wangapeka

Leader: Mike Drake

Early in the year, Pat floated the idea of putting some foot traffic along the Wangapeka Track. I said “yes, it sounds like a good idea”.
So, when Queen’s Birthday approached, the thought of valley-walking for four days became less appealing. When asked who would be leading the west-east group, I was volunteered.

While crowd sourcing for developing products may work, crowd sourcing for a trip report didn’t. So, here I find myself data-mining my memory for details of a trip way back in June.

I joined the trip at Kohatu. All 19 people met here, some fleetingly, others waiting a little longer. Then we were away. While Pat’s east-west party (EWP) headed to Rolling River, we, the WEP, headed for a coffee in Murchison. Our timing was perfect – muffins were about to be taken from the oven ... a good start to the trip.

Further coffee stops were planned but at Westport, our caffeine levels were still good. Granity wasn’t an option, as it had turned into a ghost town.

We followed the windy road and decided the sunny spot at the road junction provided a good lunch stop. This was one of the themes for the trip: searching for the sun.

At the roadend, we met the local Irish man with a reputation for ready advice. Soon we were off. After about three hours  along the side of the Little Wanganui River, we reached Bell Town Manunui Hut.

On Day Two, we rendezvoused with the sunshine at the new bivouac before ascending to Little Wanganui Saddle. The biv was a great spot and the saddle was a good place to linger a little and have a brewup.

It was then down into the shade again, past Stag Flat Shelter and finally Taipo Hut. With at least 19 people expected at the hut, three of us searched for a tent site. Next task was a plunge in the river, Dave getting there before me; he has become a convert to cold water plunges.

It was then into the hut to thaw out and enjoy the fire’s heat. We had arrived in daylight and were not surprised to be the first party there. Our journey was 9km compared to the 18km for the other party. An advance party of the EWPs arrived and a few of us went to check the remaining members, after around 20 minutes down the track we found them all. It was quite pleasant moving along without a heavy pack impeding one’s progress. In short time we were back at the hut with hot drinks in our hands and dinner underway.

During the evening, Ruth suggested that Biggs Tops would be the way to go. It was agreed that a normal start would be made, expecting that we would be finishing in the dark. So, it was off to bed ready for a long day tomorrow.

Day Three found our party split into two groups; one group followed the standard route, the other split off on the east side of Mt Dean and headed for Trevor Carter Hut. A leisurely lunch then a steep climb up towards Biggs Tops. The wet bush was amply sufficient to wipe the sweat from our brows

The track climbs 700m and then into the sun again. A brief break and then a pleasant walk around the tops followed by a gentle slope down to Wangapeka Saddle. A short time later the torch lights were on as we approached Stone Hut. The place was covered in hoar frost, into which we pitched our three person tent. Once sorted, it was into the refreshments by the fire – a stark contrast to the frosty conditions outside.

Day Four was a stroll down to Cecil Kings Hut, bathed in sunlight. Someone made a good decision to stop here rather than risk freezing at Kings Hut. We decided a nice leisurely lunch was in order to take on board some more Vitamin D and have a brewup.

Then it was on to Rolling River, past the dam which had shrunk somewhat from it’s original 900m length. At Rolling River our transport needs were amply resolved when Heather kindly met us with the truck.

In conclusion, a big thank you goes to Pat for organising this invasion of the Wangapeka Trackany thanks to my fellow WEP’ers; Dion Pont, Graeme Ferrier, Kate Krawcyzk, Sue Henley Lurch, Dave Quested, Ruth Gray, Dana Clark, Celine Dufour, Ian Phillips, & Mike Drake (scribe).

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