Those of us of a more intrepid (head banging?) nature braved a rather overgrown track – under and over trees, looking for markers and so on. In spite of a dire weather forecast we had a good couple of hours walking before rain set in – and, on the Sunday no rain until we got back to the Lodge – perfect.
We broke into two groups and our lot cut quite a time off the official distance to and from the hut and got there a couple of hours before the second wave. It was a cosy little hut – just perfect, nothing flash – just the sort of hut Kiwis like, the backcountry icon. The hut got a bit cosier than anticipated as three of the tenters had second thoughts – a wise move as the rain was pretty heavy by that stage. Even Rob Moscrip – who hasn’t been out with the club for some years and does some amazing NZ trips opted for the little hut.
We had a fair amount of larking around, joking, having a half-hearted yoga session and reminiscing about past trips. Then somehow the conversation turned to cannibalism- we all headed off to cook our food keeping a sharp eye on what the others were eating…………………
The next day it was off back along the track omitting the walk along a ridge Rob tried to interest us in. Helen’s lot with Eileen did manage to find that track eventually apparently.
The highlights of the tramp were said to be
“The unlimited hot water” “The convivial company” “Having dry feet” (must have been the upmarket lot!) “sleeping in a tent” (!!) “the wild and natural forest, especially the trees” and “the white rata”.
The lowlight was probably having a puncture on the motorway. However after a bit of a delay the happy chappie from Carters arrived and changed the tyre and we were on our way again- back home safely.
Thanks Eileen for organising a superb mini weekend, to Helen and Bernhard for driving, to Ming for sending in photos and to everyone for their company -and to my little group for not eating me!
PS It was interesting to read newspaper clippings about the area over a cup of tea or two at the Lodge on our return. DoC had demolished a previous deck outside the hut as it was made of treated and untreated timber and therefore deemed to be a hazard. They hadn’t wanted to replace it as only two people had signed in at the hut over a few months. Pressure from locals resulted in a new veranda- at a cost of $10000 dollars. It shows how important it is to sign the book in the small huts when staying there – a case of use it or lose it.