Leader: Kate Krawczyk
We met early at the bottom of the Cathedral steps in Nelson to get a good start for the long drive up to the head of the Cobb Reservoir. We arrived just after 10am and were on the trail by 10:30am.
It is a lovely walk up the valley with lots of places to stop. After an hour and a half you reach Chaffey Hut. The hut takes its name from Chaffey Stream, named after Henry Chaffey, who led a reclusive life in nearby Asbestos Cottage with his wife Annie from around 1914. The hut was built a year after Chaffey’s death in 1953, by forest ranger Jack McBurney. The hut was completely rebuilt in 2013 to be historically accurate to the original. We stopped here for a leisurely morning tea.
After another hour and a bit of walking the next stop up the valley is reached; another restoration project of historical significance, the last remaining Deer Culler’s tent camp in New Zealand.
This camp, built in 1973, was falling to bits until its historical value was recognized and the camp was restored to its former glory in 2014. The group had another break here to enjoy the surroundings.
As we were sitting outside the tent camp a couple of trampers walked past and you could see their concern and dismay at seeing such a large group heading to their choice destination: Fenella Hut. They conveniently changed their plans and stayed at Cobb Hut, the last hut before Fenella, only half an hour away from their preferred place to stay. Fenella Hut is always a popular destination. It seems other trampers seem to assume they are going to have huts to themselves, which is very seldom the case with the increasing popularity of the backcountry.
We, of course, were well-prepared with a tent (thanks Kelvin) and lots of sleeping mats – if the floor was going to be our only option.
Arriving at the hut, we were made to feel much less than welcome by the six existing occupants, a group of older gentlemen from the far north who were very unhappy to see us arrive and didn’t waste any time in telling us that. Reluctantly, they made some space for us in the bunks, but the atmosphere was pretty awkward at first.
After an hour or so they finally relaxed and opened up a bit. It might have been the beer and spirits that they had brought with them, but whatever it was, it made for a pleasant evening sitting around the table playing cards and chatting away.
The next morning the group split up to do some exploring with a few of us heading up to the ridge below Waingaro Peak to get some views and others checking out the local tarns to take advantage of the photogenic morning light.
The walk out was a pleasant stroll. We were all back in Nelson by 5pm for a nice shower and Sunday roast.
Hikers: Mark Graesser, Andrea Cockerton, Chris Louth, Kelvin Drew, Gwenny Davis, David and Marine Goujou, Liz Henderson, David Cook & Kate Krawczyk (scribe).