Janet and Graham's 2nd Trip

Hutbagging Trip 2 - 2.17am 14 Feb to 1.59am 15 Feb 07
Janet Wilson and Graham Peters

Following the formula from trip one, we left 1 car at the Poads Rd end and drove on to Otaki Forks for a short sleep in the car, before heading of at 2.17am, for Parawai Lodge (first easy points) and WTYY Hut. It was a lovely clear early morning but very dark with no moon.

We may still have been half asleep as the walk to the hut seemed to take ages, especially the section in the stream. The route over the active slip on the track was also interesting at night. What seems like a overly well marked track in the daylight becomes much harder to follow at night and the small number of flourescent maker were appreciated. We went the long way around the sidle track rather than drop into the Otaki as it was still dark and reached the hut at 6.40am. We enjoyed the climb up to Junction Knob, and the easy tramp along to Andersons, arriving at 10.25am. Cloud was blowing through the low saddles, from the east and that side was covered in low cloud.


Looking Sth from near Shoulder Knob

We backtracked to Junction Knob and headed over Crawford which was in cloud as we reached the top. This is a good spot to have a check of your map and compass as the obvious ground trail straight ahead isn't the way to go! Nichols Hut took a long time to appear – infact, at one stage I was starting to believe we could have walked passed it – must have been getting hungry. Got there at 1.15pm and had a rest for a short time – we were becoming abit concerned as up until now, we'd taken longer than planned and I was doubting whether we could complete this trip in time. Neither of us had been beyond Nichols and so wern't familiar with the track. We contemplated other possibilities, such as dropping off Dracophyllum Ridge at Kelleher and going to Oriwa Biv. However, the track was really good and easy and very nearly dry and we made good time along to Dracophyllum Biv (3.43pm) and then over Pukematawai to Te Matawai hut (6.53pm). The weather, which had been threatening to clag in, luckily backed off to the east. Stunning views in this area and it was great to be there.


Looking towards Drac Ridge and Crawford from near Pukematawai

We pushed on , trying to get as far as possible before dark. At Richards Knob I was back in familiar country, and we got nearly to Waiopehu Hut (9.35pm) before it was really dark. I'd been here the previous weekend and took 2 1/2 hours to get out so thought we had plenty of time. However, things always go slower when you're tired and it's dark.
Surprised a deer in the dark – she was very close to us and didn't know where to go. Lots of possums too. Nearly 4 hours out from Waiopehu – reached the road end at 1.59am, going very quietly here to try not to wake the noisy dogs that live right there. Had a few hours sleep in the car at the reserve just down the road, then drove back around to get the other car – a big trip.