Beebys Hut squats on the border of Nelson and Marlborough, and so attracts locals from both regions. Mountain bikers, hunters, four-wheel drive enthusiasts, and trampers like us. A few different routes can be used to form a loop, (although a short car shuttle would be needed).
Rather than stick to the 4WD road, we began from the Korere-Tophouse Road between Nelson and St Arnaud. Here, a short side-road leads to the trackhead car park. The marked track climbed abruptly from the get-go, scaling the valley wall to gain 100m vertical altitude, before relaxing a little in a gradual sidle over a bit of windfall, traversing steep slopes up to the 900m contour. From here travel was pleasant across a flat saddle. We smiled at a couple of unusually-shaped trees in the mixed beech-podocarp forest. One we named the ‘Giraffe Tree,’ as it bent into an angular head, complete with eye and open mouth.
After an hour or so, another stiff climb to the 1000m contour got us on to a prominent spur which gave relief to complaining calf muscles. The enchanting moss-lined path was beautiful as the track headed SW up to 1300m where we were spat out on the 4WD track. We encountered several mountain bikers arriving from Red Hills via Maitland Ridge, and from the Wairau Valley below. We also pondered the recent fate of two teenage girls whose 4WD vehicle plunged off this road in recent months.
Trampers at Beebys Hut
Most of the climbing was done, so we enjoyed the ridgetop ramble past Beebys Knob (1442m) which was hidden in mist. Twenty minutes further down the road was the old NZFS hut, sporting six bunks and an open fireplace. Thanks to the efforts of the school children from St Arnaud, the hut was clean and a welcome refuge in inclement weather, tucked into the bush-edge. The only source of water on our trip was the hut’s water tank. The 4WD road continued in a northerly direction for anyone with energy to burn (not us!) After eating lunch, wrapped up in warm clothes, we returned the way we had come. The sun began to clear off the clag, and we could see down into the upper Wairau Valley.
Just short of reaching our cars, we caught up to Debbie, who had decided to turn back. Surprisingly, she was guiding a grandmother down the steep trail, which was difficult for non-trampers to negotiate. It was the lady’s grand-daughter who had died in the 4WD tragedy, and Debbie was able to escort the grieving lady to safety.
All in all, this was a real leg-stretcher, and introduction to a new area for most of the party.
Participants: Ray (leader & scribe), Esther, Eric, Brian, Era, Debbie and guests Sylvie and Nina