Tararua Ranges
Easter Weekend Trip
Friday 22 April 2011 to Monday 25 April 2011 (4 days)
A remnant Oxfam Team (100 km in 16 hrs 40 min yahoo!!) of Carol, Brent and Hideo were joined by Mark for a very rugged East-West crossing of the Tararua Ranges. Those missing were Jim Morrow, off to climb Mt Everest (acceptable excuse) and Jamie McNair, ‘I’m not into overnight tramping’ (unacceptable excuse).
We started at The Pines, out of Masterton, with an easy walk to Mitre Flats Hut, then a steep haul up to Mt Mitre (1571m), the highest peak in the Tararuas. We met Tina’s medium group of four, who had started half a day early, retreating in the strong winds and limited visibility. After summiting, our group continued on to Dorset Ridge Hut for the night as the wind had dropped. Seven members of the Parawai TC had a rough climb in the dark coming from the south, but were very happy to share the hut, being flashed in by Brent.
Brent, Carol and Hideo at Dorset Ridge
Next day, hopefully, a gentle descent into Park Forks, sweet we thought. Wrong! Very old markers and many windfalls found us continually off the track in steep inhospitable terrain. I took two tumbles, hurting my upper thighs, and being hit by a branch in the chest. As this is a family publication I decline to show photos of my bruises.
We ended up following a side creek and finally made the Forks two hours behind sched, and very battered. Next was a big climb up to Nichols. Again I was in slow, low gear to the despair of my much faster companions but the route was better marked and took only two hours to complete.
A long slog to Dracaphyllum Hut in minimal visibility. Brent and I waved to the silhouette of Hideo and Mark on a knob ahead. We arrived and they had vanished in the cloud going the wrong way. It was lucky we had seen them and an obliging Brent raced off to call them back! The never-ending Northern Main Range. We finally staggered into the two-bunk garden shed soaking wet, so glad to have arrived after ten-and-a-half hours’ hard tramping.
Carol dossing down under the bunk
I made myself very comfortable under the bottom bunk and out of clodhoppers’ way. A cosy night of sharing limited space well and we all slept soundly.
Sunday was a long haul over Pukematawai with further deterioration of the weather. With the rain we didn’t drop into the headwaters of the Otaki River as originally planned but stuck to the main range until a descent to Te Matawai Hut then through Butchers Saddle to Waiopehu. The grave of Ralph, who died in the 1936 storm, is still on the path and a reminder that mountains are treacherous. No shortage of beds tonight. Our wet gear was spread throughout the hut. Hideo’s snores echoed throughout - there was no escape from the loud and all-pervading noise!
Monday was a simple descent to the van, but Hideo had a very sore knee so took it slowly. The Ohau River was in full flood. We were soaked. Lovely Max was waiting as arranged with Rova, the campervan. Phew, dry at last.
For me, this is my favourite mountain range of all time. A tough, typical Tararua trip. Great company. We will be back.
Participants: Carol Exton (the old plodder, leader and scribe), Brent Rose (the tent mule), Hideo Yoshihama (the snorer), Mark McClean (the two-day only provisioner).