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.
Needless to say, the hut's cooking and dining area was crowded, so we opted to relax, cook and eat on the spacious verandah.
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| Tasty |
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.
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.
After a bacon-based breakfast that was over all to soon, it was time to pack up and roll out.
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.
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| Mitre, possibly |
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.
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.
GPS Data: (inbound)
Distance: 8.47km
Overall average speed (including stops): 1.6km/h
Map:
GPS Altitude Profile:
