Well, Andrew McLellan and I got it right last week, with an 18 hour loop
through the northern Tararuas. Leaving the car at the Melling carpark at
midnight Wednesday it looked lonely as we departed for Putara road end. I'm
never that keen to travel at night so our estimated 20 hour loop of eight
huts would be timed around maximizing daylight hours.
2.30am departure from the road end on a clear and still night. Herepai was
cold and deserted as we bumbled our way over the roots. A bit of a there
and back from the track intersection was a bit disheartening for a pure
rogainer.but those are the sacrifices we have to make. We tiptoed into the
new Roaring Stag trying not to wake the two trampers inside. A bit of a
washout at the bottom of the Cattle Ridge track wasted 15 minutes in the
lightening skies. An hour later though - the views from Cattle Ridge were
fabulous in the first light. No
t put off by the daunting picture of how farwe had to go.we took off down the very well marked track into the
Ruamahunga, with me reminiscing with stories from 25 years ago when I spent
a couple of months in the area doing deer surveys for the Forest Service.
(Pre cursor to DoC). The headwaters of the Ruamahunga is beautiful and
rugged - the slow going was eased by a well maintained track.
Dundus hut was nestled into the tussock. The early morning light on the
surrounding hills created impressive relief. The sun was now beating down
and sunscreen had to be liberally applied. Gaining the Main Range was a
highlight - Ruapehu and Taranaki to the north, and Tararua tops to the south
as far as the eye could see. Now w
e just had to make some progress. Arete
Biv - so perfectly obvious on a nice day (we know how difficult it is to
find at night or in the mist) had a few hut bagging stickers in the log
book. We relaxed here for a long 12 minute lunch basking in the sun.
The low light was the next section. Pinnacle Spur was perfectly navigable -
but lots of little ups and downs were frustrating in the sun. Dipping into
the headwaters of the Waingawa at Arete Forks was a relief. The sidle track
out to Cow Creek was every bit as bad as remembered. (Especially with 12
hours in your legs) Lots of ups and downs, nettle and slow work.
surrounding hills created impressive relief. The sun was now beating down
and sunscreen had to be liberally applied. Gaining the Main Range was a
highlight - Ruapehu and Taranaki to the north, and Tararua tops to the south
as far as the eye could see. Now w
e just had to make some progress. AreteBiv - so perfectly obvious on a nice day (we know how difficult it is to
find at night or in the mist) had a few hut bagging stickers in the log
book. We relaxed here for a long 12 minute lunch basking in the sun.
The low light was the next section. Pinnacle Spur was perfectly navigable -
but lots of little ups and downs were frustrating in the sun. Dipping into
the headwaters of the Waingawa at Arete Forks was a relief. The sidle track
out to Cow Creek was every bit as bad as remembered. (Especially with 12
hours in your legs) Lots of ups and downs, nettle and slow work.
By contrast the final trip out to Kiriwhakapapa via Blue Range was quicker
than expected, arriving at the road end two hours earlier than expected. It
was fantastic to meet Tony Gates there who had offered to drive us back
around to Putara and the car.
A great day out in the Tararuas. We already have the next trip planned -
now all we need is to wait a couple of weeks to recover and then pick the
weather again.
Mike
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