Hauhungaroa, Southern Pureora (Trip 2 of 2: Easy-Medium)
Weekend Trip
Friday 27 August 2010 to Sunday 29 August 2010 (3 days)
A trip to the Hauhungaroa Range, Southern Pureora region west of Lake Taupo
The Omens Were we going to get away?
This weekend trip almost did not happen as there were minimum numbers but get away we did, anticipating rain and mud.
We arrived at the Mangakahu Road-end 20 km off SH4 to Taumarunui at 1.00am, after an uneventful trip with Craig and Athol sharing the driving. We all slept in the bus - with small numbers it was very comfortable.
Saturday morning was cold and bleak but not raining, and after breakfast the fit party, led by Martin Woodhead, was away by 8.00am.
The easy-medium party left at 8.15. The first part was along a private road and we were soon greeted by five well cared-for pig dogs (on chains ) who signalled our arrival to their friendly owner who greeted us over the fence. After half-an-hour on farm roads we were into the bush. It was a coats-on, coats-off morning but after two hours the rain stayed away and that was a relief since there were some steep hills ahead which had us taking off layers of clothes. The track was well marked and there was some bird life.
The Target (Photo: Sue Grant)
Our destination was Hauhungaroa Hut where we arrived at 12 noon. The hut was quite new (2007) and well appointed, marred only by the amount of rubbish and bottles left in the hut by other users (not trampers, surely). We quickly lit the fire and had lunch. The rain became worse. At 2.00pm as Craig and Vicki were erecting the mountain radio aerial, two members of the fit party, Tina Jacques and Claudia Edwards, arrived at the hut having turned back because of worsening weather and track conditions.
Shelter from the Elements (Photo: Sue Grant)
We were becoming less keen to head to the Hauhungaroa Range and decided to stay put as the weather became worse. We found a part bottle of Gurgenmeister in the hut, which Tina and Craig took a liking to. Meanwhile Claudia helped Athol polish off his gin and tonic. We played charades as darkness fell - very enjoyable. It rained all night.
