Beyond the Tararua Peaks.
We wanted to follow parts of the famous Tararua Mountain Race, traverse the most rugged section of the entire Tararuas, and complete a circuit of the Southern Main Range in under 24 hours. So, we started from Otaki Forks 5 January 2007 under a beautiful full moon, and enjoyed perfect weather all the way. A chilly wind sometimes, but warm sun on sheltered side as day warmed up. Just a few misty fingers over Simpson, Wright, and Junction Knob- sort of artistic in style and look without the feared complete Tararua whiteout. And it was lovely to enter the cool of the big Otaki forest mid afternoon. The people we disturbed 0130 at Parewai Hut we met again at YTYY 1600, and the people we disturbed 0500 at Kime Hut we met again at Parewai 2125. The sunrise and moonset were spectacular from Kime and Bridge Peak. Tuiti and Tunui (The Tararua Peaks) were very special on such a good day. Kelly was good all the way, despite a few frustrating leatherwood bits on McIntosh, and the deep mud there too. I was good till Aokaparangi Peak, when I began to experience stomach problems, forcing us to miss Aokap Biv. The trail dried out nicely from Mangahuka north, particularly over Kahiwiroa and Crawford, with excellent travel. Kelly was eating all the way, I was throwing up a bit, but I found I could keep going, with the only sustenance being water- in very small droplets. Due to my condition, we were fully planning to overnite at Andersons or YTYY hut, but a 30 minute rest/ sleep/ dry out did the trick at each hut. I came back to life fairly quickly, and just wanted to keep going. We took primus and billy, and used them to great relief. Very reassuring having EPIRB and emergency stuff, should we need it. Foot and crotch rash problems only minor, thanks to ability to dry feet out on good tussock/ gravel sections of track. We used the Otaki River- Arapito Creek section instead of the sidle track, and saved a good 30 minutes. Met a joker on the track to YTYY who offered me $60.00 for my topo map. Rapid travel back on the farmland, then we reached the car without using torches. Tony Gates and Kelly Holland- Total time 19 hours 59 minutes.
If same route done in reverse, or as part of 48 hour mission, good track travel to YTYY (use Arapito Creek, cross then recross Otaki river to reach hut), very big hill up to Junction Knob, excellent tops travel as far south as Maungahuka, (but careful not to loose track if misty or dark). Steep, rough up and down, plus more mud and leatherwood south of Maungahuka. You could miss the worst leatherwood on McIntosh, and dive down to Penn Creek Hut via Pakihore Ridge, then back up to Table top, then Field Hut, and home down to Otaki Forks.
We wanted to follow parts of the famous Tararua Mountain Race, traverse the most rugged section of the entire Tararuas, and complete a circuit of the Southern Main Range in under 24 hours. So, we started from Otaki Forks 5 January 2007 under a beautiful full moon, and enjoyed perfect weather all the way. A chilly wind sometimes, but warm sun on sheltered side as day warmed up. Just a few misty fingers over Simpson, Wright, and Junction Knob- sort of artistic in style and look without the feared complete Tararua whiteout. And it was lovely to enter the cool of the big Otaki forest mid afternoon. The people we disturbed 0130 at Parewai Hut we met again at YTYY 1600, and the people we disturbed 0500 at Kime Hut we met again at Parewai 2125. The sunrise and moonset were spectacular from Kime and Bridge Peak. Tuiti and Tunui (The Tararua Peaks) were very special on such a good day. Kelly was good all the way, despite a few frustrating leatherwood bits on McIntosh, and the deep mud there too. I was good till Aokaparangi Peak, when I began to experience stomach problems, forcing us to miss Aokap Biv. The trail dried out nicely from Mangahuka north, particularly over Kahiwiroa and Crawford, with excellent travel. Kelly was eating all the way, I was throwing up a bit, but I found I could keep going, with the only sustenance being water- in very small droplets. Due to my condition, we were fully planning to overnite at Andersons or YTYY hut, but a 30 minute rest/ sleep/ dry out did the trick at each hut. I came back to life fairly quickly, and just wanted to keep going. We took primus and billy, and used them to great relief. Very reassuring having EPIRB and emergency stuff, should we need it. Foot and crotch rash problems only minor, thanks to ability to dry feet out on good tussock/ gravel sections of track. We used the Otaki River- Arapito Creek section instead of the sidle track, and saved a good 30 minutes. Met a joker on the track to YTYY who offered me $60.00 for my topo map. Rapid travel back on the farmland, then we reached the car without using torches. Tony Gates and Kelly Holland- Total time 19 hours 59 minutes.
If same route done in reverse, or as part of 48 hour mission, good track travel to YTYY (use Arapito Creek, cross then recross Otaki river to reach hut), very big hill up to Junction Knob, excellent tops travel as far south as Maungahuka, (but careful not to loose track if misty or dark). Steep, rough up and down, plus more mud and leatherwood south of Maungahuka. You could miss the worst leatherwood on McIntosh, and dive down to Penn Creek Hut via Pakihore Ridge, then back up to Table top, then Field Hut, and home down to Otaki Forks.
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