Human wind vane on ridge approaching Mt Starveall.
Wouldn't it be a great idea (I thought) to have a tramp and stretch my legs just before embarking on a 38 hour door to door trip to the UK - an exercise in patience, and sitting down...
I'd been up the Hackett several times before, as far as the falls and Hackett Hut, but the climb up to Starveall Hut (and the summit) was new to me.
Loaded up with many layers, tent and two sleeping bags (yes two), we headed off on a frosty start through the valley.
After the hoar frost, fungi and stunning swimming holes we criss crossed the stream several times before climbing through beautiful beach forest.
Bellbirds and silvereyes sang and fantails flittered, keeping us company on the track.
The higher we climbed, the shorter the trees became until we reached Starveall Hut, nestled beside the tree line and a barren strip of mineral belt. It was a bit like a giant hand had reached down and pulled out patches of Starveall's hair!
A hot cuppa soup at the hut, and some chocolate, served as celebration after 5.5 hours of largely uphill walking.
The warm fire in the hut and the fresh air and exercise of the day resulted in a solid sleep, disturbed only by the dawn investigations of a family of curious weka.
A two hour round trip the next morning took in the stunning panorama from Mt Starveall summit before packing up camp and heading back to the car park. It's a reasonably long climb, so expect those jelly legs to make themselves known before you get to the bottom, and as I write this from the tarmac of Singapore airport two days later my calf muscles are still sore (but it was absolutely worth it).
Team: Steve McGlone (leader & scribe), Jane Solly.
Starveall Hut.
Mt Starveall from track to the hut.
Clear waters of the Hackett stream.
Hoar frost, Hackett Valley floor.