Leader: Ray Salisbury

This tramp was a bit longer and required a higher level of fitness than I expected. However, our quartet that undertook the expedition were all up to the task.

After a leisurely start in Lee’s 4WD, we eventually arrived at the roadend up the Wakamarina valley. It’s called Butcher’s Flat. After that, it was an easy two-hour romp along the old gold miner’s trail to Devils Creek Hut, an old brown NZFS six-bunker.

The stiff climb up William The Conqueror (Pt 1066m on the map) lasted nearly three hours. Initially the track zig-zagged up the face, but eventually, after negotiating two windfalls, eased off onto a relatively flat, rounded mountain top, albeit forested with no views.

From here, the marked track switched south for a kilometre. Upon reaching a small saddle with Mt Baldy, the path departed the ridge to sidle along a steep face for a couple of hours. A highlight was scaring the pants of a weka.

Eventually, with the daylight ebbing away, we reached the ridgeline again. A sign indicated Fosters Clearing, which was pathetically miniscule. The tidy four-bunk hut was merely ten minutes further, and well-located in a much larger clearing. Four souls found four bunks – perfect. Ray got the fire cracking. Yes, it was March, but the 1000-metre altitude and wind gusts necessitated some induced warmth.

Sunday morning saw us return to Fosters Clearing and continue along the main ridgeline, soon gaining the open top of Mt Baldy (1315m) where great views of Tappy, and even the ocean, were enjoyed. Ray pointed his compass due north, and in due time had us back at the saddle, then lunching on William The Conqueror.

The old pack track that led to the stone miner’s huts was wet, narrow, and badly slipped. This detour was more difficult.

The day was all but over when we returned to the car, tired but happy with our wee adventure in the hills.

Adventurers were: Marijke Boers, Stella, Lee Nixon, Ray Salisbury (scribe) & Ben McDowell (guest).