Waingaro Forks Hut - Organiser: Dion Pont
With a forecast of patchy showers for the day, six trampers left Richmond at 5.45am, driving to Upper Takaka, starting on the track at 7.30am. The old pack track up the Kill Devil ridge zig zags 800m up the ridge, a nice and gradual climb, with rain and fine periods all the way up. On the ridgeline the track was flattish sidling with some up and down, where we encountered cold winds, rain and snow, then took a side track to Riordens Hut arrriving at the hut just after 12 o’clock. Here we got the fire going to warm up and dry out, and admired the work done in restoring the hut. After about 2 hours we carried on back to the main track. On the main track we started dropping straight away down gradually to the Waingaro River. Now in nice bush and sunshine, with some good viewpoints on the way. We then passed through bushy river flats, now in rain, arriving at Waingaro Forks Hut at 4pm. Some of the group said the hut looked a bit different, having been fixed up a bit and with a new coat of paint on in the last year. After tea, 4 trampers arrived cold and wet at 7pm after a failed trip back to the Cobb. After warming up they spent a cold night in their tent, along with Andy in his tent. The five other members of the group stayed in the hut, with the trip leader sleeping on the floor.
The next day we woke to a cold, frosty morning. Andy left an hour earlier than the rest with one of the group of four following a bit later - Andy was going to take him up to the Cobb carpark to their vehicle. The rest of the group leaving at 9am, a few minutes from the hut we crossed a spectacular, narrow rocky gorge. In the bush of the river flats, evidence of old gold workings were seen. Over halfway up the track we were able to get a great view of Mt Snowden and surrounding peaks, covered in snow, with not a cloud to be seen. On the range we had a good coating of snow on the track. Had lunch in the snow on the highest point of the track, but not much of a view. Setting off again, another old hut was seen by some members of the group below the track, with the leader and Ian having a look. Soon we were descending and down the zig zag track of the ridge, and in less than 2 hours we were at the bottom at 4pm. Then two trips with the leader’s vehicle to Upper Takaka Hall to wait for Andy. Andy arrived at 5pm with a good story for the day. We then headed home.
The party: Organiser - Dion Pont, Andy Clark, Uta Purcell, Ruth Hesselyn, Carole Crocker, and Ian Pavitt.
Editor:Andy Clark wins the bouquet of the month for generosity. His “good story” is: The four “cold and wet trampers” were Otago University students who were unable to return to the Cobb (and their car) because of avalanche conditions and were considering calling in a helicopter. Andy was having none of this and volunteered to leave early with one of the students and drive him up the Cobb. Snow on the Cobb road meant a slow drive with chains. And of course the student’s car had a flat battery and their chains didn’t fit the tyres….so Andy once more to the rescue by adjusting the chains and out with his jumper leads. Then the slow drive back down the snow-covered Cobb road. Anxious that all this had taken some time, Andy apologised for his delay to the others who had a wee wait, warm and snug in their cars at the Takaka Hall.